Bay Fang

Radio Free Asia journalists Jim Snyder and Gemunu Amarasinghe won an AAJA Journalism Excellence Award for their investigative project documenting democratic institution-building in war-torn Myanmar's Kayah state. The four-part series showcases community resilience efforts including healthcare workers and insurgent fighters working to establish stable governance and services in an active conflict zone.

RFA President Bay Fang announced that Radio Free Asia has resumed operations and continues its mission to provide uncensored news to repressed populations worldwide. The statement, marking World Press Freedom Day, highlights RFA's recent impactful reporting while acknowledging that journalists globally face severe persecution, with hundreds imprisoned or detained.

Radio Free Asia announced the appointment of Olivia Enos and Mira Rapp-Hooper to its corporate board of directors. Both bring extensive expertise in human rights, national security, and Indo-Pacific regional affairs from their previous roles at major think tanks and government agencies.

Award-winning Burmese journalist Shin Daewe was released from prison on Friday after being detained since October 2023 for purchasing a video drone. She had been sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2024 under Myanmar's Counter-terrorism Law, but the military junta reduced her sentence to 15 years in January 2025 and subsequently released her entirely. Her release is seen as a significant victory for press freedom advocates, though 40 journalists remain detained in Myanmar.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) contributor and journalist Shin Daewe has been released from a Myanmar prison under an amnesty after being detained since October 2023 and sentenced to 15 years. RFA President Bay Fang welcomed her release, noting her suffering for bringing uncensored journalism to Myanmar and crediting advocacy organizations RSF and PEN America for their efforts in securing her freedom.