BANGLADESH
Morshed Hassib, Senior Reporter, Channel 24, Dhaka
Hassib covers diplomacy, politics, labour and human rights, refugee, migration, including writing in-depth investigative pieces, and reporting on US sanctions, visa restrictions and the implications for Bangladeshi political dynamics. He has won multiple awards for his work.
CHINA
Yang Nan, Senior Journalist, Southern Weekly Group, Shanghai
In her seven years in journalism, Nan became the youngest winner of the influential Southern Weekly Group’s best journalist and best report awards for revealing the facts behind public emergencies. She made her mark covering the Covid-19 pandemic close-up in Wuhan and globally over the past three years. Earlier this year she spent three weeks covering the devastation wreaked by the earthquake which hit Turkey.
INDIA
Sagar Choudhary, Staff Writer, The Caravan Magazine, Bihar
Sagar writes investigative, longform features and opinion pieces on the difficult subjects of caste, communal and ethnic violence, religion, corporate corruption and rightwing terrorism. His personal story is one of rising above caste discrimination to pursue his education and dream of becoming a journalist. A former executive editor described Sagar as being “among the finest one per cent” to work at The Caravan.
Ami Shah, Senior Assistant Editor, ET Prime, Mumbai
Ami is a financial journalist who has gathered knowledge, experience and awards in a career spanning 18 years in print and online. She has covered court battles and scams, the crash and recovery of stock markets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In March, she was the only journalist in a list of India’s Top Women In Finance 2023. She wants to know how artificial intelligence is impacting newsrooms.
INDONESIA
Anton Septian, Executive Editor, Tempo.co, Jakarta
Over his 15 years as a journalist at the influential Tempo Group, Anton has mostly covered politics and legal issues and was involved in a number of investigative projects. As Executive Editor of Tempo.co he remains focused on delivering quality not clickbait, still convinced that journalism can drive change and journalists can speak the truth and give a voice to the voiceless.
Adhitya Ramadhan, Deputy Head, Humanities Desk, Kompas, Jakarta
Adhitya leads a team of 15 covering health, education, science, culture and the environment. He has written powerfully to highlight the dangers of smoking and the need for tobacco control. His efforts have made an impact on policy and earned him recognition. In the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), he has mentored younger journalists, raising awareness of the link between smoking and health issues.
LAOS
Vienglaty Ketsattha, News Reporter and Presenter, Lao National Television, Vientiene
After almost two decades in television journalism, Vienglaty remains concerned about communities left behind and how to help to lift them out of poverty. She is also concerned about deforestation, threats to wildlife and endangered species, and the impact of natural disasters. She wants outsiders to know more about her country’s attractions, culture, music and dance.
NEPAL
Sahina Shrestha, Editor Online, Nepali Times, Kathmandu
Sahina is in charge of Nepali Times’ online content and social media platforms and remains convinced that journalism is the best way to make a difference in society. She draws the greatest satisfaction from on-the-ground, close-up reporting on issues that matter, from major disasters that devastate communities, to issues of social justice, culture and heritage and development.
PAKISTAN
Shazia Mehboob, Freelancer, Rawalpindi
Shazia has made her mark and won awards over the past decade investigating and writing about difficult issues, from the failure of Pakistan’s laws to protect victims of domestic violence to discrimination against women with disabilities and women in politics. She is a founding member of the Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMap), a group of digital journalists doing public interest journalism.
PHILIPPINES
Mav Gonzales, News Producer, GMA Network, Manila
As an eight-year-old child reporter, Mav tasted scoring a scoop when she ambushed Broadway star Lea Salonga for an interview. She has grown up to report with distinction on sports, politics and breaking news. Covering Millennials and Gen Z for GMA’s documentary programme i-Witness, she is confident news organisations can attract younger audiences with the right content and approach.
Vinafel Araneta-Pilapil, News Head and News Anchor, People’s Television Network Inc, Davao, Mindanao
Vina rose from reporter to news editor over 12 years at ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs before moving to state-owned PTV in 2020, and was a Mindanao winner in the Philippines’ Globe Media Awards this year. She is focused on exploring ways to expand public media’s impact in public service. Concerned that food production is not keeping up with population growth in her country, Vina hopes to discuss the issue of food security with AJF 2023 Fellows.
SINGAPORE
Aqil Haziq Mahmud, Senior Journalist, Channel News Asia, Singapore
Haziq has not forgotten the public response to an early story he wrote about a teenager with cerebral palsy working to help his family financially while studying accountancy. A major firm offered the boy an internship which made a difference in his life. Haziq covers Malaysian politics and climate change for CNA Digital’s Malaysia bureau, holding on always to knowing the best that journalism can do.
SOUTH KOREA
Won Mo Yu, Staff Reporter, Dong-A Ilbo, Seoul
Will has been a journalist for almost a decade, and covers legal affairs for Korea’s oldest newspaper. He made his mark uncovering a major scandal linked to business and politics. For his coverage, he was named Journalist of the Year 2022 by the Korean News Editors Association and his publication was named Newspaper of the Year by the Korean Newspaper Association.
SRI LANKA
Robert Antony, News Editor, Virakesari, Express Newspapers Ceylon, Colombo
Robert has distinguished himself in Sri Lanka’s Tamil language media scene for almost two decades, winning multiple awards over the years. As news editor, he shapes his newspaper’s coverage, and he writes on politics, economics, social issues, reconciliation, trust and national unity. He also trains younger journalists.
VIETNAM
Hong Van, Journalist, Tuoi Tre Newspaper, Ho Chi Minh City
Van was hooked on journalism at 12, when she won a competition that led to her hosting a children’s radio show for six years. A journalist for nine years, she is now an award-winning feature writer focusing mainly on health, climate change and environmental issues. She is also interested in promoting gender balance in the newsroom.