Press Release

Radio Free Asia Broadcasters Recognized

June 28, 2007 | Washington, DC.« Back to Press Releases

A story on lead poisoning in the villages of northwest China has earned Radio Free Asia (RFA) a bronze medal at the New York Festivals Radio Broadcasting Awards. Cantonese broadcasters Shiny Wo Tak Li and Nashi Ni won in the “Environmental Program” category for explaining how villagers battled lead poisoning from local plants for 10 years until local media exposed the problem in August 2006. Even then, only one factory of many responsible for the harmful smoke was shut down and led to numerous protests by villagers.

In addition to the Bronze Medal, RFA Mandarin broadcaster Zhang Min, host of regular program “Journey of the Soul” was a finalist in the Profiles/Community Portraits category for her portrait of blind activist Chen Guangcheng, who was jailed for exposing how Chinese authorities have enforced their one-child policy through forced abortions, detention, and even torture.

Blanquita Cullum, who chairs the Broadcasting Board of Governor’s committee that oversees Radio Free Asia, said this recognition by the New York group reflects the remarkable work produced by RFA reporters all year round.

“Day after day, these intrepid journalists bring the uncensored news to people across Asia in their native language who would otherwise have to rely on state-sponsored media,” Cullum said.

The awards were presented at a dinner held in New York’s Tribeca Rooftop Hotel June 28.

"We are very proud of our broadcasters and their excellent work, and we're delighted to receive these honors," RFA President Libby Liu said.

RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information in nine native Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. The purpose of RFA is to provide a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from within these Asian countries. RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Uyghur. RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency which supervises all U.S. government-supported, non-military international broadcasting, including The Voice of America (VOA); Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL); the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa); Radio Free Asia (RFA); and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Martí). Through its broadcast services, the BBG provides the United States and its leaders direct and immediate access to a worldwide audience of 140 million people. Current governors are Chairman James K. Glassman, Joaquin F. Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman, Steven J. Simmons, and Mark McKinnon. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice serves as an ex officio member.

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Radio Free Asia Broadcasters Recognized

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