Liam Dann wins inaugural media award

New Zealand Herald Business Editor Liam Dann has been named winner at the inaugural New Zealand China Media Awards.

Sponsored by the New Zealand China Council, the awards recognise and encourage excellence in reporting on the New Zealand China relationship.

An independent panel of judges assessed entries from TV, print and online reporters.  Criteria included advancing public debate and increasing understanding of China among the general public.

As winner of the award, Mr Dann will travel to China to report on China’s financial system including equity markets, property market and monetary policy.

New Zealand China Council Executive Director Pat English says media plays a critical role in the relationship but faces challenges when reporting about China.

“As the relationship grows, the potential for misinformation increases.  The role of intelligent, objective reporting on China cannot be overstated.

“But the language barrier, the cultural barrier, and the cost of travel can make it difficult for Kiwi reporters to find contacts and information, and to develop networks.

“We want more reporters to take an interest in China, and these awards are our way of encouraging that,”  Mr English says.

According to New Zealand China Council Chairman Sir Don McKinnon, the quality of reporting and analysis was impressive, demonstrating that our understanding of China’s business community, society and culture has become much more nuanced and sophisticated.

“Judges said entries showed a deepening understanding of important issues; balancing a New Zealand view with an attempt to understand and contextualise the view from China,” Mr McKinnon says.

2014 New Zealand China Media Awards

Winner

Liam Dann, New Zealand Herald

Runner Up

Christopher Adams, New Zealand Herald

Runner Up

Alex Speirs, New Zealand Herald

Highly Commended

Gill Higgins, TVNZ

Highly Commended

Conney Zhang, New Zealand Chinese Herald

To see the NZ Herald article, click here.