Stomp wins Silver and Bronze awards for Best News Mobile Service and Best Reader Engagement at Asian Digital Media Awards 2016

Understanding its audience, reacting fast to trends and adopting new technologies are what Stomp does best and this was acknowledged with the website's double win at the 7th Asian Digital Media Awards (ADMA) on Wednesday (Nov 9).

Stomp's WhatsApp service clinched the Silver award in the Best News Mobile Service category. The website also won Bronze for Best Reader Engagement.

Stomp's WhatsApp service delivers content to readers directly on their mobile phones. They can receive breaking news updates as well as contribute reports to Stomp anytime and anywhere.

The website's WhatsApp user base has grown swiftly to nearly 3,000 subscribers since its launch in December 2015.

Apart from WhatsApp, the website attributes its extensive reach to its strong social media influence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Azhar Kasman, Editor of Stomp, believes in empowering readers to go beyond just reading and reporting news.

He said: "The key to Stomp's success is the high engagement and interaction we have with our readers. We want to put that to good use, like helping the public.

"For instance, the website, has on many occasions, successfully activated our readers via our social media platforms to help people find missing loved ones and priceless lost items. Being able to make someone's day gives us the motivation to do better."

The Asian Digital Media Awards gives recognition to individuals and organisations in Asia which embrace new technology, innovative thinking and creativity in digital media.

This year's event attracted 116 entries from 11 countries and 28 media companies. Organised by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (Wan-Ifra), the event was held in conjunction with the Digital Media Asia Conference.

Previously, Stomp's interactive iPad app won the Gold award in the Best New Product category at the 6th Asian Digital Media Award in 2015.

Stomp also won the Gold award in the Best in Original Content category, and was also awarded the Bronze award in the category for Best Use for Social Platform at the Mob-Ex Awards 2014.

So, what is next for Stomp? Editor Azhar Kasman says that producing compelling, hyperlocal videos will be the website's new focus.

He said: "Our team live by the mantra that 'it isn't viral until it's on Stomp'.

"And nothing goes viral more easily than videos.

"We want to create videos based on trending topics that resonate with Singaporeans. And while the videos may be created in a fun, humorous and lighthearted manner, there will be powerful messages embedded within them.

"In fact, we have already started posting these videos on Stomp's Facebook page, and the response has been good. Readers can check them out, and we always welcome feedback."