2024 Writing, Photo and Multimedia Contest Results

ASDAN China Students

WRITING CATEGORIES: 

Editorial Writing

First Place: So Lucas, Concordia International School Shanghai
High Stakes: The Sobering Downside of Cannabis Legalization

“The story is informative and explores the less popular perspective on cannibas legalization. It is a well researched and written piece of journalism. Great work!”

Second Place: Huang Sarah, Shanghai American School PUXI
The Advent of Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Language Preservation

“Aside from being well-written, this topic is important and newsworthy. The piece begins with a great lede, an essential component to any successful journalistic work!”

Third Place: Han Xuqian Ben, The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
Digital Education in Slums: Collaborative action is the path forward for Kenya’s informal settlements

“This piece speaks about an important topic, education for refugee children and utilizes an interesting topic for the lede, chess education. This is well researched and I learned a lot while reading!” 

Honorable Mention: Liu Ruiqi, The Shipley School
Echoes of Silence: Confronting Gun Violence

Honorable Mention: Jiang Chengdong, Shenzhen Middle School
Technological Advancements and Workers’ Rights: A Comparative Analysis of American and Chinese Food Delivery Drivers

Honorable Mention: Bian Abila Nai Yang, Wycombe Abbey School
The Russian Propaganda Machine

News Writing

First Place: Eton Au, Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Artificial Intelligence, Human Error Is Technology Worsening Inequality and Discrimination?

“This piece is very current and newsworthy. I learned a lot about the world of AI and is well researched.”

Second Place: Chen Yanlin, Shenzhen College of International Education
Outsourcing Birth: An Overview of International Controversies Around Surrogacy and Possible Alternatives

“I like the narrative lede this story hooks readers in with. It is well researched and lays out the topic very well. Great job!”

Third Place: Guan Yin, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
The Xi-Biden Summit Transformed Sino-US Economic Relations

“This piece successfully lays out the relationship between China and the US and their economic and foreign relations.”

Honorable Mention: Shiping Zhu, Maranatha High School
Painting Another Future: AI’s Fascinating Role in Global Art Conservation

Feature Writing

First Place: Yun Duoduo, Beijing New Talent Academy: Cambridge International Center
Xinchang Ancient Town: the commercialised old town memory

“This story was colorful and interesting to read! The piece really brings this town to life! Great use of quotes and photos. Overall- fantastic reporting.”

Second Place: Yang Shuhan, Shenzhen Middle School
Why Poker-sized Photo Cards Cost Chinese High School Students So Much

“This was such a fun story to read about a piece of culture I did not know about! The article was engaging and easy to read. Nicely done!”

Third Place: Zhouyixin, Xi’an No. 1 High School
Shenyang Xita: Culture Melting Pot in Northeast China

“This piece was very well-written. Your thorough research of the topic really showed and I liked the way you broke down the different phases of historical development. Great work!”

Honorable Mention: Kim Sweoong, Shanghai High School International Division
Revolutionizing Healthcare: The Transformative Potential of 3D Printing in Medicine

Review Writing

First Place: Li Serena Yufei, Shanghai American School PUXI
“Like Father and Son” Movie Review

“This piece is beautifully written and gives readers a great understanding of the movie. The piece convinced me, I’m adding it to my movie list!”

Second Place: Elinor Wing, Ching Sze Chinese International School
Where The Monsters Are: Questioning Art from Criminal Artists

“This piece deals with a sensitive topic in a mature and well-written way. The historical background is a great addition! The detection of Dederer’s lack of conclusion makes for a though provoking finish.”

Third Place: Shen Chenletian, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School
Framing the Limitless: If Life Were a Movie

“This piece utilizes imagery through word choice and description. It is a concise yet detailed piece, a hard balance to achieve!”

Honorable Mention: Angran Li, Wellington College International Shanghai
The Clash of Cultures – A Review of Wole Soyinka’s play Death and the Kings Horseman

Honorable Mention: Yu Chenfei, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School
King’s Table Review: An Inspiring Symphony of History and Progression

Honorable Mention: Huang Yunming Chongqing, Nankai Secondary School
Success or failure?

Honorable Mention: Tongyao Zhang, Shenzhen College of International Education
Fading Echoes: Why Jay Chou’s ‘Christmas Star’ Fails to Resonate

In-Depth Reporting (Individual)

First Place: Zhuang Heng (Adam), Dublin High School
Analysis of the logic of sports commercialization and its development of China and the US
“I absolutely love the lede! It hooked me in for the rest of the piece!”

