The academy has recognised their efforts to "protect freedom of expression"

Journalists Maria Ressa and Dimitry Muratov awarded with Nobel Peace Prize

photo_camera AFP/ISAAC LAWRENCE - The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to journalists Maria Ressa and Dimitry Muratov for their struggle for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia.

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa (1963, Manila) and Russian journalist Dimitry Muratov (1961, Samara) have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Swedish Academy's committee wanted to reward their efforts to "protect freedom of expression, a necessary condition for democracy and lasting peace". At the same time, the Swedish Academy praises them as examples for all media professionals, who must face up to the threats to democracy and freedom, which are increasingly endangered.

Muratov is the director of the independent Russian media Novoya Gazeta, which was founded in the years and has been in opposition to the Putin government ever since. For the Academy, Muratov has emerged in Russia as a champion of a free and independent press. His media has always been a benchmark for unbiased and fact-based reporting, according to the Academy's statement. "Novoya Gazeta has had to deal with violence and repression, threats and assassinations," the statement said, referring to the six Novoya journalists killed since the media outlet's founding. Muratov is also a current reference on the use of bots and trolls in social networks, tools of disinformation in digital environments. Both inside and outside Russia. 

El editor de Novaya Gazeta, Dimitry Muratov, habla durante una entrevista con The Associated Press en el periódico Novaya Gazeta, en Moscú

María Ressa has had a remarkable journalistic career. In the media, she has always focused on violence and totalitarianism in the Philippines. In 2021 she founded the media outlet Rappler, dedicated to providing factual and truthful information. In recent years, Ressa has been active in reporting on the controversial Duterte government in his home country. In addition, his work has illustrated how fake news has affected the quality of information in the Asian country, but also in the rest of the world. 

Maria Ressa

With these awards, the committee based in Oslo and Copenhagen makes clear its position on the defence of freedom of expression and of the press. Freedom is increasingly under threat according to the World Press Quality Index, published by Reporters Without Borders, which leaves Russia and the Philippines in very low positions in the ranking.

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