The Financial Times won an award and three honourable mentions at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Awards in Hong Kong on Thursday. The team won the award for Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting and honourable mentions in three categories, including Audio, Opinion Writing and The Scoop Award.
Asia business editor Leo Lewis, Tokyo correspondent Eri Sugiura and former Tokyo correspondent Antoni Slodkowski won Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting for their read on the succession crisis of family businesses in Japan. The story presents insights on the decline of Japanese family-owned businesses and traditional craftsmanship, led by an ageing population and lack of successors.
The judges commended the piece, commenting, “This entry shows what excellence in arts and culture reporting can be. It brings readers up close with the humans — business owners and artisans — at the heart of the issue, while seamlessly integrating the moving personal details of their stories with bigger demographic, economic, and cultural trends that Japan is facing.”
Global China editor James Kynge received an honourable mention for Excellence in Audio Reporting for his audio series Tech Tonic US-China Tech race. The series looks in depth at the complex and evolving technology rivalry and its implications for the world.
The judges noted, “High drama coupled with a simple proposition – understanding and appreciating the rise of China as America's tech rival -- provides the scaffolding that accommodates many insights without losing sight of a story structure that is easy to follow.”
Asia business editor, Leo Lewis, received an honourable mention in the Excellence in Opinion Writing category for his work exploring Asia’s changing demographics and their impact on business, society and the economy, through a wide array of themes, ranging from Japan’s unsackable slacker and cautionary tales of unoccupied villages to revived interest in Marxism.
The judges said, “A given entry should be penetrating, eloquent, and focused on substantial themes. In all of this, Mr. Lewis has excelled. His essays are not keyed to yesterday's, or even tomorrow's, news, but rather to bigger social issues that merit longer-term consideration. These are superior essays.”
US-China correspondent Demetri Sevastopulo and Greater China correspondent Kathrin Hille won an honourable mention for The Scoop Award for their piece on Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan amid tensions with China in August last year, which sparked weeks of non-stop global coverage.
The judges remarked, “Great scoop beating US media. Finding six sources was truly impressive. This scoop, published at a sensitive time, influenced Washington’s and Beijing’s responses. The report also reflected the complexity in Washington’s policy-making by including nuances about the divides between the Biden administration and the Congress.”
On winning the awards, Asia editor Robin Harding said, “We’re delighted with these awards. They recognise our team's hard work and commitment to telling stories in every format, on every aspect of Asia. Our ambition is to do more and better, hitting hardest on the news and delving deepest in our analysis.”
Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, the SOPA Awards recognises editorial excellence in the Asia Pacific, covering a range of categories that reflect the region’s vibrant and ever-evolving media landscape.
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For more information, please contact Minnie Wong | minnie.wong@ft.com
About the Financial Times
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of 1.2 million, more than one million of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.