Nita Bhalla, South Asia Chief Correspondent for Thomson Reuters Foundation, took home Journalist of the Year at the 2017 SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence, held in Hong Kong on June 15, 2017.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation's investigation into unreported child deaths in India's illegal mica mines, entered for the Award, was described by the judges as a "brave exposé of the deadly conditions for Indian children involved in the production of mica - once called “fool’s gold” but now used to create the sparkle in cosmetics - that shows the real fools are the illegal mine operators who thought their crimes would go unreported."
Other highlights from Nita's reporting on modern slavery and human trafficking include:
- "Kung Fu" nuns bike Himalayas to oppose human trafficking
- Fashion's deadliest disaster prompts Bangladeshi workers to opt for university
- Charity targets spinning mills in India, Bangladesh to end slavery in fashion industry
- New technology aims to speedily repatriate South Asia's trafficked children
The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence were established in 1999 as a tribute to editorial excellence in both traditional and new media, and were designed to encourage editorial vitality throughout the region. The awards cover a broad range of categories reflecting Asia’s diverse geo-political environment and vibrant editorial scene. For more information, visit: https://www.sopawards.com/
