Press freedom is under assault around the world and journalists are in increased danger. The Nobel Peace Prize highlights threats to the Fourth Estate.
The award, given to journalists for only the third time in the 120-year history of the prize, comes amid a steady deterioration in press freedom around the world and increased risks for journalists.
Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the annual prize for their efforts to safeguard the freedom of expression.
“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,” the Nobel Committee said in awarding the prize last week.
Nobel Prize highlights how journalists run increased risks.
The Philippines has long been one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to work. Since 1992, 87 journalists have been killed in that country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Two years ago, News Decoder wrote about efforts by Ressa and her compatriot Fernando Garcia Sepe Jr. to expose corruption and abusive practices in the Southeast Asian nation.
Muratov founded the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta in 1993, and since then six of the newspaper’s journalists have been killed.
The number of journalists murdered in retaliation for their work more than doubled in 2020, as criminal gangs and militant groups targeted reporters working in violent but democratic nations, according to the CPJ.
Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2021 (Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach)
Protecting journalists to protect democracy
Aralynn McMane, founder of the Global Youth & Media Prize and a member of the board of News Decoder’s governing non-profit, has compiled a useful list of resources detailing threats to journalists around the world.
She cites a report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that showed that journalism is completely or partly blocked in 73% of the 180 countries ranked by the NGO, which noted a dramatic deterioration in people’s access to information and an increase in obstacles to news coverage. “Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.
She also cites Ressa’s interview of human rights lawyer Amal Clooney.
On World Press Freedom day earlier this year, News Decoder broadcast a webinar, in association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on the topic of protecting journalists to protect democracy.
The session featured CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney, Indiana University Professor Elaine Monaghan and eight students from News Decoder partner schools in Belgium, Denmark, South Korea and the United States.
(Nelson Graves is the founder of News Decoder.)
Three questions to consider:
- What does the expression “to speak truth to power” mean?
- Why do you think that in some countries, COVID-19 led to curbs on press freedom?
- How free is the press in your country?
J’ai appris beaucoup de choses à la lecture de cet article et au visionnage de quelques videos. Bravo.