[Reported by Lin Ruo-ning and Lin Zhi-tong in Taipei]
The awards ceremony for the inaugural Wei Ming-Kuang Prize concluded on April 22. Deviating from traditional journalism awards that evaluate completed stories, this ground-breaking initiative focuses on "news proposals" characterized by innovation, feasibility, and public value. With no restrictions on format or topic, the prize aims to spark a pivotal transformation in Taiwan’s media environment.
Reflecting on the original vision behind the prize, Su Herng, Convener of the Wei Ming-Kuang Prize Committee, remarked: "It strongly encourages structural transformation within journalism. Therefore, the news industry needs to think beyond simply delivering good reporting; we must also figure out how to discover and cultivate exceptional, professional talent."
The Wei Ming-Kuang Prize features two main categories: the "Discovery Award" and the "Advocacy Award." The Discovery Award encourages journalists to expand their horizons globally through advanced studies and transnational collaborations, bringing premium journalism practices back to Taiwan. On the other hand, the Advocacy Award emphasizes local practice and innovative reporting. This year's proposals covered crucial issues such as technological empowerment and cultural diversity. Notable projects included a collaboration between CommonWealth Magazine and Factlink, which leverages technology to deconstruct the factors driving social media polarization. Meanwhile, Taiwan Public Television Service (PTS) proposed an initiative empowering migrant workers and new immigrants to become reporters themselves, putting information equity into practice. The jury noted that amid the continuous turbulence of the current media environment, these proposals shed light on new possibilities for media transformation and rebirth.
Guided by the core philosophy of "Gathering Collective Wisdom to Illuminate Journalism," this year’s prize underscored the public role of media in the information age. Shih Tsung-jen, Executive Director of the Wei Ming-Kuang Excellence Development Fund Office, stated that the foundation will continue to sustain the prize. By increasing internship opportunities, hosting international lectures, and offering scholarships, the fund aims to help the media industry retain talent and support the younger generation aspiring to enter journalism.
"Many students enter the field full of vision and passion, but after just two years in the industry, their dreams shatter, and they leave. This is precisely why we established the Discovery Award. If journalists are given an opportunity to pursue further studies after working for a few years, it will make them much more willing to stay and grow within the profession," Shih shared.
While the awards ceremony has come to a close, for the winning teams, the real challenge is just beginning. As for Taiwan’s journalism industry, whether this prize can inject a vital new momentum into the ecosystem is a story that is only just starting to unfold.
Award-Winning Project List: https://www.weiprize.tw/web/award_project/award_project_in.jsp?np_id=NP1753265212850
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIuBexnc4kA
