TWO journalists at Phuketwan have shared the accolade of Scoop of the Year for 2009 . . . in Hong Kong.
The award went to the South China Morning Post coverage of the ''pushbacks'' in Thailand of Rohingya boatpeople.
Phuketwan journalists Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian revealed the secret island where the boatpeople were being held, north of Phuket, then worked with Greg Torode, Maseeh Rahman and Ian Young to crack a story that was at first strongly denied in the Thai media by various officials in government and in the military.
The South China Morning Post coverage won the top award, Scoop of the Year, across the Hong Kong News Awards 2009 in both English and Chinese media, seeing off stiff competition that included an exclusive revealing the attempted assassination of Hong Kong's most prominent politician, Martin Lee.
Phuketwan editor Alan Morison said: ''It's not very often that journalists outside the big cities win significant awards, let alone in a different country.
''It was actually the scoop of the year in Thailand, too. We broke the story first in Phuketwan, which is a Thai news outlet.
''But we would have been frustrated if we had tried to have it published in print here. Sadly, most of Thailand's media is self-obsessed and has lost its way.''
Morison said Phuketwan will continue to press for an end to all forms of corruption on Phuket. ''Our aim is to make Phuket a better place for everyone,'' Morison added.
''We plan to keep building on our reputation as the news outlet everyone goes to first.''
Coincidentally, more boatpeople have reportedly been spotted, this time not far off Phuket, in the past couple of days.
Phuket's Big Puzzle: Where Are The Boatpeople?The award went to the South China Morning Post coverage of the ''pushbacks'' in Thailand of Rohingya boatpeople.
Phuketwan journalists Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian revealed the secret island where the boatpeople were being held, north of Phuket, then worked with Greg Torode, Maseeh Rahman and Ian Young to crack a story that was at first strongly denied in the Thai media by various officials in government and in the military.
The South China Morning Post coverage won the top award, Scoop of the Year, across the Hong Kong News Awards 2009 in both English and Chinese media, seeing off stiff competition that included an exclusive revealing the attempted assassination of Hong Kong's most prominent politician, Martin Lee.
Phuketwan editor Alan Morison said: ''It's not very often that journalists outside the big cities win significant awards, let alone in a different country.
''It was actually the scoop of the year in Thailand, too. We broke the story first in Phuketwan, which is a Thai news outlet.
''But we would have been frustrated if we had tried to have it published in print here. Sadly, most of Thailand's media is self-obsessed and has lost its way.''
Morison said Phuketwan will continue to press for an end to all forms of corruption on Phuket. ''Our aim is to make Phuket a better place for everyone,'' Morison added.
''We plan to keep building on our reputation as the news outlet everyone goes to first.''
Coincidentally, more boatpeople have reportedly been spotted, this time not far off Phuket, in the past couple of days.
UPDATE Navy activity today lends credence to reports that an unusual vessel, possibly a boatload of would be refugees, may be at sea close to the popular tourist destination of Phuket.
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Congratulations on this well deserved award.
Keep up the good work.
Posted by Bernie on March 11, 2010 12:35