By Reginal Elaine Vendivil

Filipino veteran journalist Maria Ressa becomes the first Filipino Nobel laureate after being awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression”, announced last Friday, October 8, 2021. 

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced via Twitter. 

Additionally, Norwegian Nobel Committee Chairwoman Berit Reiss-Andersen recognized the two journalists for their “courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia” in a news conference.

“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,” Reiss-Andersen added.

In a phone call by the Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Olav Njølstad with Rappler CEO Ressa, she expressed her shock and speechlessness on being awarded the world’s most prestigious political accolade.

The award-giving body also released a statement, saying that Maria Ressa “uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines.”

Ressa has been threatened and faced legal cases in the Philippines for Rappler’s, which she co-founded, critical attention and coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s regime. 

She also plays an important role in the global fight against disinformation. 

The presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to the awardees will be held on December 10, 2021, the death anniversary of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, the founder of the award in his 1895 will. 

References:

ABS-CBN News. (2021, October 8). For her press freedom efforts, Maria Ressa wins the Nobel Peace Prize. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/08/21/maria-ressa-wins-nobel-peace-prize

Lalu, G. P. (2021, October 8). Filipino journalist Maria Ressa one of two 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardees. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1499281/filipino-journalist-maria-ressa-one-of-two-2021-nobel-peace-prize-awardees 

‌Rappler.com. (2021, October 8). Rappler’s Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/about/winners-nobel-peace-prize-2021

Photo Source: The Nobel Prize on Twitter (Illustrations: Niklas Elmehed)