Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center has awarded Netra News the 2025 Shorenstein Journalism Award, recognizing its fearless reporting and defense of press freedom in Bangladesh.

A panel of journalists and academics selected Netra News for its courageous work under authoritarian threats and invited Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Khalil to accept the award and deliver a keynote address at Stanford, said a press release.

The Center praised the outlet as “a vital force for accountability,” commending Khalil’s leadership in advancing democracy at great personal risk.

Founded in exile in 2019, Netra News now operates openly in Bangladesh, where it continues to expose human rights abuses and challenge power.

The award includes a $10,000 prize and places Netra News alongside previous honorees like Maria Ressa and The Caravan.

Managing editor Ikhtisad Ahmed called the recognition “a defining moment” in the newsroom’s journey from exile to a frontline force in public-interest journalism.

___