2023 Writing, Photo and Multimedia Contest Results

ASDAN China Students

Note: International Contest results were released Feb. 23, 2023.

WRITING CATEGORIES: 

Category 1. Editorial Writing

First Place: Wang Yilin, Qingdao Academy
Life is about embracing ourselves, not competing in an endless race
“The combination of a more personal feeling example and factual pieces of information make this editorial a compelling read. Starting with a scenario is an attention grabbing start to the piece.”

Second Place: Lu Qingyang, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University
Can Real-Name Registration Prevent Game-Addiction?
“The examples and background information pulled into this story make it shine. The information supports the overall message of the piece. The organization of the piece is also strong, with a clear beginning, middle and end.”

Third Place: Li Xinran, Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School Qingpu
What’s real in reality TV
“Starting this piece with a personal anecdote is a good way to pull in readers. The piece is also well supported with background information and relevant facts that help build the argument you are trying to make in this editorial.” 

Honorable Mention: Zhu Libei, BASIS International School Hangzhou
Shackled？

Category 2. News Writing

First Place: Zhang Jiayi, Jiangsu Tianyi High School
A new trend in China: young people lie flat to fight against involution
“The use of quotes to support the narrative in this piece is strong. Additionally, focusing the story on one person is a great way to pull in readers and keep them invested in the piece.”

Second Place: Ouyang Zize, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School
The Russian army bombed 10 states of Ukraine in a row! Ukraine has vowed to retaliate with airstrikes!
“This piece is to the point and factual, both markers of a good news piece. Information is clearly sourced and relevant to the news event.”

Category 3. Feature Writing

First Place: Shen Yujun, Jiangsu Tianyi High School
Covid restrictions spur glamping in China
“This is a well-written, in-depth look at glamping and camping. The sources and examples used add a lot to the narrative and are an effective way to explore the camping culture.”

Second Place: Wu Xinyan, Beijing Chaoyang Tongwen Foreign Language School
A kid who cooks soup with a doll bear
“This piece highlights an often forgotten issue facing many people, and does so in a clearly written and well supported way. The examples chosen support the story and the organization of the piece is clear.”

Third Place: Zhou Lingyi, Hangzhou Olive Tree International Academy, BFSU
I heard that, you
“This is a moving and unexpected piece. The dramatic narrative is certainly present and keeps readers engaged and guessing throughout the entirety of the piece.”

Category 4: Review Writing

First Place: Huang Keyan, United World College of Changshu China
‘Avatar 2’: is not the savior of the sluggish movie market
“This review does a good job of giving readers a sense for the movie without spoiling it. The comparisons to the first ‘Avatar’ movie are also strong and help put it in context. The piece is clearly organized and easy to follow.”

Second Place: Li Xinran, Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School Qingpu
‘Phineas and Ferb’: The Power of Children’s Creativity
“Starting with a quote and shared experience of many Millennials and Gen Z was a strong way to start this review. The wording of this piece is strong and engaging — it may make readers want to rewatch the show as well!”

Third Place: Cao Xiaomeng, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shiyan School
‘A Fleeting Dream’：Yuzuru Hanyu’s Resplendent Time
“Drawing on your personal experience is a great way to hook readers in on this piece. The description of your emotions while watching the program is also compelling — makes readers want to experience it. The piece is logically and clearly structured, making it an easy read.”

Honorable Mention: Li Suhang, Beijing 21st Century International School
Home coming?

Category 5: In-Depth Reporting: Individual 

First Place: Yue Yuxi, United World College of Changshu China
Transforming Cities and Burning Buildings: Rethinking the Relationship between Home and Urban Planning
“The introduction is attention grabbing and makes readers want to keep reading — a helpful feature of an in-depth piece. The clear timeline explained in this piece is also very helpful in keeping readers engaged and not confusing them.”

Second Place: Wu Yizhen, United World College of Changshu China
An analysis of social media communication of educational NGOs in China — case of Beyond the City 
“Focusing on one NGO is a really effective way of narrowing the scope of this complicated topic. The background information included throughout the piece is well constructed, informational and adds a lot to the piece.”

Third Place: Fang Chenyu, Shanghai Pinghe School
Analysis of Marketing Strategies of Korean Entertainment Companies in the North American Market
“The background and development of K-Pop is an important section of this piece, and you constructed it well. The sources and literature included are also strong, making the piece clear and informative.”

