Campus News Awards 2026 highlights student journalism in Shenzhen
China Daily Hong Kong awarded university students for journalism excellence, emphasizing the need for credible reporting in the era of artificial intelligence.
The 2026 Campus News Awards concluded in Shenzhen on October 26, honoring student journalists from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Organized by China Daily Hong Kong, the 15th iteration of the competition attracted over 1,000 entries from more than 100 universities, reflecting a growing engagement among youth in regional media.
The awards covered 21 categories, including traditional print, photography, and multimedia, with new additions focusing on technological development. Officials at the ceremony urged the participants to refine their skills as storytellers, noting that in the current era of rapid technological change, journalism’s primary value remains in documenting social conditions and fostering international understanding.
Industry experts and university representatives highlighted the dual challenge of embracing new tools while maintaining journalistic integrity. Linda Choy of MTR Corp noted that while AI allows for instant content creation, traditional strengths such as deep research, factual accuracy, and sound judgment remain the defining characteristics of high-quality journalism.
The event aims to serve as a bridge for young talent across the Asia-Pacific region. As the industry faces transformation through AI and new media platforms, organizers stressed that the next generation of journalists must balance technological proficiency with ethics and humanistic perspective.