‘Kom Chad Luek’ wins journalism award for report on pig farms
AN INVESTIGATIVE report by Kom Chad Luek newspaper has won the Best News Report award from one of the country’s most prestigious contests for journalists.
The story exposed the illegal use of colistin at pig farms in Thailand and brought to light its possible link to dangerous drug resistance. Kom Chad Luek is a sister publication of The Nation.
After it was published, the Livestock Development Department issued an order to strictly control colistin and identified clear penalties for violations. Networks of pharmacists, doctors and consumers also joined hands in addressing the problem to remove the threat. Recognising the impacts, the Isra Amantakul Awards honoured the investigative report with the top prize in its news category.
The contest has been held by several organisations including the Thai Journalists Association and the Isra Amantakul Foundation.
Punnee Amornviputpanich, the journalist behind the award-winning report, received the award in a presentation ceremony yesterday, which was celebrated as Thai Journalists Day. She received a Bt100,000 cash prize and a plaque.
Two reports by Daily News won consolation prizes in the contest’s news report category. The winners of these prizes received Bt20,000 cash prizes and plaques.
In the News Photo category, Daily News got the top prize, which came with Bt50,000 and a plaque. The Bangkok Post won two first-level consolation prizes and one second-level consolation prize, while Kom Chad Luek received one second-level consolation prize.
Winners of the first-level consolation prizes won Bt20,000 each and a plaque. Second-level consolation prizes earned Bt10,000 and a plaque.
Shot by Rachanon Intaraksa, an award-winning picture published in Kom Chad Luek captured a moment during Bangkok’s flood woes.
Judges resolved that no entry should win the Best Green News award. But they handed out a consolation prize to a report by Thansettakij newspaper. The winner received a plaque and Bt10,000 cash prize.
No one claimed the top award for IT news reports, but one consolation prize was given to Thansettakij newspaper for its report on tax collection related to social-media service providers. The Isra Amantakul Awards contest is held in honour of Isra Amantakul, the first president of the TJA. He is a pioneer of investigative reporting in Thailand.