Transforming R.AGE: A Platform for Investigative Journalism
Ian Yee joined R.AGE in 2006, when it was still primarily a youth and lifestyle platform. With support from award- winning journalist-producer Elroi Yee and a brave young team, Ian helped transition R.AGE into a formidable platform for investigative journalism. Yee and his team began to report on issues that were often overlooked, such as unreported deaths in indigenous villages, sexual predators targeting children, human trafficking, refugee rights, and violence in schools.
One of the most significant projects under Yee’s leadership was the “Predator in My Phone” documentary, which exposed child sexual groomers exploiting underage victims through popular chat apps. This exposé led to a successful public action campaign that lobbied for the passing of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act in 2017. The Act, which is still in operation today, has since protected numerous children from sexual exploitation, with over 300 suspects charged within the first year.
Yee and actress Lisa Surihani calling Members of Parliament during a live stream to get their support for the Predator In My Phone campaign.
Campaigning for Kindness: #StandTogether
In 2017, in response to a series of tragic student bullying cases, Yee and his team at R.AGE launched the #StandTogether National Kindness Week campaign. Instead of taking the conventional route of anti-bullying measures, the campaign focused on promoting kindness and empathy. This innovative approach was endorsed by the Ministry of Education and received widespread support from organizations such as UNICEF, SP Setia, Digi, and Teach For Malaysia.
The campaign’s impact was far-reaching, with involvement from 30 Members of Parliament and international expansion into the Kindness Leaders programme, reaching students across 11 countries. The United Nations highlighted the campaign as one of the 10 best examples of child- inclusive interventions to end violence against children.
Yee and fellow co-founders of The Fourth, Claire Anthony (left) and Shanjeev Reddy (right) speaking at The Kancils creative festival.
Exposing Human Trafficking and Drug Mule Syndicates
Yee and the team’s commitment to uncovering social injustices continued with their work on the “Student/Trafficked” investigation, led by senior producer Elroi, which exposed human trafficking syndicates using fake colleges to bring victims into Malaysia and coerce them into forced labor.The investigation, which involved undercover journalism and hidden cameras, led to a police probe and the halting of these trafficking operations, potentially saving thousands of lives.
In 2020, Yee was also involved in investigating regional drug mule syndicates that were duping young Malaysians into transporting drugs into Hong Kong. The team’s investigation helped lead to the arrest of four syndicate leaders and brought attention to the plight of the victims’ families. The reporting even played a role in court cases in Hong Kong, with one of the mules eventually being acquitted and returned to Malaysia.
The Fourth : Defending Social Justice
In 2021, Ian Yee co-founded The Fourth, a media company dedicated to defending social justice through investigative journalism and impactful media campaigns. The Fourth’s motto, “Berani kerana benar” (“Brave because of truth”), encapsulates Yee’s approach to journalism. The company has produced over 70 videos and garnered more than 12,000 subscribers on its YouTube channel, all while maintaining a focus on social impact.
The Fourth also operates an academy that has trained over 1,000 participants, ranging from teenagers to veteran journalists. The academy offers a variety of courses and workshops, both online and in-person, with consistently high ratings. The team also provides on-site training in Orang Asli villages and refugee communities, further extending their impact.
Yee and his team have received over 40 major awards since 2016.
International Recognition: Champion of Investigative Journalism and Social Justice
Ian Yee’s contributions to journalism have been recognized on a global scale. In 2021, he was appointed to the advisory committee for the Pulitzer Centre’s Rainforest Journalism Fund, and he is among the first group of Malaysians to be selected as an Obama Foundation Leader. His work has also been featured at various international journalism conferences and in industry publications like the *Columbia Journalism Review*.
Yee’s commitment to press freedom earned him the Global Press Freedom Teaching Award in 2023, and The Fourth was selected as one of 25 global changemakers for the UNLEASH incubator lab and conference in Rwanda.
Yee was most recently appointed as the resident investigative editor for the Asia Investigative Reporting Network (AIR Network), an international effort to strengthen investigative journalism in Southeast Asia. Yee is now in charge of coordinating cross-border investigations, developing training programs, and improving safety and security support for investigative journalists in the region.
Accepting a World Digital Media Award in Glasgow, Scotland.
Disclaimer:
The information in this award recipient's profile is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of the time the award was presented. Any subsequent changes, updates, or developments in the individual's life or achievements may not be reflected in this profile.