Entries Open for SOPA’s 2015 Awards for Editorial Excellence

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), an organization dedicated to best practices in professional publishing, has started accepting entries from publications and journalists across the region for the 18 categories that make up its 2015 Awards for Editorial Excellence.

This year, a new judging criteria for the Journalist of the Year award category will be adopted, in which entries from Group A, B and C will be combined to give only one winner. Journalist of the Year is designed to honor the journalist who has best demonstrated excellence in editorial achievement.

Last year winner's honor went to Mr. Todd Pitman of Associated Press.

The SOPA Awards highlight editorial excellence in both traditional and new media, and are designed to honor and encourage editorial vitality and innovation throughout the region, and welcome entries from English and Chinese-language publications for Asian journalism. The awards cover a broad range of categories reflecting Asia's diverse geo-political environment and vibrant editorial scene.

"SOPA is a guardian of free press in Asia, where fine journalism often fights against powerful forces that seek to suppress its voice. The SOPA awards recognize enterprising journalism regardless of the size of the news organization that produces it or the medium in which it is published. It is a forum for the best reporting, writing, photographic and graphic design in publishing in Asia to gain deserved attention," said Tom Leander, Chairman of the SOPA Editorial Awards Committee. "SOPA also champions the entrepreneurial spirit of journalists and publishers in this lively and spirited industry across a region of immense cultural, political and economic diversity."

The SOPA Awards' judging panel includes journalists, designers and photo editors from the region's leading newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, as well as notable academics from the journalism and media departments of prestigious universities.

Judging for the 2015 Awards will be conducted by a team of more than 100 international judges stationed across the globe.

The Journalism & Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong will again be the Awards Administrator.

To encourage various entries from both large and small publications, entries are classified by circulation size and language type - either English or Chinese.

Entries can be submitted from now until 3pm 26 February 2015.