The news has been abuzz with the announcement of the recipients of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Two journalists, Maria Ressa from the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov from Russia, were honored for their significant efforts to protect the freedom of expression, a fundamental prerequisite for a sustainable democracy and lasting peace. This recognition comes after the 2020 accolade was bestowed upon the World Food Programme, a United Nations agency. The winners for other categories, including Literature, Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine, have also been recognized in the 2021 Nobel Prizes.
Profile: Maria Ressa
Well-known as an investigative journalist, Maria Ressa co-founded Rappler in 2012. Rappler is a digital media platform that centers its efforts on investigative journalism, and Ressa has continued to lead this endeavor. One of Rappler’s main focus points has been shedding light on the controversial, often deadly anti-drug campaign led by President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime.
Ressa is also an accomplished author, penning Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaeda’s Newest Center, and From Bin Laden to Facebook: 10 Days of Abduction, 10 Years of Terrorism. The challenging state of press freedom in the Philippines is reflected by its ranking of 138 out of 180 nations in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
Profile: Dmitry Muratov
Dmitry Muratov, like Ressa, has spent decades advocating for freedom of speech, particularly in the increasingly challenging environment of Russia, which ranked 150 in the 2021 World Freedom Index. Alongside around 50 colleagues, Muratov founded Novaya Gazeta, a newspaper, in 1993. He has held the position of editor-in-chief since 1995.
In acknowledgment of his efforts, Muratov was honored as one of the International Press Freedom awardees by the Committee to Protect Journalists, a US-based non-profit, in 2007. However, his journey has not been without hurdles – six of his colleagues have been killed since the newspaper’s inception, and the organization has often been on the receiving end of harassment, threats, violence, and murder.
Despite these significant challenges, Muratov remains steadfast in maintaining the newspaper’s independent policy.
The Importance of Free Journalism
The victories and struggles of Ressa and Muratov underscore the fundamental importance of free, independent, and fact-based journalism in society. Such journalism serves as a safeguard against the misuse of power, lies, and war propaganda.
The ability to express oneself without fear of retribution is not only vital for the functioning of a healthy democracy, but it also plays a crucial role in promoting fraternity between nations, disarmament, and better world order. Without this freedom, our aspirations for a peaceful global community may remain unrealized. As such, it is important for society to recognize and support the heroic efforts of journalists like Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov in their quest to uphold the truth.