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Hong Kong protests: South China Morning Post video team triumphs in 2020 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize

  • Video producer Dayu Zhang takes the Grand Prize at European Commission awards for his short film amid last year’s anti-government protests
  • The piece focuses on a community group trying to defuse tensions between demonstrators and police during clashes

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Citizen's group Protect the Children on mission to 'safeguard' Hong Kong protesters

Citizen's group Protect the Children on mission to 'safeguard' Hong Kong protesters

The South China Morning Post video team has scooped the top honour at this year’s prestigious 2020 Lorenzo Natali Media Prize organised by the European Commission.

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Amid the tumult of last year’s anti-government protests, Dayu Zhang, a video producer for the Post, created a short film titled “The ‘thin yellow line’ standing between Hong Kong police and protesters”, which looks at the unrest from the perspective of a community group seeking to defuse tensions between demonstrators and police.

As well as winning the Grand Prize this time, Zhang’s piece published in October also came second in the short category of the World Press Photo’s 2020 Digital Storytelling Contest earlier this year.

“[The story] starts with a very touching introduction, and features a perspective we rarely hear from. In that story, the grand jury saw resilience, and inspiration for all regardless of where you are to demand more from the government,” said Kingsley Okeke, one of the members of the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize’s jury.
Zhang said the piece was one of the most significant stories he had covered during the protests, which were sparked last June by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.
“I hope this video can help people around the world better understand the movement in the city. Winning the prize is a great encouragement for me and I will keep working hard to tell stories that give a voice to the voiceless,” Zhang said.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague Zoe Low in the city desk for helping me with the interview. And my amazing colleagues in the video team for helping me make this film. I couldn’t have done it without them. This is definitely a win for the team.”
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Post video producer Dayu Zhang. Photo: Lea Li
Post video producer Dayu Zhang. Photo: Lea Li
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