Developing Asia Journalism Awards

Journalists from India, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Philippines scooped the top prizes in the Asian Development Bank Institute's (ADBI) fourth Developing Asia Journalism Awards (DAJA) held in Tokyo in November. Winners were selected from among almost 240 entries from across the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) developing member countries. Twenty-two finalists from 13 developing countries in Asia attended a four-day workshop which focused on the latest trends and best practices in public governance, regional integration, infrastructure development, and environmentally sustainable development. It also included an introduction to key macroeconomic and sectoral indicators that can help journalists track the economic performance and progress of development in their respective sectors. The event culminated with an awards ceremony on 14 November at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.

DAJA recognizes excellence in journalistic reporting by those covering Asia regional development trends and issues. Prizes were awarded for reporting in four strategic areas of development: environment, governance, infrastructure, and regional integration. In addition, there were two special prizes for Development Journalist of the Year and Young Development Journalist of the Year, for journalists 30 and under.

The winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of four independent judges: presiding judge Anthony Rowley, Tokyo correspondent for The Business Times of Singapore and field editor for Oxford Analytica; Yoshio Murakami, adviser on international affairs to The Asahi Shimbun; Suvendrini Kakuchi, a Sri Lankan journalist reporting for Inter Press Service; and Monzurul Huq, a Bangladeshi journalist and Tokyo correspondent for The Daily Star and Prothom Alo.

“The work of a journalist can be challenging in developing countries, where it can be even tougher, given political issues, a lack of resources, and the dangerous environments in which the press are sometimes forced to endure as part of their daily work,” ADBI Dean Masahiro Kawai said in his welcome remarks at the awards ceremony. He added that “the contributions journalists make to development by drawing the public's eye to the many faces of poverty and to potential and long-term solutions are deeply appreciated.”

Meghana Dhoke, of India was awarded Development Journalist of the Year with her story, “Jo hai, Vo hai,” a look at social economic and political issues on the border between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and India. Mallika Aryal of Nepal won the Young Development Journalist of the Year for her story on “Revisiting a multi purpose Melamchi,” an article on a 30-year water project in the Kathmandu Valley. See box for the full list of winners.

“Judging this award does not get any easier as both the quantity and the quality of entries rises from year to year. For many of us, the stories ‘open the door' to life in developing countries. I thank ADBI for once again organizing this program after a break in 2007,” said Mr. Rowley at the ceremony.