Nobel Peace Prize 2021 awarded to journalists Dmitry Muratov, Maria Ressa
Oslo, Norway/IBNS: The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday announced the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 to journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their 'courageous efforts' to safeguard freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia respectively.
Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov is one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Maria Ressa is a journalist and the co-founder and CEO of the Philippines-based investigative news outlet Rappler.
BREAKING NEWS:
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/KHeGG9YOTT
"Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines, while Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism which was co-founded and is still being headed by Ressa, has focused critical attention on the Duterte regime’s controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign," the Nobel committee said in a statement.
#NobelPrize laureate Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, @rapplerdotcom, a digital media company for investigative journalism. pic.twitter.com/C8W8NBqY7T
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021
"Ressa and her Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse," it added.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: The call from Oslo.
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021
Hear Maria Ressa’s reaction when she hears the news from Olav Njølstad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, on being awarded the 2021 #NobelPeacePrize just before the public announcement. "I'm speechless!"
#NobelPrize @mariaressa pic.twitter.com/Zxy20nzWvd
The Norwegian Nobel Committee stated Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov, one of the founders and the editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions.
"Novaya Gazeta is the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power, and 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," the Nobel committee's statement read.
Dmitry Muratov – awarded the 2021 #NobelPeacePrize – has for decades defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. In 1993, he was one of the founders of the independent newspaper Novaja Gazeta, @novaya_gazeta.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/AXF8a3CDGZ
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021
"Since its start-up in 1993, Novaya 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," it added.
"Since the newspaper’s start, six of its journalists have been killed, and despite the killings and threats, editor-in-chief Muratov has refused to abandon the newspaper’s independent policy," according to the Nobel committee.
We’re thankful for so much love coming our way after #NobelPeacePrize2021 co-win 😍
— Новая Газета (@novaya_gazeta) October 8, 2021
Many ask what would be the best way to support our journalism from abroad. Subscribing to our English newsletter #RussiaExplained would definitely make a difference.https://t.co/dpC88pjFtM
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has said the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is intended to underscore the importance of protecting and defending the fundamental rights— freedom of expression and freedom of information— as free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda.
"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," the committee said in a media statement.
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