Excellence in Investigative Reporting
ABOUT THE WORK: A year-long investigation by the BBC World Service’s investigative documentary unit Eye Investigations uncovered an ugly business of sexual assault for sale, which had never been reported before.
The author writes: “We found Chinese-language websites hosted in the U.S. selling thousands of videos of men sexually abusing women on trains, buses and other crowded public places across East Asia. You can even order your own tailor-made assault on these sites.
“They are run by a shadowy figure hailed as a guru by an online community of perverts -- but who is he? The hunt lead us to Japan, where sexual assault in public is known as 'Chikan.' We take you inside this dark and twisted world to hear from the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes, and meet the women who are fighting back. And we go undercover to expose the identity of the men running these websites and who are cashing in on sexual violence.”
The investigation has sparked a widespread discussion across the globe, especially in East Asia. On X, several influential Japanese scholars and lawyers retweeted the story to raise public awareness. In China, where the BBC’s journalism is normally censored, this investigation smashed the Great Firewall and was once the top trending hashtag on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of X. It even prompted responses from the Chinese authorities who claimed the main perpetrator had not returned to China.
More than 50 media organizations across the globe, such as Voice of America, Cosmopolitan, Yahoo Japan, DW, Spain’s La Nacion, Australia’s SBS, Taiwan’s Central News Agency and World Journal (the largest Chinese newspaper in the US), published follow-up reports on the investigation. Numerous Chinese media, including state-owned media, have published in-depth follow-ups. Many on social media have urged the authorities in the US and Asia to crack down on this cross-border cyber sex crime. Days after the publication, Japan passed a new law as planned which explicitly prohibits the taking, distribution and or possession of photographs of someone's genitals without their consent.
Zhaoyin Feng is an independent journalist and documentary producer. Originally from China, she has reported from the US, Europe and Asia and collaborated with a wide range of international media outlets. She previously worked as a North America correspondent and investigative documentary producer at the BBC World Service, reporting in both English and Chinese on digital, television and audio platforms across the BBC.
Judges’ comments: “Not only did the journalists demonstrate internet sleuthing capabilities, they undercovered interviews that clearly required finesse and bravery. The storytelling was outstanding, and the reporting exposed a world and culture that affects women across many Asian countries. Each venue (documentary, radio and print story) was compelling on its own.”
Honorable Mention: Imtiaz Tyab, Sharaf Mowjood, Erin Cauchi, Alvin Patrick, Matt Morrison, “CBS Reports: The Watchlist: 20 Years of Tracking Suspected Terrorists,” CBS News
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