Second Place: Zhang Huixuan, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China
Breaking the Chains: Women’s Journey fromHistorical Impediments to Contemporary Empowerment 
“This is a very thoughtful piece, the subsections are picked thoughtfully and create an effective flow through the piece.”

Third Place: Yao Yu, Shanghai Pinghe School
Beauty short-form video content marketing homogenization problem discussion
“Though not written in a traditional journalism format, this piece walks readers through a complicated topic well.”

Honorable Mention: Jiaqi Liu , Shanghai Academy
Water Problems in Venice

Sports Feature

First Place: Wang Xinyue, Hong Kong International School
Snowy Serenity Under Threat: Climate Change’s Impact on Japanese Ski Resorts and the Divergent Experience for Locals and Tourists

“This is a very-well written piece! I loved how each section delved into the different aspects of climate change have affected ski resorts in Japan. It is very well-researched and provided a great overview of the topic.”

Second Place: Zheng Jiasen, American School Puxi Campus
Qin Haiyang: A Journey of Courage, Ambition, and World Records

“This was a really engaging piece! Great storytelling, I really enjoyed learning about Qin Hayang’s connection to swimming and rise to success.“

Third Place: Wang Chen Hao, The Village High School
Through the comparison and contrast between NBA and CBA to analyze the logic of sports industry between America and China

“This piece was really well researched! Great job weaving in statistics and information throughout the story.“

Honorable Mention: No name, Eton Au Canadian International School of Hong Kong
The Pros Behind the Pros: The People Who Make Professional Sports Happen

Sports Game Event

First Place: Chengzhiyan, Pegasus California High School
Game between Real Madrid and Barcelona- October 28th

“This piece does a great job providing play by play of the game! Great use of description and imagery, it really brings the reader into the game.”

Sports Column Writing

First Place: Zijian Xu, United World College of Changsu China
They strive in the vortex, and we come from football –Italian-inspired, Chinese perspective

“I really liked how much your voice and passion for football came through in these piece! Great job on all the research you put in as well.“

Second Place: Lu Yi, New Oriental Academy
Can the Los Angeles Dodgers form a “Dodge Dynasty” in the 2024 season

“This piece was really well-researched. Great commentary!“

Third Place: Yuening Weng, Schenzhen College of International Education
Gliding Triumphs: Artistry and Grit Redefine the Ice at Grand Prix Final 2023

“This piece was very well written. I liked the writing style and there was great description of each of the performances mentioned throughout the piece.“

Honorable Mention: Jiang Wanlin, Shenzhen Experimental School
Breaking the Ice – The Dark Reality Behind Eteri Tutberidze’s Figure Skating Empire

Profile Writing

First Place: Tingru Cao, UWC Changshu China
A Couple with Disabili1es Ventured into Coffee-making.

“Great use of description to really paint a picture! The story was engaging and I liked the use of quotes and photos.”

Second Place: Liu Yi Yang, High School Affiliated with Renmin University of China
Photographer and a Swan

“Great research on all aspects of Pan’s work. I liked the detail you put into describing his artistic process. The presentation of the story was great too. Nicely done!”

Third Place: Liu Bangyan, High School Affiliated with Renmin University of China

“This was a really interesting profile! Great job researching a complex topic. I also liked how you broke the piece down into smaller sections.”

Honorable Mention: Ma Youran, Xishan School
Madame Curie of the Middle East

Honorable Mention: Yufei Wu, Beijing High School
Self-achievement through talent and interest

Column Writing

First Place: Wang Xuan, Weiyu International School
Will artificial intelligence have consciousness?

“Great exploration into this complex topic! I liked your application of Sartre’s thinking in answering this question. Great work!”

Second Place: Huang Ziheng, Asheville School
Beyond Simply Music

“I liked the combination of your personal experiences with research and data points. Overall a great piece on the impact of music on health. Nicely done!”

Third Place: Chen Yinou Bad, School of the Highschool Affiliated to Renmin University of China
Taking a Sneak Peek into the Greco-Roman Universe

“This was interesting piece on ancient philosophy. It was easy to understand and engaging. Good job!”

