'Reporters Sans Frontier' honours journalist Tongam Rina

ITANAGAR: Itanagar-based journalist Tongam Rina has been honoured by the 'Reporters Without Borders' (Reporters Sans Frontier-RSF), the international organisation that works for freedom of the press and information.

Rina, the associate editor of The Arunachal Times, is the only Indian journalist to find place in the list of '100 information heroes' released by the Paris-based body on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the newspaper said in a statement here today.

Apparently angered by her bold articles against anti-social elements in the society, gunmen shot and injured her in front of her office on July 15, 2012.

Now recovered from her injuries, Tongam vows to continue her journalistic mission without fear and trepidations, the statement said.

Prepared for the first time by the RSF, the list comprises 100 heroes (men and women scribes between ages 25-75) from 65 countries across the world, who have helped "to promote the freedom enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through their courageous work or activism".

Last year, Tongam was also selected for the prestigious 'Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media' instituted by the Media Foundation, Leipzig, Germany.

She was also honoured with the Laadli Media Award 2011-12 for Gender Sensitivity, Eastern Region, in Kolkata in 2012. The award is instituted by the Population First, an NGO working on population and health issues supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).