Duo cited for outstanding work

THEIR words and pictures brought home to readers of The Straits Times two different Asian stories of economic development.

One captured the impact of China's Three Gorges Project on the lives of people living along the banks of the Yangtze River.

The other told of the heartache of Indonesian women who leave their families to make a living here as maids.

Their works have won international awards. They have one other thing in common - Mr Chua Chin Hon, now chief of the paper's Washington bureau, and China correspondent Sim Chi Yin got their start in journalism through a Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) scholarship.

Their works were held up as examples of outstanding journalism and compelling storytelling yesterday when the latest batch of eight budding young journalists received SPH journalism scholarships.

The eight are Mr Yeo Sam Jo, Ms Rachel Au-Yong, Ms Joanna Seow, Ms Audrey Tan, Ms Linette Lai, Mr Lim Zi Heng, Mr Wong Kang Wei and Mr Lim Zhan Ting.

Another six SPH Foundation Lim Kim San Memorial scholarships for undergraduates doing language studies were also given out this year, two more than the usual number to help more students in this economic downturn, said SPH chairman Tony Tan.

In total, 29 awards were presented at yesterday's ceremony at the SPH News Centre auditorium in Toa Payoh North, including 15 to children of SPH staff and newspaper vendors.

Dr Tan said that in the face of changing media consumption habits and technological advances posing threats to media companies everywhere, SPH newspapers survive and succeed by delivering quality content and connecting with readers.

The latest scholarship holders are eager to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.

For Ms Au-Yong, 19, who will be studying international relations at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, what struck her most about journalism was how what she wrote made an impact on others.

Her first story as an intern with The Straits Times this year was about the Singapore Children's Society trying to raise $1,000 from 1,000 companies.

'The next day, I got an e-mail from a chemical company wanting to donate that $1,000,' said the older of two girls, whose father is a lawyer and whose mother runs her own software business.

'It was really encouraging to know my story made a difference and helped someone,' she said.