Honorable Mention: Gu Yiwen, Suzhou Foreign Language School
Rural Dynamic？

Category 6: In-Depth Reporting: Team

First Place: Taeyun Lee and Lin Yucian, No. 2 High School of East China Normal University
Procrastination and how it affects high school students and our daily life
“The sourcing on this piece is very strong and lends compelling points to the overall angle of the piece. The survey conducted for the piece is especially strong as it is information not found from external sources. The organization is clear and easy to follow.”

Category 7: Sports Feature

First Place: Yu Xiayi, RDFZ International Curriculum Center
Cheerleading, a sport full of energy
“The background of cheerleading is not something many people likely know, so it is a strong piece to include in writing. The personal element and touch included toward the end is also strong — it lends a human element to the piece which is very compelling.”

Category 8: Sports Game Event

First Place: Qiu Zilin, Beijing 101 Middle School Shiyou Campus
Memphis grizzlies event report
“This piece provides a to the point and clear summary of a sports event. The inclusion of a number of sports statistics is smart, paired with the descriptions of the player’s experiences is a strong combination that keeps readers engaged.”

Category 9: Profile Writing

First Place: Chong Kexin, Wyoming Seminary
A fabulous skier regardless of nationality 
“This is a well researched and well constructed profile. Little pieces of information are weaved through the narrative in a way that is easy to read and understand. It is also very effective at capturing the cultural significance of the subject.”

Second Place: Xu Xiyuan, Zhejiang Hangzhou High School
The death of the killer
“This profile offers a well researched and comprehensive look into the subject’s life. The inclusion of a quote about the subject is a nice touch. The organization of this piece is straightforward and easy to follow.”

Third Place: Zhao Zisheng, Beanstalk International Bilingual School
Eminem
“Short and to the point, this piece offers a glimpse into the subject’s life. Starting with his early life was a good choice and truly paints a picture for the readers.”

Honorable Mention: Wang Ziao, The Sub High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University

Category 10: Column Writing

First Place: Zhu Libei, BASIS International School Hangzhou
 One step away 
“Focusing this piece on one specific story as an indication of a larger trend is a smart way to approach it. The piece is well constructed and easy to read. It is obviously well researched, but still reads well and has a clear point.”

Second Place: Chong Kexin, Wyoming Seminary
Mary I
“As an in-depth look into Mary I, this is a well written and researched piece. It explores many parts of her life in exceptional detail and is clear and easy to read.”

Category 11: Health, Science, Agricultural Writing 

First Place: Zheng Lu, Zhejiang Hangzhou High School
Psychology of athletes
“The psychology of athletes is often not discussed, making it a strong topic for this piece. The inclusion of various examples is also a compelling way to tell the story.”

PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES: 

Category 12: Feature Photo

First Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School
A River Runs Through It – 1
“The photo is really well thought out and executed. I love how the river reflections split the photo in half with the fisherman right at the center of attention. The black and white really help to declutter any background noise.”

Second Place: Wu Yitong, Northeast Yucai Experimental School
Fireworks in a Fairy Tale World
“The photo is very busy and has a very good spread across the entire frame. The fireworks are a sharp contrast to the castle and the signage. I also enjoy how although it is visually busy, there are only four colors. The black background also helps to make the castle and fireworks stand out especially.”

Category 13: Sports Action Photo

First Place: Yao Zhengyang, San Domenico School
The Ferocious Rejection
“This image is beautifully composed and captured. The photographer successfully froze a high energy, contentious moment in the game. All of the elements fit well within the frame and the viewer has full insight into the emotion of the players and where this is occurring due to the sign in the background. The depth of field is also artfully chosen, managing to separate the students sitting in the background from the players on the court. There is a lot of visual clarity and distinction despite being a relatively busy composition.”

Second Place: Zhang Junzhe, Shanghai Pinghe School
The Preparation
“This photo is high quality and well composed. The expression on the subject’s face shows the viewer his emotion and focus while preparing. The frame is nearly symmetrical, with lines created by the overhead lights and the table cutting into the bottom right corner. It also has a clear vanishing point that centers the subject’s face, again leading the eye directly to that point.”

Third Place: Chen Ziyi, Hefei Thomas School
Go Beyond
“The photographer did a great job of freezing the motion in this image and capturing the facial expressions of the runners. The colors and lighting in this image, while environmental, are wonderful and contribute to the overall feeling of the photo. The subjects are also well positioned in the frame, which is particularly hard to do in sports photography.”

