The Nobel Peace Prize awarded Friday, October 8 two journalists, the Filipino Maria Ressa and the Russian Dmitri Mouratov, for “Their courageous fight for freedom of expression” threatened by repression, censorship, propaganda and disinformation.
The two winners “Are the representatives of all journalists who defend this ideal in a world where democracy and freedom of the press are faced with increasingly unfavorable conditions”, said the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, in Oslo.
58-year-old Maria Ressa co-founded the digital platform for investigative journalism Rapper in 2012, which shone the spotlight on “The controversial and murderous anti-drug campaign of the regime [du président philippin Rodrigo] Duterte “, argued the Nobel Committee. “A world without facts means a world without truth and without confidence”said Mme Ressa during an interview broadcast live by his investigative media Rapper.
One year his senior, Dmitry Muratov was one of the co-founders and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, one of the few publications still independent in Russia, where dissent is met with fierce repression.
The tri-weekly notably highlighted “Corruption, police violence, illegal arrests, electoral fraud and “troll farms” “ and paid a heavy price, the committee stressed: six of its journalists lost their lives, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed almost fifteen years ago.
Dmitry Muratov has announced that he is dedicating his award to his newspaper and to his murdered colleagues for their work and their investigations. “It’s not my personal merit. It’s that of Novaya Gazeta. It is that of those who died defending people’s right to freedom of expression ”, he said, quoted by the state-owned Tass news agency, listing the names of the six murdered journalists and contributors.
The Russian winner also let it be known on Friday that he would have presented this distinction to his compatriot Alexeï Navalny, an imprisoned opponent of the power of Vladimir Putin. “I would have voted for the person the bookmakers were betting on, and that person has a whole future ahead of them. I mean Alexeï Navalny ”, said the editor. ” I do not know how [ce prix] will influence the censorship that has been put in place ”, Mouratov also said, adding that he would donate part of the sum accompanying the Nobel to support the “Independent and autonomous media” from Russia.
“This is very good news, not just news, but an event (…). This award increases the importance of the press in the contemporary world ”, reacted in a statement Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the USSR, himself Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1990 and co-owner of Novaya Gazeta. “We can congratulate Dmitry Muratov. He works continuously by following his ideals, keeping them. He is talented and courageous ”, for his part reacted to the press the spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov.
First Nobel Peace Prize winner for freedom of information
In a world where, as the saying goes, “The first victim of war is the truth”, this is the first Nobel Peace Prize in 120 years of history to recognize freedom of information as such.
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee is convinced that freedom of expression and freedom of information help to keep a public informed. These rights are essential preconditions for democracy and to guard against war and conflict ”, explained Mme Reiss-Andersen. “Free, independent and factual journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda”, she clarified.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomed with ” joy “ the awarding of the prize, claiming that it was “A powerful sign, a call to action”. “At this moment, two feelings dominate: joy and urgency”, said Christophe Deloire, secretary general of RSF, in front of journalists at the organization’s headquarters in Paris. “Joy, because it’s a wonderful and very powerful message for journalism. A very nice tribute to two journalists (…), who represent all the journalists on the planet who take risks to promote the right to information ”.
“And then, at the same time, a feeling of urgency because journalism is weakened, because journalism is attacked, because democracies are, that disinformation and rumors weaken journalism as much as democracies and that It’s time to act “, he added.
Press freedom problematic in 73% of countries
US President Joe Biden for his part praised the two laureates for having, thanks to their journalistic work, “Reporting on abuses of power, exposing corruption and demanding transparency”.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, also wished to reaffirm ” the right to freedom of the press; recognize the fundamental role of journalists and strengthen efforts at all levels to support free, independent and plural media ”, he said in a statement. “No society can be free and fair without journalists capable of investigating wrongdoing, of informing citizens, of holding leaders to account”, he added.
According to RSF’s latest annual ranking (given in advance as one of the favorites for the Nobel), the press freedom situation is problematic, difficult, even very serious in nearly three quarters (73%) of the 180 countries. assessed by the organization, and good or satisfactory in only 27% of them. A disastrous counter kept by RSF on its site shows that 24 professional journalists have been killed since the start of the year and that 350 others remain in jail to this day.
From Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed in his country’s consulate in Istanbul in 2018, to the Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, target of recurring criticism from Beijing and forced to close this year, attempts to muzzle abound.
If information is systematically targeted by authoritarian regimes and on the battlefield, public debate in countries at peace is also parasitized by infoxes, the consequences of which can be dramatic.
Russia regularly singled out
With its armies of hyperactive social media trolls, Russia has regularly been singled out for its attempts to interfere with elections in the United States and elsewhere, which it denies.
“Without freedom of expression or freedom of the press”, concluded Mme Reiss-Andersen, “It will be difficult to succeed in promoting brotherhood between nations, disarmament and a better world”, as desired by Alfred Nobel (1863-1896), the founder of the prize, in his will.
The Nobel Peace Prize, which comes in a diploma, along with a gold medal and a check for 10 million crowns (over 980,000 euros), is traditionally awarded on December 10 in the Norwegian capital.
However, one unknown remains: the health situation. The Nobel Institute must decide in mid-October whether the ceremony, reduced last year mainly to a digital format because of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be kept in its usual form.
Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize awarded the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for its efforts against hunger in the world. After peace, the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, the season of prizes awarded since 1901 ends Monday in Stockholm with the economy.
Source: Lemonde