The Nobel Peace Prize 2021 has been awarded jointly to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
Oslo: Two journalists, Maria Ressa of Phillipines, and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov of Russia, have won Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced here on October 8, 2021.
“Ms Ressa and Mr Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. At the same time, they are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions,” the Noble Committee stated.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in his congratulatory message to both journalists, expressed his concern over the rising anti-media rhetoric — and attacks against media workers. “We are seeing growing violence and harassment against journalists, in person and online. Women journalists are often subjected to particular abuse,” he said.
While Ressa in 2012 co-founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism, which she still heads, Muratov has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia “under increasingly challenging conditions”.
Announcement of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov, presented by Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, on 8 October 2021.
The Nobel Committee lauded Ressa for using freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. “As a journalist and the Rappler’s CEO, Ressa has shown herself to be a fearless defender of freedom of expression.” it stated.
Rappler has focused critical attention on [President Rodrigo] Duterte regime’s “controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign”. “The number of deaths is so high that the campaign resembles a war waged against the country’s own population,” the Nobel Committee stated.
Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.
Muratov was one of the founders of the independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta in 1993. Since 1995 he has been the newspaper’s editor-in-chief for a total of 24 years. “Novaja Gazeta is the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power. The newspaper’s fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media. Since its start-up in 1993, Novaja Gazeta has published critical articles on subjects ranging from corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoral fraud and ”troll factories” to the use of Russian military forces both within and outside Russia,” the Nobel Committee stated.
Novaja Gazeta’s opponents have responded with harassment, threats, violence and murder. Since the newspaper’s start, six of its journalists have been killed, including Anna Politkovskaja who wrote revealing articles on the war in Chechnya. Despite the killings and threats, editor-in-chief Muratov has refused to abandon the newspaper’s independent policy. He has consistently defended the right of journalists to write anything they want about whatever they want, as long as they comply with the professional and ethical standards of journalism.
“Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help to ensure an informed public. These rights are crucial prerequisites for democracy and protect against war and conflict. The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is intended to underscore the importance of protecting and defending these fundamental rights,” a Committee press release stated.
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. This year’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize is therefore firmly anchored in the provisions of Alfred Nobel’s will, it added.
Guterres in his statement said throughout the world, a free press is essential for peace, justice, sustainable development and human rights — and the cornerstone for building fair and impartial institutions. “No society can be free and fair without journalists who are able to investigate wrongdoing, bring information to citizens, hold leaders accountable and speak truth to power,” he stated. He added that “Free and independent journalism is our greatest ally in combating misinformation and disinformation”.
He called for reaffirmation of the right to press freedom, recognition of the fundamental role of journalists and reinforcement of efforts at every level to support a free, independent and diverse media.
– global bihari bureau
