THIMPHU – The Journalists’ Association of Bhutan (JAB) honoured 22 journalists with a total of 28 awards at the 10th National Journalism Awards (NJA), held on May 3 in Thimphu to mark World Press Freedom Day.
The milestone edition of the awards was widely regarded as a successful celebration of excellence, professionalism, and the evolving landscape of Bhutanese media.
Gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest was Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment. He was joined by Lyonpo Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport; Opposition Leader Dasho Pema Chewang; Dasho Kinley Dorji, widely regarded as the Father of Media in Bhutan; Members of Parliament; senior government officials; and representatives from civil society, corporations, and the United Nations.
Among the international dignitaries were His Excellency Philip Green, Ambassador of Australia to Bhutan, along with delegates from the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. Representatives from the UN system in Bhutan were also present.
This year’s awards reflected the growing depth and diversity of Bhutanese journalism. Of the 28 awards, the majority went to print media, followed by television, digital journalism, and radio.
Print Category
In print journalism, journalists were recognised for impactful storytelling across key national issues such as climate change, environment, agriculture, health, culture, and governance. Journalists from Kuensel stood out with 13 awards, demonstrating strong performance in editorial writing, feature storytelling, and visual journalism.
Among them, Managing Editor Kinley Tshering received the Editorial of the Year award, while reporter Jigme Wangdi was honoured for Feature Story of the Year. Thinley Namgay was recognised for Culture Story of the Year, and Ugyen Dorji for Environment Story of the Year. Dorji Choden received the CSO Story of the Year, while Neten Dorji was awarded Health Story of the Year and also recognised as Visual Editor of the Year.
Yam Kumar Poudel was honoured for Agriculture/Food Security Story of the Year and also received recognition in the Climate and Environment category. Sonam Phuntsho won Photo Story of the Year, while Chencho Dema was awarded for Climate and Environment Story of the Year. Karma Kezang received the Documentary Story of the Year award.
The Bhutanese also made a strong mark, particularly in investigative and public-interest reporting. Editor-in-Chief Tenzing Lamsang was recognised for his investigative and business reporting, while reporter Tshering Dema was awarded for her work on crime and disability issues. Other journalists were recognised for compelling stories on women and children, as well as climate-related challenges.
Broadcast Category
In broadcast media, Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) led the television category, with awards recognising excellence in news reporting, talk shows, documentaries, and camera work. In radio, a BBS programme was awarded for its strong public engagement and storytelling.
Special Awards
The awards also highlighted emerging talent and new platforms. Yam Kumar Poudel of Kuensel was named the Most Promising Young Journalist of the Year, while Tandin Tshering of Samuh received the Social Media Journalism Award, reflecting the growing importance of digital storytelling.
Reporting Grants
Four awards were presented to journalists supported under a climate and environment reporting initiative implemented by JAB with support from the Government of Australia. Their stories brought attention to issues such as water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and climate resilience.
In total, JAB received 68 entries in print and 47 in broadcast and digital categories. The jury noted limited submissions in Dzongkha and dropped some categories due to insufficient qualifying entries.
As part of the programme, JAB also hosted a panel discussion on “Mainstream Media in a Digital-First Era: Relevance, Trust, and Access to Information.” The discussion brought together media professionals and experts to reflect on the changing media landscape, the challenges of maintaining credibility, and the importance of ensuring access to reliable information in an increasingly digital world.
The event also featured the launch of four key publications: JAB’s Annual Report 2025, the Bhutan Press Mirror, the Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2031), and the Proceedings of the Seminar for Climate Reporting Grant Winners.
Partnerships
The awards were supported by a wide range of partners. The main sponsor was the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment through the Economic Stimulus Plan. Other supporters included the Government of Australia, UN agencies in Bhutan, Accountability Lab’s Digital Democracy Initiative, Save the Children, RENEW, Bhutan Media Foundation, Bhutan Cancer Society, Bhutan Power Corporation Limited, Bhutan National Bank, and the Bhutan Transparency Initiative.
Now in its 10th year, the National Journalism Awards continue to play a vital role in promoting ethical, responsible, and impactful journalism in the country, while inspiring a new generation of media professionals.
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