Honorable Mentions:

Lou Jiaqi, Huaer Zizhu Academy 
The last throw and the last guard?

Chen Siqi, Beijing No.4 High School International Campus
I am unstoppable?

Category 14: Sports Reaction Photo

First Place: Lou Jiaqi, Huaer Zizhu Academy
A Team
“The composition of this photo clearly documents the emotion and reactions of the spectators, each with individually engaging expressions. This image is a great example of telling a story in a creative way. The viewer can understand that this is a moment of celebration in the game. The photographer also includes plenty of contextual elements that tell the viewer which sport is being played, namely the basketball court and the player in the foreground.”

Second Place: Zhang Junzhe, Shanghai Pinghe School
The Return of the King
“This photographer makes strong choices in what to include in this image. The viewer gets a comprehensive view of what is happening with the runner in the foreground and spectators in the back. The depth of field allows the viewer to distinguish these different layers without fully losing the detail of the spectators’ reactions. The editing on this image is a little heavy for journalism, but otherwise, the photo seems to be well exposed.”

Third Place: Sun Geru, The High School Affiliated To Beijing Normal University
Applauding
“This image is beautifully exposed and has a very legible composition. The photographer successfully froze the motion of someone clapping in a very high quality, clear photo. The colors create a contrast that contributes to the storytelling of the image, letting the viewer know that this is a running track without cluttering the frame with details.”

Honorable Mentions: 

Luo Yushen, Shenzhen Middle School
Finish Line

Luo Yushen, Shenzhen Middle School
Pegasus

Category 15: Photo Illustration

First Place: Chen Siqi, Beijing No.4 High School International Campus
Parallel World
“This image is visually stunning. The composition and exposure are well formed and the photographer makes good use of symmetry and leading lines. The strong light cutting new angles across the frame creates a surrealist ‘architecture’ alongside what is truly there. The glimpses of red in the background and green in the water at the bottom of the image prevent the colors from being too monotonous.”

Second Place: Chen Wanyan, Beijing World Youth Academy
Stages of Life
“The way the light and color bounce around the image is beautiful. The photographer creates a visual narrative utilizing the leading lines of the steps and horizon line, the yellow sign guiding where to go next and the younger subjects seemingly rejecting that direction. The image might be slightly underexposed but is perfectly fine for the purposes of illustration.”

Third Place: Li Xiang, BASIS International School Hangzhou
The Corner of History
“This image is very well exposed and the composition feels intentional. The frame is balanced between the busyness of the architecture and the negative space of the sky, with small details keeping the photo from being too ‘perfect.’ The lines and gestures in the image are visually engaging and provide a sense of liveliness to an inanimate object.”

Honorable Mentions: 

Peng Jingyi, Beijing National Day School 
Water-Splashing, Youth is Blooming

Yuan Mingshuo, Northeast Yucai Experimental School 
Quiet cafe 

Ma Zeya, Dehong Beijing International Chinese School 
Bondage

Category 16: Photo Slideshow

First Place: Na Sen, Capital Normal University High School
Days Gone
“Keeping all of these photos in black and white makes the slideshow feel cohesive and well planned out. Additionally, the photos themselves do a good job highlighting every day sights in a way that pushes the viewer to think deeper.”

Second Place: Sun Rui, The Stony Brook School
Next Moment, Ball Game
“These are all excellent sports photos. They are well exposed, crisp and tell the story of the game very effectively. The editing on them also is fitting as it contributes to the overall feel of watching a game.”

Third Place: Chi Hanyu, Renmin University
“Monet Garden” in Beijing
“The concept behind this slideshow is very strong — taking a well known Monet painting and exploring the subject matter is a compelling angle. The photos themselves are also strong. They are well focused, well exposed and overall very pleasing to look at.”

Honorable Mentions:

Ren Xingyue and Yang Ruohan, Ulink College of Suzhou Industrial Park
Walk

Gao Yuting, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University
Blockade – Fault Art

Category 17: Profile Portrait

First Place: Tang Yi, Beijing 21st Century International School
Cyber
“The colors and overall composition of this photo are stunning. It is very cohesive while also incorporating a number of different pieces. It is well exposed and captures a feeling very effectively.”

