Nobel Peace Prize for the journalist who defied Putin
He shares award with Philippines editor
TWO journalists have won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their struggles in countries where media outlets have been attacked and reporters murdered.
The Norwegian judging panel said the work of Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia was vital in promoting peace.
‘Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda,’ said Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairman of the committee.
‘Without freedom of expression and freedom of the Press, it will be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament and a better world order to succeed in our time.’
Mr Muratov helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta which the committee said had a ‘fundamentally critical attitude towards power’.
Mr Muratov, 59, insisted credit for the award should go to the newspaper, adding that it was also for ‘those who died defending people’s right to freedom of speech’.
Since 2000, six of Novaya Gazeta’s journalists and contributors have been killed in connection with their work, including investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya.
A fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s wars in Chechnya, she was shot dead 15 years ago in Moscow.
Miss Ressa, 58, was praised for her work exposing the ‘murderous anti-drug campaign’ of Rodrigo Duterte’s regime in the Philippines.
She and her website Rappler ‘have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse’.
The journalist was convicted last year of libel and sentenced to jail.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 17 media workers have been killed in the Philippines over the past decade and 23 in Russia.
The award comes with a gold medal and £836,000. The money was left by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel on his death in 1895.
THANKS to the immense, untrammelled power of internet, we live today in a world where conspiracy theory routinely masquerades as truth and fact has become a relative concept.
As a result, there has never been a greater need for honest, independent, fact-based journalism to cut through the lies, hate and black propaganda. But it can be a highly dangerous business.
In many countries, a free media is seen as a threat and journalists risk state reprisals on a daily basis. This year alone 24 have been killed and 350 jailed around the world.
By awarding its 2021 peace prize to two inspiringly courageous campaigning journalists – Maria Ressa from the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov from Russia – the Nobel committee recognises the crucial role journalism plays in fighting injustice.
It serves also as a reminder that an unfree Press is the mark of an unfree society.