List date(s) this work was published or aired.
14-Aug-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
A one-page feature on nutrition in Asia, with a sidebar on breastfeeding in Hong Kong. I reported that although Asia was getting wealthier, a lot of children remain undernourished and require governments’ immediate action. I explored the main nutritional threats that are becoming rampant in Asia, as well as possible ways to tackle them.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I mainly used WHO statistics and studies, as well as findings from individual governments across Asia.
Explain types of human sources used.
I consulted WHO officials and health professionals from different Asian countries. I also drew on the findings presented in the WHO Bi-regional conference in scaling up nutrition.
Results:
The report raised awareness on the state of nutrition in Asia, especially among East Asian readers as the SCMP was the only Hong Kong representative in the conference. In-depth features on public health across Asia are rare, as most newspapers only focus on reporting about their own countries. The sidebar reminded the Hong Kong government on a serious issue that needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
When covering an international conference, try to attend as many sessions as possible to broaden your knowledge of the field. While it may not be immediately useful, it could inspire more story ideas.