The Korea Daily stood out among over 200 ethnic media outlets, clinching three categories at the 2023 Ethnic Media Awards.
Established to foster exchange and cooperation among ethnic media outlets in California, the Ethnic Media Awards honor outstanding stories serving the public interest in either their respective languages or in English. The awards are sponsored by nonprofit news organizations Ethnic Media Services (EMS) and California Black Media (CBM).
The awards ceremony, held at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento on August 31, saw the attendance of journalists from nearly 200 ethnic media outlets.
Suah Jang of the Korea Daily received the honor for Outstanding Explanatory Reporting, Nicole Chang for Outstanding Investigative Reporting, and Sangjin Kim for Outstanding Photography. All winners were awarded cash prizes and plaques.
Reporter Suah Jang’s award-winning series shed light on the declining senior mobility situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing issues like the unreliable Metro bus service, unshaded bus stops, the defunding of CityRide (the city’s senior taxi service), and rising street crimes. Her impactful articles were cited in the LA Times and spurred city actions such as reallocating funds for senior taxi services and initiatives to provide shade at bus stops.
The 20-member judging panel, comprising both mainstream and minority journalists, lauded the story for revealing issues in the minority community that had been overlooked by mainstream media.
Nicole Chang’s article, which earned her the Excellence in Investigative Reporting Award, delved into shifts within the Korean American community. Drawing from Federal Census statistics, she explored the socio-economic changes resulting from the demographic transition from first-generation to second-generation and mixed-race Koreans over the past decade.
Photojournalist Sangjin Kim was recognized for his evocative images capturing homelessness in Koreatown.
Out of more than 200 nominations, 45 finalists were shortlisted across 16 categories, such as breaking news, editorials, features, commentary, investigative, international, and photography, with two winners in each category. Four media outlets, including the Korea Daily and La Opinion, secured awards in three categories.
Sandy Close, Executive Director of EMS, remarked, “This year’s winners embody the essence of community journalism. They are truly watchdogs, representing deep, investigative reporting at its best. Minority journalists offer invaluable perspectives, bridging their communities to mainstream society. Our goal is to continue supporting these narratives with thorough, long-term reporting.”
BY JEONGIL RYU [ryu.jeongil@koreadaily.com]
