Asia Foundation to Honor Maria Ressa, Rappler, and Tom Brokaw as Leaders on the Frontlines

On October 19, The Asia Foundation will celebrate heroic leaders creating a better world at its annual Leaders on the Frontlines event, honoring 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and co-founders at news outlet Rappler; broadcast legend Tom Brokaw; and the 2022 Asia Foundation Development Fellows. The international development nonprofit’s annual leadership awards honor proven and emerging leaders who demonstrate creativity, courage, and possibility in an increasingly complex world.

The Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Leadership Award will be presented to Rappler, an investigative all-digital news outlet in the Philippines, and its founding team — Maria Ressa, Glenda Gloria, Chay Hofileña, Beth Frondoso, and Natashya Gutierrez – for their courageous leadership in independent journalism in the Philippines. 

The President’s Leadership Award will go to the legendary broadcaster, and network television journalist Tom Brokaw, for his work in building a more open and just world through powerful and truthful journalism. Brokaw covered the most monumental news events in his more than 50 years as a journalist.

The leadership awards event will introduce the class of 2022 Asia Foundation Development Fellows, who are honing their leadership skills through an intensive yearlong program preparing them to address the critical issues facing Asia. The fellowship program is at the heart of the Foundation’s mission, bringing exceptional individuals into a robust network of emerging leaders working to improve lives across Asia. The event also celebrates the first completed year of LeadNext: Ambassadors for a Global Future, a brand-new program focused on global citizenship for the 21st century, with leaders aged 18-25 from across Asia and the U.S. 

Learn more about the Leaders on the Frontlines event. 

The awards event’s generous corporate supporter is Kirkland & Ellis.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region is focused on good governance, women’s empowerment and gender equality, inclusive economic growth, environment and climate action, and regional and international relations.

Learn more about the Foundation’s work. For media inquiries, please visit our News Room. 

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