Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, two journalists who were brave enough to expose Philippines' and Russia's leaders for corruption, have won the Nobel Peace Prize for endorsing free speech worldwide.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee told in a news conference that the award aims to honour the journalists' "courageous fight for freedom of expression" in their countries.
She said:
"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. Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda."
Muratov dedicated his award to six contributors from the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, including reporters and activists who were murdered for exposing corruption and human rights violations.
He said:
"Igor Domnikov, Yuri Shchekochikhin, Anna Politkovskaya, Stas Markelov, Anastasia Baburova, Natasha Estemirova - these are the people who have today won the Nobel Prize."
Ressa referred to the prize as "a global recognition of the journalist's role in repairing, fixing our broken world", in an interview in Manila with Reuters.
The 35-year-old veteran journalist noted:
"It's never been as hard to be journalist as it is today, you don't really know who you are until you are forced to fight for it."
Ressa faced years of being tested by the authorities in the Philippines over her activities for her investigative webpage, Rappler.
This is the first time in 86 years that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to journalists. Back in 1935, it was awarded to Carl von Ossietzky, a German who exposed his country's secret post-war programme.
[h/t: Reuters]
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