Jakarta Globe Wins Major Asian Award for Journalism

Jakarta Globe | August 05, 2010

Jakarta. The Jakarta Globe on Wednesday night won another award for journalistic excellence, this one for a special supplement highlighting the many water problems facing the capital.

“Water Worries,” published in July 2009, picked up a bronze award for best news coverage (newspaper special section) at the Asia Media Awards, held in Kuala Lumpur. The awards are run by prestigious industry group the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The special supplement — containing stories written by Dewi Kurniawati, Globe contributing editor Joe Cochrane, investigative writers Hera Diani and Kafil Yamin and news reporter Putri Prameshwari — outlined Jakarta’s troubles in dealing with water-related issues, including ensuring steady supply, dealing with sewage and garbage cast into rivers and canals, and flooding caused by rainfall and coastal tides.

The award is the latest of more than a dozen reporting, photography and design accolades for the paper this year. At the Society of Publishers in Asia Awards for Editorial Excellence in June, “Water Worries” received another award for excellence in special coverage.

“All these recognitions serve to inspire the entire news organization to work harder at providing our readers with first-rate journalism, the kind of reporting that we hope makes a difference,” Globe deputy chief editor Bhimanto Suwastoyo said.

The gold in the Asian Media Awards special section category went to the United Arab Emirates newspaper Gulf News for coverage of boxer Manny Pacquiao.

WAN-IFRA is a worldwide organization that supports newspapers in pushing for the defence of press freedoms, high standards of journalism and best practices in publishing technology. The Asia Media Awards also recognize the region’s best newspaper and magazine front cover designs, photography and printing quality.

“Water Worries” is one in a series of four special reports on Jakarta’s social and infrastructure challenges that the Globe has published. The others cover preserving Kota Tua in North Jakarta, traffic woes and environmental sustainability. You can download them HERE.