Radio Free Asia

Today, pioneering Burmese documentarian and longtime freelancer to RFA, Shin Daewe was named a winner of the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award by the International Women's Media Foundation, an annual honor which recognizes women journalists who are unjustly detained, jailed or imprisoned. Shin Daewe, who earlier this year was sentenced to life in prison by a military tribunal in Myanmar, is widely known for her work spotlighting the challenges facing Myanmar’s environment and the impact of armed conflict on civilians following the military’s 2021 coup. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/grpkXJj9 And watch her Gracies-winning project “Ayeyarwady Riverbank Erosion” here: https://lnkd.in/edW9FvYf

The Tiananmen Square massacre forms an indelible part of RFA’s history, setting into motion the legislation that founded our organization. RFA was created from the ashes of the tragedy to serve the people of China and other places, making sure they had access to independent, credible news and information. To commemorate the occasion, RFA produced a robust series of special reports that includes in-depth interviews with survivors and journalists, as well as analyses on the use of AI to spread PRC disinformation, and public perceptions of the massacre, more than three decades on. https://lnkd.in/ermYBU77

Congratulations to RFA brand 歪脑 | WHYNOT, who won two prizes at this year’s Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) award competition. The team’s winning projects examine Chinese war films’ struggles at the international box office and Chinese-American cuisine and culture in America. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eEPQVEmS

On Tuesday, May 21, representatives from RFA Burmese attended the Alliance for Women in Media's Gracie Awards Gala in Los Angeles, where they were honored for their video report “Ayeyarwady Riverbank Erosion.” The winning project was produced by longtime RFA freelancer and prolific documentarian Shin Daewe, who earlier this year was sentenced to life in prison by a military tribunal in Myanmar. Daewe is known for her work spotlighting the human toll of climate change in Myanmar and the impact of armed conflict on civilians. Her reporting has filled a crucial information gap for local audiences, especially following the country’s 2021 military coup. See how her vital work continues to make an impact: https://lnkd.in/dUGieDEa #TheGracies

Congratulations to RFA brand BenarNews who won a silver #Telly award for their video report examining Papua’s controversial “Noken” voting system. The project, which sheds light on a lesser-known part of Indonesia suffering from an ongoing insurgency and tight media controls, details how Papuans place their votes in traditional woven bags called “Noken” – a collective approach rooted in consensus. BenarNews’s winning story explores the voting system’s history, and if it is still needed in Papua today. Watch the winning report here: https://lnkd.in/ee8k6EV7 Learn more about Noken voting here: https://lnkd.in/eCf3cX2X

Last week RFA President and CEO Bay Fang joined U.S. lawmakers, human rights advocates, government officials and representatives from the Vietnamese American community to commemorate the 30th anniversary of #VietnamHumanRightsDay. In her remarks, Fang called for the protection of journalists in Vietnam and emphasized the ongoing threats to press freedom in the country, which was recently ranked among the 10 most restricted media environments in the world by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Today 35 journalists and bloggers are jailed in Vietnam, including three RFA contributors. And only two months ago, yet another longtime RFA blogger was arrested in Hanoi and is currently awaiting trial.  The global surge in threats to #PressFreedom makes RFA’s journalism even more vital. #HumanRights Photo credit: Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA

Last week, RFA's Asia Fact Check Lab was named among the winners at the 23rd United States Agency for Global Media Burke Awards for their tireless work pushing back on Chinese propaganda, particularly during the Taiwan presidential election. At a moment when it was needed most, the team helped audiences in Taiwan and around the world discern fact from fiction during the election process, disproving viral conspiracy theories and countering disinformation on social media. Congratulations to AFCL, and to the Burke Award winners from USAGM networks Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Learn more about the winners here: https://lnkd.in/emdeySzR

🌏 Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s 2024 Index finds that #PressFreedom in North Korea (177th) and China (172nd) has stagnated, with the two countries continuing an all-out persecution of the media. ⚠ Vietnam (174th) and Myanmar (171st) are the world’s fourth and second biggest jailers of journalists, respectively. ❌ An increase in government reprisals against journalists has added Cambodia (151st) to the countries classified as “very serious.” 🛑 And the Philippines (134th) continues to be one of the region’s most dangerous countries for media professionals. On the 31st annual #WorldPressFreedomDay, the right to report remains under threat. Despite these challenges, RFA journalists are committed to providing answers, accountability and empowerment to the millions who rely on us for trustworthy news and information on a weekly basis. #WPFD2024 #WPFD

Marking World Press Freedom Day on Friday, May 3, RFA President and CEO Bay Fang emphasized the importance of journalism and protecting free speech amid a global rise in authoritarianism in a video statement. Fang, along with RFA Managing Editor for Southeast Asia Ginny S., spotlighted several cases of jailed journalists. “RFA stands with the brave individuals working tirelessly to rebuild public trust through fact-based journalism – for Evan Gershkovich, for Alsu Kurmasheva from our sister network Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty… for award-winning Burmese filmmaker and RFA contributor Shin Daewe[...] We owe them more than gratitude," Fang says. Watch the full video below, and read RFA's statement commemorating #WorldPressFreedomDay at the link: https://lnkd.in/d3jH7XVs #PressFreedom #WPFD #WPFD2024

Last year Myanmar was struck by its deadliest natural disaster in fifteen years, Cyclone Mocha. RFA’s in-country correspondents worked extensively throughout the storm, even as their own homes were flooded or damaged. All together, RFA Burmese delivered more than 70 news stories on Mocha. Their thorough, timely coverage and warning reports helped locals survive the extremely severe cyclone. Amidst a changing climate, RFA’s incisive brand of journalism is even more important, and global #PressFreedom critical to the future of our planet. #WorldPressFreedomDay #WPFD #WPFD2024 (Photo credit: RFA Burmese Service)