August 28, 2007 - A Burmese investigative reporter, May Thingyan Hein, has won the 2007 Knight International Journalism Award along with an Egyptian blogger, Wael Abbas.

A freelance journalist, May Thingyan Hein (33) was given the 2007 KIJ Award for her outstanding coverage of controversial topics such as corruption, HIV/AIDS and poverty in military-ruled Burma, said the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) in a press statement on August 24.

"Wael Abbas and May Thingyan Hein are blazing a path in their countries with extremely bold coverage," said ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan. "We want to honour them for exposing issues no one else will cover and encourage others to follow their example."

The award will be handed over at the 10th annual ICFJ Awards Dinner at the Ronal Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C on November 13, 2007, the statement said.

The award given by the KIJF programme, funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Knight International Fellows lead high-impact projects that help news media make societies more accountable to their citizens.