Second Place: Rong Kairen, Shanghai Pinghe School
Pureness
“This photo captures the feeling of its subject very effectively. Composition wise it is strong and the choice to present it in black and white is good. The subject is positioned in a great spot as it leaves viewers wondering what they are smiling at.”

Third Place: Lu Han, Shanghai American School
Life
“It is safe to say this is an adorable shot. It is compositionally very strong and simultaneously shares a story. The image leaves viewers wondering more about the child, but in a way that is evocative, not annoying. The image is also well exposed.”

Honorable Mentions: 

Yu Yuer, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School
Inside the Window

Wang Yiru, Hefei Thomas School
The Smile

Category 18: News Feature

First Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School
A River Runs Through It 1
“The composition and exposure in this photo are great. There is a sense of vertical and horizontal symmetry while maintaining a sense of direction and a clear subject. While there is some surrealism in what is creating the shadow that splits the image, it is not distracting, and also shows some balance in an almost domestic telling of how people interact with water.”

Second Place: Liu Ruochong, Chongqing Nankai Secondary School
A River Runs Through It 2
“This image is also well composed and almost has a ‘vintage’ feel to it. The haze of the photo distinguishes the diver from the landscape and provides a beautiful, contextual background to the image. The diver’s limbs and the gesture of their body line up with the buildings behind them and match the horizon line overall. The figures at the bottom of the frame are a nice detail, especially when the viewer gets a closer look and sees that they are watching the diver.”

Third Place: Lin Yuhuai, Shanghai Pinghe School
A Nostalgic but Inevitable Demise? 
“The subject’s facial expression is truly what makes this photo great. By the way she is framed and leaning forward, the viewer can infer that she is pulling along the bags and boxes behind her and that they have notable weight. It could have benefited from a slightly higher shutter speed and adjusting the white balance to take away the orange cast from the image.”

Honorable Mentions:

Xin Yuelai, Shenzhen Middle School
The Divide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Hong Kong and Shenzhen?

Yang Yunda, Beijing SMIC
Long live the people or The sweet era?

Design Categories:

Category 19: Editorial Cartoon

First Place: Zhang Yihan, The Affiliated High School of Peking University
What Holds Women Back
“The use of four different bondages on the woman in the middle really ties together all the elements in this piece. The message is very clear and well executed through the use of color and the placement of imagery.”

Second Place: Wang Zitong, King’s Edgehill School
Communication
“This is a great example of a simple but effective cartoon. The viewer can understand the message within seconds after looking at this piece. The limited color palette and exclusion of facial details allows the viewer to focus on the connective text bubble. The glow from the phone screens is also a subtle but nice touch that emphasizes where the people’s focus is.” 

Third Place: Sun Yiming, The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University
Justice
“The use of leading lines in the background of this piece is very effective at drawing the viewer toward the person in the middle. The use of smoke moving toward the person also helps with this. Additionally, the exclusion of faces and the use of blues with a touch of red in the background allows the message to shine through clearer.”

Honorable Mention: 

Zhao Yiwen, Capital Normal University High School
COVID-19

Category 20: Informational Graphic 

First Place: Yan Xinran, Suzhou Experimental High School
Visual Design of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Suzhou Song Brocade Information
“This is very detailed and well laid out. The visuals are properly placed among the text so that the viewer knows where to read next. The use of dissecting images to show as examples is very effective.”

Second Place: Yu Yuer, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School
The 7th Sports Meeting
“The use of the abstract 3-D 7 is a unique idea, paired with the athletes interacting with the number. The use of perspective creates a nice space that allows the viewer to focus on the colorful aspects and become more excited and curious about the event.”

Third Place: Jiang Chuan, Nanjing Jinling High School Hexi Campus
The Future Vehicle
“This is a very well thought out and detailed graphic. The use of imagery and text reads very clean and can easily inform the viewer on the topic. The color palette and spacing is also very consistent.”

Honorable Mention:

Ouyang Zize, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Experimental School
Game club recruitment poster

Category 21: News Magazine Front Page

First Place: Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou
School English Literature Magazine Cover Design
“The colors in this piece are really fun and appealing. The bubbly letters and thicker strokes with overlapping textures and figures creates a unique front and back cover that makes the viewer want to read more. The use of quotes on the covers also helps to emphasize the theme.”

