October 8, 2021
3 mins read

Nobel Peace Prize 2021 awarded to two Journalists

“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,” the Committee said…reports Asian Lite News.

Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov were on Friday conferred the Nobel Peace Prize 2021 for “their courageous fight for freedom of expression” in their homeland, the Philippines and Russia, respectively and as “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”.

Maria Ressa

Announcing the coveted prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said it chose Ressa, the founder and chief of Rappler, digital media company for investigative journalism, and Muratov, the founder of Russian daily Novaya Gazeta, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, “which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”.

Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, whose digital investigative media outfit has been chronicling abuses and excesses of power in the Phillipines, especially in the present, and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, who is heading a free paper taking a critical view of the government for nearly a quarter-century now in face of all challenges, were on Friday conferred the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021.

Honour for the courageous fight for freedom of expression

Announcing the 2021 laureates, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said that it chose Ressa, the founder and chief of Rappler, and Muratov, the founder of Russian daily Novaya Gazeta, for “their courageous fight for freedom of expression”, and as “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”.

Stressing that “free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies, and war propaganda”, it said it “is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help ensure an informed public” and that 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,” the Committee said.

It noted that 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, and thus, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize award “is therefore firmly anchored in the provisions of Alfred Nobel’s will”.

The Committee said Ressa has used freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines. As a journalist and CEO of the Rapplers, which she co-founded in 2012, she has “shown herself to be a fearless defender of freedom of expression”.

Dmitry Muratov

Rappler has focused critical attention on the Rodrigo Duterte regime’s “controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign”, which has led to so many deaths that it “resembles a war waged against the country’s own population”.

Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse, it added.

The Committee said that Muratov has, for decades, defended freedom of speech in Russia “under increasingly challenging conditions”.

Muratov was one of the founders in 1993, and Editor-in-Chief since 1995, of the Novaya Gazeta, whose “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, 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 said, despite its opponents having “responded with harassment, threats, violence, and murder” with six of its top journalists killed, including Anna Politkovskaya who wrote revealing articles on the war in Chechnya.

However, “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,” the Committee said.

ALSO READ.-Nobel Prize to be ‘home-delivered’ this year

READ MORE-TAGORE: The Nobel Prize, Impact on Europe and Alexander VON Zemlinsky

Previous Story

Pakistan’s Kashmir Agenda Fails Internationally

Next Story

Afghanistan set to become narco-state under Taliban rule

Latest from -Top News

No Talks Till Terror Ends: India to Pakistan

The MEA’s strong response came at a time when Pakistan, pushed on the backfoot by India’s decisive Operation Sindoor, has suddenly started talking about its intent on having peace talks with India….reports

BNP ramps up poll demand

Chief Adviser Yunus had earlier promised elections in December 2025, but the timeline has since been pushed back first to February 2026 and then to June 2026, fuelling suspicion and dissatisfaction among

Saudi backs India’s strategic outreach

In a series of engagements, the Indian delegation met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State Adel Al-Jubeir and other senior officials. A high-profile Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay

India clears stealth fighter project

New execution model paves way for private sector involvement in India’s ambitious stealth aircraft programme; Army showcases next-gen drone warfare systems. In a landmark decision bolstering India’s defence self-reliance, Defence Minister Rajnath

ASEAN lauds India’s firm stance on terrorism

The ASEAN Secretary-General reaffirmed the bloc’s resolve to deepen collaboration with India—a comprehensive strategic partner—in security and counter-terrorism efforts. The Indian all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha,
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Uyghur rights group nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

This is the second consecutive Nobel Prize nomination for the

Taliban threatens journalists amid violence

Taliban threats came as the United States have begun drawdown