Bay Fang’s Post

A new, three-part investigative report from Radio Free Asia delves into the clandestine dealings of multi-billion-dollar Cambodian conglomerate the Prince Group. After a three-year investigation, RFA’s journalists provide a deep dive into the conglomerate, run by a Chinese emigré, and accused of profiting from illegal gambling operations. RFA’s series uncovers secrets about the Prince Group’s meteoric rise and dealings, which span the globe. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dazpc9Hm

This week RFA President Bay Fang briefed members of the The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party about Chinese propaganda and censorship. Radio Free Asia recently expanded its journalistic capacity to tackle the challenges of covering CCP influence within China’s borders and beyond. Bay, along with Sarah Cook of Freedom House and Matthew D. Johnson of the The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, also discussed CCP tactics to shape a global narrative. Watch the full roundtable here: https://lnkd.in/gyAUWxda

Today, Radio Free Asia celebrates 26 years of bringing answers, accountability and empowerment to audiences in Asia deprived of a free press and free expression. Since commemorating our quarter-century milestone this time last year, RFA has continued to provide timely coverage of the most consequential developments in China, North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other areas under authoritarian control. Among many highlights this past year, RFA exposed China’s role in spreading Russian disinformation on the Ukraine war in Taiwan, played a leading role in monitoring the on-the-ground fallout of China’s “zero-Covid” policy in Shanghai and Beijing, closely covered the ongoing war crimes of the Myanmar junta, and alerted the world to North Korea’s enforced ban on outside media, including breaking the news about severe punishments for individuals caught sharing video files of the viral South Korean series, ‘Squid Game.’ Since last September, RFA and its affiliates’ incisive reporting earned numerous accolades, including a Gracie award, an Online News Association Award, and four Telly awards, among others. Beyond its impactful work, RFA has not only revamped its logo and website, but has also taken critical steps to advance its work and reach amid a global rise in authoritarianism. Thanks to a late-year budget increase - the biggest in its history - RFA has started a strategic expansion of its editorial capacity in order to broaden its reach in China, Southeast Asia and areas susceptible to autocratic influence, including the Pacific Islands.  There’s more work to be done, but as we look ahead to our next milestone, we remain committed to meeting this unprecedented moment in history and continuing to provide timely, unbiased news to the millions who rely on us. We value your support over the past 26 years and look forward to sharing with you the next big changes coming to RFA!

RFA president Bay Fang is featured on iHeartMedia's “CEO’s You Should Know.” Bay discusses her time as a war correspondent in Afghanistan, while highlighting the challenges of pushing back on disinformation spread by authoritarian regimes.  Listen to the full interview below: https://lnkd.in/gQrtPjje #aapiheritagemonth #aapi #independentmedia

RFA President Bay Fang participated in the Day Zero opening session of the U.S. Department of State's #summitfordemocracy. The panel discussion, which focused on global journalist safety and media sustainability, was headlined by 2021 #Nobel laureates Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, and moderated by Amnesty International's Agnes Callamard. Bay spotlighted authoritarians' and bad actors' long arm of repression, focusing on the CCP's threats against RFA’s U.S.-based Uyghur journalists, whose families and loved ones in Xinjiang are jailed, forcibly disappeared, and harassed. She also spoke about the intensified crackdown on media through fabricated libel and national security laws that target independent, credible outlets and journalists, as well as ordinary citizens whose postings on social platforms can provide valuable tips and leads for RFA's and other's reporters in difficult media environments. Bay recommended governments partner with the private sector to fund the creation of tools and resources to deliver free press to people living in closed societies -- as in the work done by RFA's sister organization the Open Technology Fund (OTF). She also asked that governments and orgs provide more resources for groups helping independent journalists and outfits, especially with financial support.   Follow the link below for the full panel discussion featuring BBC News’ Sana Safi, Contra Corriente's Jennifer Avila Reyes, and Columbia University - Graduate School of Journalism's Sheila Coronel. https://lnkd.in/ei-gPUiR #pressfreedom #democracy #independentmedia #journalistsafety #sustainability

RFA welcomes Brad Kiley to our leadership team. As RFA's Chief Operating Officer, Brad will oversee Human Resources, Finance and Technical Operations -- divisions that are critical to ensuring the success of our company, as well as our journalists and language services. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ebRMUFVt

Today we are thrilled to celebrate RFA’s digital affiliate WHYNOT Wainao’s one-year anniversary. Since its launch, WHYNOT Wainao has already filled a vital role reporting on subjects considered taboo for Chinese media, encouraging open dialogue and conversation with Chinese Mandarin speakers around the world. Within a year, WHYNOT has won a Human Rights Press #Award and earned an honorary mention at #SOPA. This week, a WHYNOT special report has been named a finalist at this year’s #ONA awards. We look forward to continuing to build this nimble enterprise to bridge people, build community, and deliver probing content. That’s what our audiences seek. That’s what we deliver. #digitalmedia #journalism #humanrights