SINGAPORE - The Straits Times bagged a trio of awards, including a gold for Newspaper Overall Design, at the 15th Asian Media Awards in Manila on Wednesday night (March 30).
The awards, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (Wan-Ifra), drew entries from all across Asia.
Prizes are given out to publications which display excellence in areas such as photojournalism, design, infographics, and editorial content.
In the design category, judges look at the way text, headlines, and images are presented to deliver a front page that leaves an impact.
The Straits Times won its gold for the launch issue of the redesigned ST, which first hit newsstands on July 1 last year.
The Straits Times' executive photojournalist Lim Sin Thai bagged a silver award for sports photography for a picture spread on last year's Asean Para Games, which were held here.
Executive photojournalist Alphonsus Chern was given a bronze award for feature photography for a series of photos he took of the Black Knights, Singapore's elite aerial acrobatics team.
Mr Warren Fernandez, Editor of The Straits Times, said: "I'm glad that our efforts to revamp ST have been recognised. We aimed for a new layout that showcased our contents better for our readers.
"Kudos to our award-winning photographers too, who have always been strong in capturing the essence of events to engage our readers. We'll aim to keep getting even better as we go along."
Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) Chinese flagship daily and evening newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao and Lianhe Wanbao respectively, also won a silver award for community service.
The project 'Reading Newspapers With The Elderly' is targeted at Singapore's ageing population, many of whom are illiterate.
Since August 2014, Lianhe Zaobao and Lianhe Wanbao have been helping the elderly to connect with society through the reading of newspapers with editors and reporters, and using newspaper cuttings, photographs and slides to increase their understanding of current affairs.
More than 100 volunteers from the two Chinese language newspapers read to the elderly at three locations for an hour every week.
In 2015, the papers also organised eight special talks on elderly issues, such as enacting a will and lasting power of attorney, managing personal finances after retirement and monetising home assets. More than 4,000 people have benefited from these talks by professionals.
Also picking up a bronze in design (magazine overall design) was issue 15 of The Peak Selections: Gourmet & Travel, a publication by SPH Magazines.
The magazine is a stylish and authoritative guide on what high-net-worth individuals with a discerning palate need to know about the fine art of wining and dining, as well as globe-trotting.
