Nation reporter wins 'Green Technology Journalism' awards
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Nation senior writer Itthi C Tan has been awarded two Green Technology Journalism awards, winning the Thailand category as well as becoming the first runner up in the Asean-Pacific competition.
“The Asean-Pacific prize was a big surprise,” says Itthi who attended the finals in London last month. He faced off seven finalists from the region including Australia-New Zealand.
“The victories are an inspiration to all environmental reporters. It isn’t very often that green stories receive the attention they deserve,” he says.
Six years ago, The Nation devoted more space to green stories, creating a Sustainability page as well as establishing the Green Report as part of its contribution to reverse climate change.
Itthi was narrowly beaten by Malaysia’s Meng Yew Choong from The Star newspaper in a split decision that was too close to call.
The awards, sponsored by Siemens, honours journalists for their exemplary reports. This marked the second edition of the competition that debuted in 2010.
Country winners this year include those from Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The judges presented Itthi with second award for his “exceptional article” titled “NED solar farm brings opportunities to Lop Buri”.
“It is the first time Thailand has won the awards. They will encourage more local journalists to tackle and voice green issues,” says Pana Janviroj, president of The Nation.
Meng, wrote about the “dilemmas that Malaysia’s energy sector faces,” commented one of the judges, Sanjeev Sanyal, founder of the Sustainable Planet Institute.
“What I particularly liked about Meng’s piece is it does not present a simplistic solution. Much of the environmental journalism falls for the temptation of magic technological solutions whereas it is often about making complex trade-offs.”
Another judge, Steffen Lehmann, Chair Professor of Sustainable Design, University of South Australia, said of Itthi’s article: “His article articulates well the social context and background of a new solar farm in Thailand, focusing on the community aspects of such new enabling technologies.”
The NED solar far is Thailand’s most celebrated, efficient and profitable. In 18-months, it transformed three poor and depressed communities and brought hope to their youngsters.
Aside from Sanyal and Lehmann, the other regional judges are Oliver Santen, Head of Media Relations, Siemens; Priyambodo RH, chairman of Multimedia Division, Indonesian Press Association; Professor Chachanat Thebtaranonth, senior advisor, National Science & Technology Development Agency (Thailand).
This year, Siemens received more than 170 submissions from the Asean-Pacific region.
