2 journalists fighting for freedom of expression awarded peace Nobel

Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who braved the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule, won the Nobel peace prize on Friday, in an endorsement of free speech, under fire worldwide.

Journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who braved the wrath of the leaders of the Philippines and Russia to expose corruption and misrule, won the Nobel peace prize on Friday, in an endorsement of free speech, under fire worldwide.

The two were awarded “for their courageous fight for freedom of expression” in their countries, chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen of the Norwegian Nobel Committee 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,” she added. “Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda.”

In 2012, Ressa co-founded Rappler, a news website that the committee noted had focused critical attention on President Rodrigo Duterte’s “controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign” in the Philippines.

Muratov was one of the founders in 1993 of Novaya Gazeta, which the Nobel committee called “the most independent newspaper in Russia today”.