Nobel Nobility

Nobel Nobility

In many parts of the world, professional journalism has been and remains one of the most dangerous professions. It is one that can often lead to ostracism, imprisonment, or even death. In such circumstances, some choose to toe the line and become apologists for populist authoritarian leaders or dictatorships. They parrot the views of their political masters and block out any attempt to seek out and publish the truth. Others make the harder choice and take greater risks to seek out and report the truth regardless of the potentially dire consequences.  

That is why this year’s selection of Philippines journalist Maria Ressa and Russia´s Dmitry Muratov as winners of the Nobel Peace Prize is an important recognition of the work being undertaken daily by brave journalists, in many parts of the world, who challenge corrupt and authoritarian systems and leaders.

On October 8th, Pavel Kanygin, a veteran reporter at Novaya Gazeta, told the Guardian: “It feels unreal. This is a great encouragement for us all, the last few months have been very difficult for Russian journalism, we had a feeling we are all approaching a tragic ending. We were running out of hope.”

“I hope this prize will help to protect us against attacks from the authorities. This is an award that is important not just for us, but the whole Russian independent journalist community.”

According to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, “Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines.” 

In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism, which she still heads. As a journalist and Rappler’s CEO, Ressa has shown herself to be a fearless defender of freedom of expression having focused critical attention on the Duterte regime’s controversial, murderous, anti-drug campaign. 

The number of deaths is so high that the campaign resembles a war waged against the country’s own population. Ms. Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.

Similarly, leaders such as Vladimir Putin, who has seen over 20 journalists killed since in power, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman of Saudi Arabia widely seen as responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Pakistani extremists who killed Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and the many drug cartels who kills investigative reporters are but a few examples of the huge risks facing journalists in many parts of the world.

Throughout history, despotic regimes have tried to control the flow of information to their citizens, especially when the contents go against their interests.

During the past few years, credible journalists and news agencies have come under attack by unscrupulous politicians or by those in the general public who believe what they are told by officially sanctioned propaganda or by the profit driven algorithms of social media, such as Facebook, whose effects are now coming under greater scrutiny.

Anti-media rhetoric has increased exponentially, both from leaders such as Donald Trump attacking the media and encouraging his followers to attack journalists, as well as from fringe political organizations who see the best way to make an impact is by attacking and discrediting the generally responsible “main-stream media”.

A free media is a luxury that authoritarian leaders cannot tolerate – it is the enemy.

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to two brave journalists is a major step to underscore the fact that liberal institutions are determined to fight back against those who would muzzle the free media.

Will this message galvanize us to take a greater role in defining our demands for a free media and our support for the brave souls who lead the way?

Let’s hope that this year’s winners help shed light on our need to not become complacent and allow ourselves to be led by false leaders or lies

Freedom is won by fighting for it and by individual effort, not by allowing ourselves to be blinded or seduced by propaganda, rhetoric, or the mob.

These brave journalists and their colleagues deserve our respect.

Keep reading: 

Presidente de Filipinas felicita tarde a Premio Nobel de la Paz 

Periodistas de Filipinas y Rusia ganan el premio Nobel de la Paz

Edition: Estefanía Cardeña