December 26, 2018
The Asia News Network person of the year will be revealed on Friday, December 29, 2018 with the runner up and other finalists already revealed.
2018 has been a year of incredible highs and demoralizing lows. From inspiring stories of courage in service of equality to heartbreaking stories of disasters and tragedies. We have seen, in Asia, triumphant achievements in science, diplomacy and journalism.
In each story we have covered, there have been individuals that have stood out either for their courage, conviction or influence. These people have stood their ground and maintain their dignity against overwhelming odds and pressure and in doing so made our region a better place.
Over the next few days we will celebrate these individuals by once again telling their stories. While one person(s) will ultimately be named our Person of the Year, there are no losers here. Each individual or group nominated is equally deserving of celebration.
The voting process was simple and done in house. The Asia News Network board nominated several candidates with each ANN member then receiving one vote to vote for their candidate of choice.
The Finalists:
India’s #MeToo movement for their courage in standing up for and inspiring women everywhere. Read more about them here.
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo for their dignity and steadfast conviction while serving an unjust sentence for reporting on the truth. Read more about them here.
The Runners Up:
Mahathir Mohammed is our runner up for this year’s award. Mahathir’s return to national politics not only has struck a blow against corruption in Malaysia but is a win for democracy in a region of the world that has seen its decline. Read more about him here.
Asia News Network Person of the Year
South Korean President Moon Jae-in is our person of the year for his commitment to diplomacy and dialogue during a time when it was not politically prudent to do so. Read more about him here.