Health, Science, Agricultural Writing 

First Place: Han Zhenyang, Hangzhou High School
Revolutionizing Chinese AI: Baidu’s Wenxin Surpasses ChatGPT

“This piece is very well-written and the lede hooked me in! The writer sounds knowledgable on the subject area while still making it understandable for readers.”

Second Place: Ma Haora, Flint Hill Scholl
A Look into The Advancement of Electric Power Systems Based on IoT

“This is a very interesting topic that I didn’t know about prior to reading. It was insightful and descriptive. Great job!”

Third Place: Elinor Wing, Ching Sze Chinese International School
Which Microbe?: Preparing for the Next Pandemic

“This piece is very relevant and insightful. A lot of research and work was put forth. I appreciate the integration of the South China Morning Post interview. Great job!”

Climate and Environment Writing

First Place: Gao Zichun, Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy
Catastrophic flood causes profound destruction from multiple aspects in Italy

“I really like your tone of voice, it is narrative and paints a picture for readers. Great work!”

Second Place: Han Xuqian Ben, The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
Salty to Savvy: Tackling Desalination Brine’s Environmental Challenges with Technology

“The headline is fabulous and I learned so much while reading your article!”

Third Place: Maïthé Chini and Lauren Walker, Peng Yiyou Guangzhou Foreign Language School
The end of budget flights? France pushes for minimum ticket prices in Europe

“This is a really interesting topic that I didn’t know much about. The piece is well written and informative.“

PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORIES: 

News Feature Photo

First Place: Xu Kehan, Wuxi Big Bridge Academy
A glance the bird photographers

“I love this photo! The head-on perspective is great, and the woman in the center with her arms crossed looking directly at the viewer makes this photo really engaging.”

Second Place: Wu Qinli, Shenzhen Middle School
Migrant Worker

“The way this photo is framed is excellent! I think showing this photo in black and white was a great choice, with the skyline starting to fade into the background as the worker walks away from it.”

Third Place: Fang Yuqing, HD Ningbo School
Night Walker

“I love the dramatic lighitng in this photo! The silhouette of the subject against the orange lighting outside is really striking.”

Honorable Mention: Luo Heyuan, Beanstalk International Bilingual School
A glimmer of vitality

Honorable Mention: Zheng Xitaotong, Guangzhou Zhixin High School
Dancing Girl

Sports Action Photo

First Place: Yuk Zhiyuan, Deerfield Academy
Racing Towards Dawn

“This photo is extremely vibrant and captures two athletes at the break of morning. The dramatic lighting helps emphasize their determination to keep running.”

Second Place: Zhang Yilan, Beijing Number 4 International Campus
Shamanism ambassador’s rural life

“There is a clear sense of motion in this photo, and it does a good job showing lifestyle and culture.”

Third Place: Yuk Zhiyuan, Deerfield Academy
Spirited Scrimmage of Youthful Tenacity

“This photo captures the chaos of a moment of action and the emotion on the Deerfield player’s face very well.”

Honorable Mention: Wang Chen Hao, The Village High School
The Beginning of Reverse Strike

Sports Reaction Photo

First Place: Zhang Enlong, Qibao Dwight High School
Chasing

“This photo is well-focused and devotes all its attention to its two subjects. There is a good sense of movement and the photo is very dynamic.”

Second Place: Zhang Enlong, Qibao Dwight High School
Scramble for a frisbee
“This photo is very dynamic and does a great job showing movement. The viewer’s eye easily follows from the boy’s hand to the frisbee he is trying to catch.”

Third Place: Zhang Enlong, Qibao Dwight High School
Suspicion
“This photo does a great job of conveying emotion by only showing one girl’s face. Because of this, the viewer is left to wonder what the other girl is thinking and if the girl in the blue shirt is right to be suspicious.”

Photo Illustration

First Place: Yufan Liao, Vanke Meisha Academy
The moon bridge

“This photo is really well-framed and immediately catches the viewer’s eye. The reflection of the bridge is what makes this one so interesting.”

Second Place: Andrew Wang, Concordia International School Shanghai
The Man and the sea

“This photo does a great job with perspective. It touches nicely on how small we seem in a big world. Black and white was an interesting choice here.”

Third Place: Yao Muhan, The Hill School
Possibility

“The title really helps sell this photo. The sole light shining in and representing possibility is a great artistic choice.”

