Sin Chow (second, right) and chief photographer KT Goh (centre) – representing Yeoh and Jeremy – receiving the awards from Khoo with Ang (left) and organising chairman Tan Ean Nee. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Star Media Group (SMG) made a clean sweep of the IJM Land Distinguished English News Report category at the Penang Press Club News Awards.
Stringer Winnie Yeoh Chien Huey won the Excellent Award for her feature Smart Screen Time: Quality, Interactive Content Key to Benefiting from Devices, Experts Say while stringer Jeremy Tan and deputy news editor Tan Sin Chow received Commendation Awards for their stories Unveiling Layers of History and Three-way Tussle for Top Post respectively.
Yeoh, who received RM1,000 and a certificate, said she was both honoured and genuinely surprised by the recognition.
She expressed gratitude to The Star’s Education Desk for the opportunity to highlight an issue central to educators and parents, and acknowledged the experts she interviewed for their insights.
“As a freelance writer, I remain passionate about producing work that serves the public and will always cherish this honour bestowed by Penang Press Club,” she said.
Sin Chow said the award would motivate him to continue producing strong political reporting.
He thanked the organisers and sponsors for providing opportunities that uplift the profession.
Jeremy said the recognition reaffirmed the importance of thoughtful storytelling.
“In a world increasingly inundated with quick and disposable content, it is encouraging to know that work designed to inform and challenge perspectives could still resonate deeply with readers,” he said.
Jeremy and Sin Chow received RM500 and a certificate each.
The ceremony marked a milestone for Penang Press Club.
Chairman Ang Tong Kai said over 140 submissions were received across written, photographic and video categories – the highest since the pandemic.
Ang noted that the judging was competitive, with several entries tied or separated by a single point, prompting the committee to re-consult judges to finalise the winners.
He said the awards, first launched under the title sponsorship of Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong and initiated by the late former club president Neoh Chong Poh, aimed to uplift journalistic professionalism and encourage excellence.
He acknowledged the current challenges in the media landscape, where the pressure for fast and frequent content often overshadowed in-depth work, but said journalists continue to elevate public understanding through thoughtful stories.
“While artificial intelligence (AI) may generate text or images, it cannot replace human presence on the ground,” Ang said.
He cited a recent fire in Hong Kong, where a powerful photo of a man searching for his wife was captured by a real photojournalist – something AI could not replicate.
He urged recognition for the dedication and sacrifice of journalists who work tirelessly to present the truth to the public.
“Journalism remains a meaningful and vital profession despite the challenges posed by social media, self-media and rapid technological shifts,” he said, adding that the club remained committed to defending professionalism and supporting the media.
Penang Speaker Datuk Seri Law Choo Kiang, who attended the event, spoke on the evolving media landscape.
He said while journalism must be professional, audiences too must cultivate media literacy to keep pace with technology-driven platforms.
“When audiences are unable to critically assess information, they become confined within echo chambers that reinforce their own beliefs, consuming only the news they agree with while dismissing anything contrary,” he said.
He warned that this trend accelerated societal division and polarisation.
Law also emphasised that the credibility of the media rests not only on reporters’ integrity but also on the public’s ability to recognise responsible reporting.
“Awards such as these play an important role in motivating journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy, objectivity and fairness in their daily work.”
While acknowledging AI as a new challenge, Law said communication would never die.
“Society will always rely on journalists and media practitioners to convey essential information, whether on behalf of governments, communities, organisations or individuals,” he added.
The ceremony also honoured veteran journalist Datuk Cheah See Kian, former Sin Pin Daily editor-in-chief, who received the Datuk Seri Khor Teng Tong Journalist Service Award for his decades-long contribution to the local media industry.
Also present were local housing developer Khor, Chinese Consul-General in Penang Zhou Youbin, Association of Tourism Attractions Penang chairman Datuk Ch’ng Huck Theng, and IJM Land senior general manager (northern region) Datuk Khoo Teck Chong.