Second Place: Han Qingran, RDFZ Xishan School
A Sport that Always Looks Up
“The use of perspective in this cover is really nice, as it draws the eye straight towards the main athlete. Using such a powerful stance as the main focus creates a sense of excitement in the viewer. The leading lines from the volleyball net also help lead the eyes towards the edge of the cover, as if welcoming viewers to open the magazine.”

Third Place:  Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou
The Demise of Nature
“The use of distortion on the images is nicely done without it causing the images to look too different. The shape that borders the edited areas of the images also helps create a cohesive look.”

Category 22: Newspaper Front Page Design

First Place: Liang YiFan, Northeast Yucai Experimental School
Nezha 
“There is a nice color palette that is being used throughout this piece throughout the visuals and text. The layout allows for the viewer to be drawn in by the large image and then want to know what the articles are about. Overall, the hierarchy is well thought out.”

Category 23: Feature Page Design

First Place: Shao Jiaqi, Springboard International Bilingual School
Ecological Balance System
“The use of lines in this piece is really well done. By creating vertical movement with the black lines, mountains, and smoke as well as horizontal lines in the background, a nice balance is found visually. The characters being placed vertically also helps establish a cohesiveness.”

Second Place: Li Selina Yiqi, BASIS International School Hangzhou
The PUMI
“This design has nice experimentation with collage and the overlap of images. The colors are cohesive and the layout is unique. Putting the images in a diagonal across the page and framing them with images of the roofs of buildings creates a nice line for the eye to follow, leading into the title.”

Third Place: Chen Weizhe, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School
Stop Gun Violence
“The angle of the text and illustration in this design is powerful, as it gives the sense of movement as well as danger, given the weapon. Using only gray tones and red also creates a better sense of urgency and importance.”

Honorable Mention:

Chen Weizhe, Chongqing Depu Foreign Language School
Fast Food is also Important

Multimedia Categories: 

Category 24: Video News or Feature

First Place: Cao Junyang, Beijing City International School
The Guardian
“This stellar entry has a lot of great footage and a nice mix of interviews and narration in order to tell the story. It was a creative and educational choice for a topic as well, I liked the idea that she was a guardian of her craft.”

Second Place: Chen Chufei, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University
Last sunset of 17
“This creative concept piece would fit right in with an indie coming of age movie. Between the great cinematography and music choice viewers are engaged the entire time. The setting was beautiful as well.”

Third Place: Chen Chufei, The Affiliated International School of Shenzhen University
Anti-involution Team
“This comedic video about mathematics and gangsters has great shot design and cinematography. The costumes also had a lot of great detail, as did the lighting. The storyline could have been fleshed out a little more with more text, but overall very strong.”

Honorable Mention:

Wang Jiayao and Wang Wenqi, Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shiyan School
Great Beijing 

Category 25: Documentary

First Place: Niu Huijun, United World College of Changshu China
The inspiration from the brush maker
“This documentary is not only well made and aesthetically pleasing, but also extremely thought provoking and emotional. The choice to turn a ‘failed’ documentary into a story of resilience and forgiveness is a lesson that everyone can learn. The ocean shots were fantastic and the background music was a great compliment to the story. The imagery used and the humility demonstrated made for a winning entry.”

Second Place: Shen Xingyi, The Bishop Strachan School and Veronica Chen, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
The meanings of our lives 
“This creative entry told three people’s stories, all under the umbrella of determining life’s purpose. There were some interesting visual elements such as pop up text messages and a flowchart. The background music was fun as well, though could have been toned down at some more serious parts. The journalist demonstrates excellent interview skills though the interviews could have been cut down for time.”

Third Place: Ji Jiatong, Tian Yihan, Chen Geyang, Qingdao Baishan AnnieWright School, and Aiden, Qingdao Amerasia International School
A village bordering on the coast
“The story of local village fishermen grappling with climate change and technological changes is an important one to tell. The camera work was at times shaky and too fast for the viewers, but the shots for the interviews were good. Unfortunately, there were no English captions for some of the interviews, but I am sure the content was interesting. I liked the photo at the end, but I think it could have been used for fewer seconds.”

Category 26: Multimedia Feature Package

First Place: Zhang Junxi, Victor Zhuang, Sera Chen, Tony Shao and Eddy Shen, BASIS International School Shenzhen
Maisu’s Package
“Maisu’s Package consists of four photos, two of a collaborative team and two of the final poster design. The interested font and detailed illustrations, along with the clever box like patterns in the corner, engage the viewer.”