Intimate China wins the Golden Mercur "Best Reportage"

The Golden Mercur is an annual prize for Dutch magazines. There are different categories. The China special, 35 pages of pictures and stories from Photo MA students based in Dalian published in Onze Wereld magazine in July 2008, was edited by Photo MA tutor Pieter Van der Houwen and designed by photo MA graduate Boris Austin won “Best Reportage 2008”.

The Netherlands is a small country , but has a strong documentary tradition. Think of the IDFA , International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, the biggest and most important documentary festival in the world. And of course the World Press Photo Awards which has been working with and for photojournalists for more that half a century. World Press Photo has already congratulated the editorial team.


JURY REPORT

It is an enormous achievement that a relatively small magazine like “Onze Wereld” could initiate such a large production. Thanks to the intensive cooperation with Dalian Image Art College in China and their partner the University of Bolton it was possible to work with photographers who live in China and who to some degree speak the language. This made it possible to photograph the daily life of the Chinese in the pre Olympic period. One very experienced member of the jury stated : “ I cant believe that Onze Wereld made this beautiful series. The quality of the photographs make this submission very special, showing this imitate unknown side of Chinese society. The organisation, production and design fitted seamlessly in the formula of Onze Wereld, resulting in a fantastic 35 pages. That’s why the Golden Mercur Goes to Onze Wereld.



As world eyes fall on China ahead of the upcoming Olympic games in 2008, how do you see China portrayed in the media? What types of stories do you hear? What do you know and what would you like to know?

A documentary film by Photo MA graduate Boris Austin about the making of a 30 Page "China Special" for Dutch Magazine Onze Wereld. The project, curated by Photo MA visiting lecturer Pieter vander Houwen and Boris, uses photo essays created by MA students and graduates to give a new perspective of China to a western audience.
See the anouncement on the Onze Wereld website ...here
See the film on the Onze Wereld website ...here
See the film on Vimeo ...here
See the slide show ...here
Download the magazine PDF ...here