Excellence in Commentary/Op-Ed/Perspective

Cindy Zhu Huijgen, “I Was Adopted From China as a Baby. I’m Still Coming to Terms With That.,” The New York Times

ABOUT THE WORK: Many adoptees expressed gratitude for seeing their experiences reflected in mainstream media. Typically, media coverage centers on adoptive parents and agencies, sidelining the experiences of those most affected. As one adoptee advocate notes, “Historically, the focus has been almost exclusively on adoptive parents, rarely interviewing or quoting adult Chinese adoptees.”

For many unfamiliar with international adoption, the essay was eye-opening. Since its publication, reporters and editors covering China have reached out, sharing how it shifted their perspective on the topic. The expertise helped them see the broader implications of international adoption, showing it is not simply a “fairy tale” of children getting better lives abroad. Adoptees often feel torn between two cultures, struggling to fit into their adoptive countries, and not fully identifying with the experiences of the diaspora from their birth countries. This disconnect can leave adoptees feeling marginalized. By elevating their voices, mainstream media can help contextualize their experiences, acknowledging their unique position and the relevance of their traumas.

Cindy Zhu Huijgen is a Dutch reporter and author based in Beijing. Her debut book Dit is ook China: Terug naar mijn geboorteland (2024, Pluim) delves into the challenges of working as a foreign correspondent in China, while also exploring her adoption journey and her quest to find her Chinese birth parents.

Honorable Mention: Yangyang Cheng, “Grieving Tiananmen as US Cops Crush Campus Protests,” The Nation

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