Honorable Mention: Zhou Yunbo, Ulink College of Suzhou
Nostalgic Storefront

Honorable Mention: Wu Qinli, Shenzhen Middle School 
Dream or Reality

Honorable Mention: Xu Kehan, Big Bridge Academy
The Swing of Jiangnan

Honorable Mention: Xu Kehan, Big Bridge Academy
Eagle Training in Jilin: Witnessing a Tradition

Honorable Mention: Wang Qinche, Tsinghua International School 
Brook on Yudu mountain

Photo Slideshow

First Place: Wang Yiwen, ESHTTC
The ancient city of Beijing after the snow

“These photos do a great job of capturing a stoic and calm atmosphere after snow has fallen in Beijing. The written portion describes quiet beauty quite nicely.”

Second Place: Hou Yafei, Jinan Xinhang Experimental Foreign language School
The dust-laden memory

“The photos capture the quietness of an abandoned place while focusing on the details that evoke its history. I really liked the written portion and the historical background it gave!”

Profile Portrait

First Place: Lujiangnan Zhejiang, Hangzhou High School
He is carrying his hope

“I love the title so much! This photo is so simple yet so effective because it perfectly captures the bond between father and son.”

Second Place: Xu Kehan, Big Bridge Academy
Disappearing Culture：A Glimpse into Dulong Heritage and Transformation

“This photo does a great job of capturing the woman’s expression and leaving the viewer wondering what she is thinking.”

Third Place: Ye Minkai, WLSA Shanghai Academy
Summer in Longji Terrace

“I love the format of showing a small figure against a large space. It’s a very interesting way to show perspective.”

Honorable Mention: Zihan Yuan, United World Colleges of Changshu China
Grandpa’s Xiao

Honorable Mention: Sun Ruiying, Beijing No.4 High School
The Elderly in Daliang Mountain

Honorable Mention: Zou Yi Fan, Beijing No.2 Middle School
Old Witch

DESIGN CATEGORIES: 

Editorial Cartoon

First Place: Chwang Matthew, Taipei American School
Fire of Liberty

“Really cool medium and stylization of the statue of liberty. You very well show the emotions behind your cartoon and the results ends up a being a beautiful cartoon. Great job!”

Second Place: Xu Leyang, WLSA Shanghai Academy
Embracing the Duality of Self

“The cartoon has so many layers and it is an experience for the viewer decoding what each layer mean. The clearly thought out scenes add to its complexity. Also the black and white gives it a darker mood. Great job!” 

Third Place: Kaya Kensho, Shanghai American School
Dreams Beyond Adversity

“The cartoon is very moving and you did a great job of depicting the emotions on the kid’s face. The use of pastel is also a great choice as it gives the cartoon a nostalgic feel. Great job!”

Informational Graphic 

First Place: Adeline Wei, Basis International School Guangzhou
Shut up Plague

“Fantastic use of imagery and text within elements to provide a somber mood to the design and further your graphic’s intent. The use of a central element (the plague mask) with text surrounding was also nicely done. Great job!”

Second Place: Adeline Wei, Basis International School Guangzhou
How To Color

“Love the use of lines and colors in the graphic to really catch the eye of the viewer. Very nice touch to inclide words within the objects to make your point about the graphic. Good job!”

Third Place: Michelle Ailin Zheng, Shanghai High School International Division
Sustainable Skylines
“Nice use of text in an unconventional way. The rays stemming from her mounth make both her the central imagine of the graphic and also let your viewer visually understand there is more to read and drag their eye elsewhere. Nice job!”

News Magazine Front Page

First Place: Li Jiani, Xian Tieyi High School
Your words don’t define me monthly news

“Really cool use of countout of the same imagien to add to the message of the cover, I like the color themes and how it catches the eye but still soothing. Great job!”

Second Place: Chen Yiyao Hangzhou, Foreign Language School
FINDING DELPHI

“Very clean simple cover that conveys a message. Really nice use of textures in the suns. I like the balance between colors and text. Great job!”

Third Place: Wang Zifei, Xian Tieyi high school
Refuse appearance anxiety

“Good purple color theme throughout. The text font is a little hard to read. The colors used lend themselves well for the image to be the central focus. Good job!”

