( CNN ) -- Over the past decade , Luo Changping has built a reputation as one of China 's most respected journalists . The 33 year old has exposed alleged financial wrongdoing by more than 100 senior government officials during that time . `` We know the smog is terrible in Beijing now but worse than the real smog is the political smog , '' he says . `` Chinese tax-payers have no idea where their money goes . '' Luo 's most high-profile scoop came last December when , in a series of articles , he accused a powerful official at China 's top economic planning body of illegal financial dealings . The stories ultimately resulted in the official 's dismissal from office . Luo published the allegations on his own microblog , under his real name . It was a risky move in a country where both independent bloggers and state-run media are subject to intense censorship . Beijing 's corruption crackdown . On Friday , he received international recognition for his work from anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International , which has honored Luo with an Integrity Award . `` Luo 's success was a rare victory in the struggle for transparency in China , '' the organization said . `` His actions have demonstrated the important role for investigative journalism and social media in the fight against corruption . '' Modest man . A deputy managing editor for the financial magazine Caijing , Luo is modest and says he got lucky with his investigation of a key official in China 's top economic planning body . `` I would n't even be able to duplicate it again today , because there were so many coincidences , '' he told CNN . He says he spent a year painstakingly collecting evidence . `` At the beginning it was very difficult , '' Luo said . `` Not a lot of media wanted to touch the story . Also , a lot of officials have their own connections within the government , and they sometimes can be very powerful . '' So Luo acted alone . He named the official accused of corruption as Liu Tienan , who was then a director of the National Energy Agency and deputy head of China 's National Development and Reform Commission , a body that sets China 's economic agenda . At first , he was n't afraid . `` Many ( journalists in China ) are worried about their safety , that 's understandable . But for me , I did n't think the danger was fatal . Reporters in China wo n't be killed , but they sometimes do suffer from bigger threats . '' But Luo said he became worried when his reporting attracted the attention of the official Liu , who , Luo says , started a search into his family background . `` I 'm not afraid of myself being in danger , but I am concerned about my family . '' Opinion : In China , 'everyone is guilty of corruption ' When Luo 's investigation became public , Liu denied the charges and threatened to sue for libel . The story spread across social media but there was no reaction from the government for months . However , in May , Liu was officially dismissed over what authorities said was his suspected involvement in `` serious disciplinary violations . '' Liu was also expelled from the Communist Party . An investigation is still ongoing . CNN has been unable to reach Liu for comment . Luo had an early role model in his father , whose honest character was well-known in his local community and in local politics in the province of Hunan , Luo told Transparency International . `` Tell the truth , '' his father instructed . `` Do n't do evil , '' was his mother 's advice . He organized a school newspaper and was in charge of the school radio station . Corruption is still the main focus of Luo 's reporting , and he hopes others will be inspired to take up the cause . `` We are in shortage of people who are willing and passionate about investigative pieces . I hope we can have more people get into this field , '' he said . With reporting by CNN 's Beijing bureau .
Chinese journalist Luo Changping exposed illegal financial dealings by top official . A risky move in a country where state-run media is subject to intense censorship . He has received international recognition for his work from Transparency International . Comment: