CNA Photographer Chang Hsin-wei Nominated for Wu San-lien Journalism Award

The 40th Wu Shunwen Journalism Awards officially announced the highly anticipated shortlist of nominees today, marking a major annual event for Taiwan’s news industry. In this prestigious competition, which symbolizes journalistic professionalism and quality, the Central News Agency (CNA) received favorable news. Outstanding photojournalist Zhang Xinwei successfully earned a nomination in the “News Photography – Single Frame” category for his work, “Lin Chih-sheng’s Farewell Game: Hitting His 305th Career Home Run in the CPBL.” This nomination not only serves as a significant affirmation of Zhang’s years of dedicated effort and deep expertise in sports photojournalism but also further highlights CNA’s exceptional capabilities in capturing news imagery and disseminating documentary records.

Since its inception, the Wu Shunwen Journalism Awards have remained one of the most credible and influential accolades in Taiwan’s media sector. The awards aim to recognize outstanding reporting and visual works that have had a significant social impact, while demonstrating high ethical standards and technical excellence in journalism. This year’s 40th edition marks a significant milestone, with particularly fierce competition as leading print, electronic, and online media outlets submitted their most representative news works from the past year. Among the numerous high-quality entries, Zhang Xinwei’s selection for the single-frame news photography category underscores the high level of professional proficiency and emotional impact of his work in terms of composition, dynamic capture, and historical documentation.

The subject of the nominated photograph is Lin Chih-sheng, a legendary star in Taiwanese baseball. The image captures the critical moment when Lin hit his 305th career home run during his farewell game. For baseball fans in Taiwan, Lin’s name is virtually synonymous with an era of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), where he established numerous magnificent records and created heart-stirring moments. The farewell game itself was charged with intense emotional tension and historical significance. Through his lens, Zhang Xinwei did more than just record the fraction of a second when the bat struck the ball; he perfectly froze the player’s relentless fighting spirit, the boiling atmosphere of the stadium, and the shock and emotion felt by the entire audience as they witnessed history.

The value of news photography lies in telling a story through a single image, often surpassing the power of words. In the rapidly changing environment of sports events, photojournalists often have only a fleeting moment to anticipate, focus, and press the shutter. Zhang Xinwei’s ability to capture such a tense and perfectly composed frame during Lin Chih-sheng’s final glorious moment reflects his deep professional technical skills, profound understanding of baseball, and sharp perceptiveness under pressure. This photograph is not only a perfect footnote to Lin’s legendary career but also a precious visual archive in the history of Taiwanese baseball development, carrying historical weight that transcends time and space.

With the release of the shortlist, industry professionals and fans alike are now turning their attention to the upcoming final review and awards ceremony. Zhang Xinwei’s nomination has added luster to the Central News Agency and once again reminded the public of the indispensable role played by news photojournalists in recording the times. Regardless of whether he ultimately wins the top prize, this photograph, which freezes the glorious moment of the 305th home run, has been deeply imprinted in the hearts of all Taiwanese. It has become an eternal classic in Taiwan’s sports culture and has added a vibrant stroke to the 40th Wu Shunwen Journalism Awards.

(Source: Central News Agency)