Feature Page Design (single page)

First Place: Gao Zichun, Beijing Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy
Adaptability

“Fantastic job on the use of light to highlight and draw attention to certain aspects of the cover. Color balance makes the cover appealing to the eye. Good job!“

Second Place: Xiaoyue Hu, Dulwich International High School Suzhou
Table tennis

“Nice use of ‘unusual’ elements to add depth to the page such as the lined boxes. I like how there are visual elements that refer back to table tennis without having to read the title. Good job!“

Third Place: Xiaoyue Hu, Dulwich International High School Suzhou
Tennis

“I like the different elements used in the page to make the design, and the hand progression was a nice touch. Good job!“

Feature Page Design (two-page spread)

First Place: Yang Qirong, the experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University
Say Goodbye to PANDAs

“Good use of combination beween design elements and photos to tell your story! The color theme also helped. I love the little detail over the P of Panda. Good job!”

Sports Page(s) Design

First Place: Wang Yu, Justin-Siena High School
Lakers vs. Warriors

“Really cool juxtaposition of colors between the Warriors and Laker side but still able to maintain unity and not seem jarring to the reader. Good how both players look inward and are in similar position to add to parallels. Good job!“

Editorial Page(s) Design

First Place: Zhang Qihui, Beijing No.80 High School
Hateful perpetrator of cyberbullying

“I like the juxtaposition of the pink green and black. The fonts used, while a little hard to see are aye catching and grab the viewers’ attention. Good job!“

MULTIMEDIA CATEGORIES: 

Video Features Package

First Place: Wuyufei, Hang Zhou High School
The preparation for the Asian Game

“This video has a clear topic and communicates a lot of information about the Asian Game. The shot composition and overall editing flow is very strong.”

Second Place: Zhang Liqing, Other institutions
Counterattack

“This video clearly communicates a storyline around the topic of preparing for the SAT test. The characters are effective in showing the experience many students have.”

Documentary

First Place: Chen Yiyao, Chu Yichen, Lin Han, Hangzhou Foreign Language School
A Journey into Fragrance

“The shot composition and editing on this video are really strong. The b-roll complements the interviews and narrative content well and shots are well set up and well exposed. It is a beautifully executed video.”

Second Place: Alyssa Wang, Wenzhou Semir United International School
Thousand-year Porcelain Spirit, Blending Tradition and Modern

“This is a well shot and edited video. The story is interesting and is complemented well by b-roll and background audio.The composition and variety of shots is very effective.”

Third Place: Zhou Yuli, Lu Shangning, United World College Changshu China/ Beijing No.11 High School
Everything Above The Earth or Underneath

“This video uses beautiful footage combined with archive materials really effectivley. The interviews interact well with the b-roll and editing style. It very clearly tells a narrative.”

Multimedia Opinion Package

First Place: Guo Fengning, Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School
Beyond the Tasks

“This video provides an interesting thought exercise as to the meaning of our everyday lives. There is a wide variety of shots and angles which are smoothly edited together.“

Second Place: Ma Xiaoxi, Shanghai World Foreign Language Academy
Welcome To The Internet

“The art and illustration skills of the creator are evident in this piece. The illustrations correspond to the lyrics of the song well and the editing is crisp.“

News Video Package

First Place: Li Zirui, Chengdu Foreign Languages School
Charlotte Hornets signed former SDSU Nathan Mensah with a two-way contract

“This video shows strong research and knowledge of the topic. The clips and voiceover are edited together well and it is easy to follow and informative.“

News Show

First Place: HE JIAPENG, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School
SSBS News 2023 Fall

“This news show has all the signs of a professional news show and is an impressive piece of work. Each story seems well reported, with visuals and narrative to go along. The on-camera anchor work is also strong.”

Audio Podcast (single episode)

First Place: Yu Muhe, BASIS International School Nanjing
After Three Years of the Pandemic what are some problems that the artists and the art exhibitions are facing?

“This episode very effectively uses interviews, audio editing skills and the host’s dialogue to portray the story. The audio levels make it easy to understand and the interview feels very conversational.“

Second Place: Li Zirui, Chengdu Foreign Languages School
Local hero

“The narrative flow of this episode is strong and brings readers along throughout the entire episode. Good editing work as well.“

Third Place: Lu Siyi, RDFZ Xishan School
How did I found my problems in teaching

“The narrative in this episode is very strong. The audio is clear and easy to understand and clearly communicates the story.“