An increasing focus on reporting China to the world helped two of the region's biggest publishers to success in the Asian Digital Media Awards.

Singapore Press Holdings scored five wins including one for its ThinkChina.sg website (pictured), while the South China Morning Post - with its frontline coverage of the Hong Kong protests - came in a close second place.

Winners were announced in a virtual ceremony during last week's WAN-Ifra Digital Media Asia conference, and presented by veteran BBC, CNBC and Al-Jazeera news presenter Teymoor Nabili.

Some 140 entries were received in this year's competition, with all regional winners automatically entered into the global event.

SPH won three golds and two silvers, while South China Morning Post scored three golds and one silver.

A new special award for publishers with annual revenue of less than US$10 million went to AsiaOne, Eco-Business, JX Press Corporation and kumparan. The work recognised AsiaOne (Singapore) for best news website or mobile service; Eco-Business (Singapore) for best use of online video (including VR), and best native advertising/branded content campaign; JX Press Corporation (Japan) for best special project for COVID-19; and kumparan (Indonesia) for best in audience engagement, and best marketing campaign for a news brand.

Here is the full list of winners for the ten categories:

Best News Website or Mobile Service

Gold: ThinkChina.sg by Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings.

Silver: 70 Years of Waiting by Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings.

Special Award: GE2020 by Asiaone Online (Singapore).

Best in Lifestyle, Sports, Entertainment Website or Mobile Services

Gold: How The Straits Times uncovered a love scammer's 3-month ruse by The Straits. Times, Singapore Press Holdings.

Silver: Yummy by IDN Media (Indonesia).

Best in Audience Engagement

Gold: Zaobao Rewards Loyalty Programme by Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings.

Silver: IDN Times by IDN Media (Indonesia).

Special Award: Home of Premier League by kumparan (Indonesia).

Best Use of Online Video (including VR)

Gold: On the 'Front Line' with Hong Kong protesters by South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).

Silver: 1.17 - 25 Years Since that Day by Asahi Shimbun (Japan).

Special Award: Changing Course: On This Earth by Eco-Business (Singapore)

Best Data Visualisation

Gold: Drowning in Plastic by Reuters (Singapore)

Silver: Cantonese Performing Art by South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).

Best Native Advertising/Branded Content Campaign

Gold: Uncover Art Macao by South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).

Silver: IDN Creative: Yummy x Indomilk - Limitless Recipes by IDN Media (Indonesia).

Special Award: Changing Course 2019: An Exploration of Our Climate Crisis by Eco-Business (Singapore).

Best Paid Content Strategy (including paywall, membership or crowdfunding models)

Gold: News that's Worth Paying For by Apple Daily (Hong Kong).

Silver: Stuff Supporter Programme by Stuff (New Zealand).

Best Marketing Campaign for News Brand

Gold: Uncovering the Trust, Confronting Injustice by Apple Daily (Hong Kong).

Silver: CNA Celebrate Asia by Mediacorp (Singapore).

Special Award: kumparanWOMAN by kumparan (Indonesia).

Best Project for News Literacy (new category)

Gold: Fight Against Fake News - Innovative Ideas and Effective Actions by Vietnam News Agency.

Silver: You Ask, We Answer: Questions About a Pandemic by The Straits Times, Singapore Press Holdings.

Best Special Project for COVID-19 (new category)

Gold: Coronavirus Pandemic microsite by South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).

Silver: Explaining Covid-19 by Reuters (Singapore).

Special Award: Map of the Latest Covid-19 Outbreaks in Japan by JX Press Corporation.