Awards Categories

Awards Categories

2021 Winners can be found here

2022 Awards Categories

Categories open to all media publications, including websites and wire services:

1. Excellence in Reporting on Women’s Issues (卓越女性议题报道奖 )

Honoring original coverage of women in Asia (for example, women in politics, women’s rights, violence against women, the economic rise of women, women in the workplace, women in war, women and religion, profiles, studies of leadership and others). The common thread should be an exploration of the lives of women and the challenges they face. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

2. Excellence in Journalistic Innovation (卓越新闻报道创新奖)

Honoring the work that uses new or emerging digital tools to deliver news content in an innovative manner and/or encourages audience engagement with the news. This category accepts URLs of work(s) only. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

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3. Excellence in Audio Reporting (卓越音频报道奖)

Honoring outstanding audio journalism that illustrates significant political, economic, social or cultural issues. Entries can consist of one single episode OR a series of up to three episodes under five hours. Maximum of 1 item per entry.

4. Excellence in Video Reporting (卓越视频报道奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates excellence in short-form video news reports. Entries should not exceed 15 (fifteen) minutes in length. Virtual reality and 360-degree video are eligible to enter. Maximum of 1 submission per entry.

5. Excellence in Human Rights Reporting (卓越人权报道奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting on a human rights topic of significance. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

6. Excellence in Feature Writing (卓越专题特写奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting and writing to describe an idea, event, trend or personality, or explain a topic of significance. Maximum of 1 article per entry.

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7. Excellence in Technology Reporting (卓越科技报道奖)

Honoring outstanding reporting on technology that illustrates its impact on political, economic, business or social issues. The stories should demonstrate how technology has fundamentally defined a significant news story and informed the reporting. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

8. Excellence in Magazine Design (卓越杂志设计奖)

Honoring the magazine that demonstrates high standards in visual presentation. Category is open only to magazines. Publications may nominate only ONE entry in this category. Maximum of 1 magazine per entry. The award will be given in English (across both Global and Regional/Local groups) and Chinese.

9. Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting (卓越艺术及文化报奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting and writing in fine arts and cultural topics, including food and travel. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

10. Excellence in Explanatory Reporting (卓越解释性报道奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting, writing and in-depth analysis to explain a topic of significance. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

11. Excellence in Business Reporting (卓越经济报道奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting on a business topic of significance. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

12. Excellence in Infographics (卓越数据图像奖)

Honoring entries that demonstrate high standards in presenting information in graphical form. This category accepts PDF files and URL of work(s). Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

13. Excellence in Reporting Breaking News (卓越突发新闻奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting breaking news under deadline pressure. Work that covers developing and/or unexpected events, such as natural disasters, political unrest, sudden government policy changes and regulatory actions, and unfolding business and finance stories should be entered into this category.  Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

14. Excellence in Opinion Writing (卓越评论奖)

Honoring the opinion piece(s) or editorial(s) that best serve(s) to advance discussion and debate on a topic of significance. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

15. Excellence in Reporting on the Environment (卓越环境报道奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of reporting on an environmental topic of significance. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

16. Excellence in Photography (卓越摄影奖)

Honoring the work that demonstrates high standards of feature photography. (Note: entries must have been taken by or exclusively for the publication concerned). Maximum of 5 photos per entry.

17. The Scoop Award (独家新闻奖)

Honoring the exclusive story that has a significant impact and is widely followed by competing news media. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

18. Carlos Tejada Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting (Carlos Tejada 卓越调查报道奖)

Honoring the publication that through the use of its journalistic resources, which as well as reporting may include editorials, photographs and graphics, serves to advance the public interest on a topic of significance, for example by exposing wrongdoing or corruption, uncovering malfeasance or in some other way holding the powerful to account. Maximum of 3 articles per entry.

19. SOPA Award for Young Journalists (亚洲出版业协会最佳新人记者大奖)

Honoring an outstanding journalist under 30 years old who has shown exceptional talent and commitment in their coverage. Maximum of five articles per entry, can be mixed medium (video, print, and/or photos.) The award will be given in English (across both Global and Regional/Local groups) and Chinese.

Journalists who turn 30 in the year of submission are eligible. Entries must be the work of one journalist only.

The entry must be accompanied by a personal letter from the journalist describing their work and supported by a letter from a commissioning or supervising editor.

20. SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism (亚洲出版业协会公共服务新闻大奖)

The SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism recognizes outstanding journalistic work in print, photography, video, or online media that represents an exemplary contribution to public service in the Asia-Pacific region.

Entries can consist of a single piece or up to a maximum of 5 works of journalism. Examples can comprise a single package of written work/photos/video or a series of written works/photos/videos published.

There will only be one SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism award given out across category A, B and C. Publications may nominate only ONE entry in this category. This category accepts PDF files and URLs of work(s).