THE JOURNALISTS' JOURNEY TOWARDS PEACE

THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, THE SUCCESS OF THE PRESS TOWARDS PEACE

By: Dittz Centen0-De Jesus

For the year 2021, this honor was awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to MARIA RESSA of our country, the Philippines and DMITRY MURATOV of Russia.

What is the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE? It is the honor bestowed on persons who have made significant contributions to the promotion of peace through the field to which they belong.

ALFRED BERNHARD NOBEL (21 October 1833-10 December 1896), was a Swedish inventor, chemist, engineer, businessman and philanthropist, who left his vast wealth to finance the NOBEL PRIZE Institution. It selects and awards personalities or associations who have excelled in their respective fields. These include Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama, Malala Yousafzai, as well as the United Nations and the World Food Program.

It was awarded to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of the press, which is also a path to democracy and lasting peace. Ressa represents the Philippines while Muratov is from Russia. They are the journalists of the present time who promote this advocacy in their respective countries.

In the situation in the Philippines, Maria Ressa sought to expose the abuses of power, the use of violence in suppressing rampant drug-related crimes and the prevailing authoritarian rule in the country. In 2012 they founded RAPPLER, a digital media company for investigative journalism. She was brave enough in revealing the real events in the country under the current government of President Rodrigo Duterte. She fearlessly faced, along with other Rappler journalists, the scrutiny of the anti -drug campaign, known as Tokhang, as well as the role of the media in presenting news and documentaries based on facts and thorough investigation of events taking place in the society.

Dmitry Muratov, meanwhile, has for many years been an advocate of freedom of the press and speech in Russia. Along with other journalists, they established the newspaper, NOVAJA GAZETA in 1993. This newspaper is considered the most reliable independent newspaper in Russia because of its critical and fundamental contents especially on the abuse of power, corruption, election fraud, among others. It is also the newspaper that most people consult when it comes to important issues, opinions and social issues.

The two, along with the staff of their respective newspapers, continue to advocate for independent journalism based on professional and ethical writing and reporting. This is despite threats to their lives, harassment, lawsuits and accusations from their critics.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced of their free, independent and truth -based expression. This desire to disseminate information to the public is an important factor for the existence of democracy and the protection of peace as well. Without freedom of expression and speech, the pursuit of peace between peoples and nations will be difficult to succeed.

So, it is also an honor for us alike, journalists, that MARIA RESSA and DMITRY MURATOV have been chosen to receive the NOBEL AWARD FOR PEACE 2021.

Long live, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression!