Thai PBS has won the first prize in the Digital Content Award category from Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union at the ABU Prize 2024 for its data journalism and data visualization project - The Bag: The Heavy Burden on Children's Shoulders. The announcement was made at the 61st ABU General Assembly held from October 22-23, 2024, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) hosted this year’s General Assembly with the theme "The Nexus of AI, Broadcasting, and Society" at the Hilton Bosphorus in Istanbul. The gathering saw a significant turnout from ABU member media organizations, aiming to foster discussions on the transformative impact of AI on broadcasting, societal implications, and the role of public media. The event also included the highly anticipated ABU Prize 2024 awards ceremony.
The 2024 ABU Prize's entry acception was open from March 15 to June 30, 2024, covering three categories: Radio/Audio, TV, and Digital Content. Out of over 50 entries in the Digital Content category, "The Bag: The Heavy Burden on Children's Shoulders" by Thai PBS was shortlisted among the four finalists, alongside other top entries from international media organizations:
'Beyond Algorithm' by CMG-CGTN, China
'Chinese Folk Tales: Divine Farmer' by CMG-CRI, China
'Road to Carbon Neutrality' by RTPRC-CICC, China
'The BAG: The Heavy Burden on Children's Shoulders' by Thai PBS, Thailand
More on other 2024 ABU Prize winners: https://www.abu.org.my/2024/10/23/abu-prizes-2024-honour-excellence-in-radio-television-and-digital-media/
'The Bag' explores the societal impact of burdens on Thai children's life as students through data journalism, offering insights with compelling data visualization.
Kanokporn Prasitpol, Director of the Digital Media Center at Thai PBS, commented on receiving the award, stating, "This achievement marks a significant milestone for The Visual in winning this prize. What makes 'The Bag: The Heavy Burden on Children's Shoulders' unique is that it doesn’t merely highlight issues affecting children and youth, but aims to foster awareness and propose changes through data journalism and data visualization."
"Current data reveals that children aged 7-9 years, particularly those in Grades 1-3, often carry heavy school bags, which can lead to physical strain, affect posture, and even increase the long-term risk of scoliosis. To make the issue tangible and comprehensible for our readers and viewers, we collected and analyzed credible datasets, conducted sample tests, and interviewed stakeholders. The data was then transformed into an accessible narrative through storytelling and line-drawn visualizations, utilizing Generative AI to model children’s body structures across different ages. An interactive game feature allows audiences to engage directly with the content. Since launching 'The Bag,' the page has garnered over 5,174 views, with lively discussions across social media. Many see this as a significant issue for Thai children, urging parents and stakeholders to find solutions," Kanokporn added.
Find out more about 'The Bag: The Heavy Burden on Children's Shoulders' at the links below:
[Thai] https://thevisual.thaipbs.or.th/equality/thebag
[English] https://thevisual.thaipbs.or.th/equality/thebag/eng
More about The Visual
The Visual by Thai PBS is a data visualization website offering new perspectives on social issues through themes such as Equality, Environment, Urban Life, and Culture. Using data journalism, The Visual translates complex, large-scale datasets into simple, compelling stories, incorporating visualizations, interactivity, game features, and multimedia to engage users. By making data visible and accessible, it aims to foster awareness and understanding of societal issues, ultimately encouraging solutions under the concept, “Making Data Visible.”
