Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming 26th Asian Television Awards (ATA) and Chua Qin Kai, the presenter of the current affairs programme Hello Singapore expressed her excitement as she was recently announced to be one of the hosts for the prestigious awards show. 

Speaking to Television Asia Plus, Qin Kai said that she feels elated and honoured to be given the opportunity to host the show which she is hosting for the first time. “For someone who grew up watching TV programmes and who is also in the TV industry for close to eight years, it is indeed meaningful for me to be part of the ATA to celebrate the best of Asian television,” Qin Kai said.

Qin Kai doesn’t just have a background in presenting news in current affairs programmes, but she’s an experienced events host as well, having hosted the “Sian Chay Bonding with Love Charity” show in 2019. With a flair for storytelling, Qin Kai said she’s confident that she can engage audiences to bring out the essence of the ATA. “The digital show format is not new to me as I have been presenting without live guests and audience in the news studio for almost two years due to COVID-19,” she said. “I believe we can work together as a team to make the awards show a memorable one despite having some limitations brought about by the pandemic.” 

Delivering news with a passion

According to Qin Kai, TV news is keeping up with the pace to adapt to the ever-changing media landscape. Besides presenting, she’s also a news reporter and producer, and being inquisitive comes naturally to her. “I always keep myself connected to the ground and keep abreast of the happenings around me. Sometimes, I feel bad for asking too much when talking to friends but I guess this is just my nature of being curious which is a basic requirement of my job,” Qin Kai said.

To aspiring news journalists who want to follow in Qin Kai’s footsteps, the host said that a news journalist must have good listening ears and perseverance. “He or she needs to be fair and objective to hear out different voices,” Qin Kai said. “However, if I were to choose one quality, it is the passion. The passion is what drives you to produce great stories for the audience.” 

Qin Kai said that a veteran once told her, “When you stay in the industry for too long, the passion will evolve to patience.” While Qin Kai is uncertain as to whether this will happen to her, she believes that there is always patience lurking behind the passion. She said, “With all kinds of unprecedented incidents happening daily, you must be able to work around your schedule to react to the changes. If you are not willing to integrate part of your work into your personal life, maybe you might want to reconsider that option again.” 

Qin Kai added, “I would like to encourage [those who want to pursue a career in the news industry] to be passionate, be truthful to yourself, and at the same time, be realistic with your goals. I look forward to meeting you at our news ground.”

Catch Qin Kai along with hosts Louis Hesse, Thanh Giang, Benjamin Tan, and Paolo Del Rosario at the 26th Asian Television Awards happening on 10 and 11 December at 8:00 p.m. SGT which will be broadcasted by JSBC, Formosa TV, PSM, Cignal, TV5, meWatch, IMC, Vidio, O Channel, Citra Entertainment, and The Indonesia Channel. The awards show will also be live-streamed on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Weibo. For more information, please visit the official Asian Television Awards website.