Manila, Philippines (AP) —Philippines journalist Maria Ressa and Russia’s Dmitry Muratov won in 2021. Nobel Peace Prize On Friday for a fight for freedom of expression in countries where reporters are facing persistent attacks, harassment and even murder.

“Free and independent fact-based journalism helps protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda,” said Belit Reish Andersen, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, with two awards. I explained why it was given to a journalist in Japan.

“Without freedom of expression and press, it would be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament, and a better world order to succeed in our time,” she said.

The Nobel Committee announced in 2012 that Lessa co-founded Rappler, a news website in the Philippines that has received critical attention from President Rodrigo Duterte’s “controversial murderous drug eradication campaign.” I pointed out.

“We also document how social media is used to spread fake news, harass enemies, and manipulate public discourse,” she and Rappler said.

Award-winning journalists Convicted of defamation last year Was sentenced to imprisonment for a decision that appears to be A big blow that puts pressure on world freedom.. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize this year.

Lessa said he hopes the award will strengthen research journalism that “holds the power to explain.”

“This relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation against me and my fellow journalists in the Philippines is a striking example of the global trend that journalists and press freedom are facing increasing disadvantages,” she said. I told the correspondent.

She also pointed out social media giants like Facebook as a serious threat to democracy, saying “they actually prioritized the spread of lies full of anger and hatred over facts.” ..

“I didn’t think what we were experiencing would get that attention, but it shows how important the battle we are facing, isn’t it?” Said. It’s a battle of facts. Journalism is activism when fighting for facts. “

Muratov was one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which the Nobel Committee called in 1993 “the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power.” It was a person.

“The factual journalism and professional integrity of the newspaper has become an important source of blameable aspects of Russian society that are rarely mentioned in other media,” he added.

Mr Muratov said he would use his victory to assist independent journalists facing increasing pressure from authorities.

“We use it to enhance Russian journalism in the face of oppression,” he said in a comment carried by the Russian messaging app channel. “We are designated as agents and strive to help those who have faced persecution and have been deported.”

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 17 media workers in the Philippines and 23 in Russia have been killed in the last decade.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev used some of the prize money from winning the Nobel in 1990 to help Novaya Gazeta buy office equipment and computers.

The Nobel Committee said six journalists had been killed since the newspaper was published. Anna Politkovskaya, He took up Russia’s bloody struggle in Chechnya.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised Muratov as a “talented and brave” person.

“I can congratulate Dmitry Muratov. He has consistently worked according to his ideals,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

“It’s a painful strike for the Russian authorities … because the principles of freedom of speech and independent journalism are bad for the Russian authorities,” said Abbas Gariyamov, a political analyst based in Moscow.

Some critics questioned whether the award respected the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel and the original purpose of preventing war, but Dan, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Smith said it was justified.

“Freedom of expression is part of democracy, and the democracy system has proven to be more stable, less likely to war with each other, and less likely to experience a civil war,” Smith said. Says.

Rice Andersen was awarded the Peace Prize in 1907 to journalists, including Ernesto Theodoromoneta of Italy, for promoting pacifism, and in 1935 the Nazi administration was secretly armed in violation of World War II. He pointed out that the Peace Prize was given to Carl von Ossietzky of Germany after revealing that. I will settle.

Reiss-Andersen also pointed out the risks to free speech in today’s world due to the spread of fake news.

“Communicating fake news and information that isn’t true in publicity is also a violation of freedom of expression, and all freedom of expression is limited, which is also a very important factor in this discussion,” she said. rice field.

Reporters Without Borders, a media rights group, celebrated the announcement with “joy and urgency.”

“This is an extraordinary tribute to journalism and a great tribute to all journalists who are taking risks everywhere in the world to defend their right to information,” said group director Christophe Deloire. He spoke from the Paris headquarters. “It’s also urgent because it’s going to be a decisive decade for journalism. Journalism is at stake, journalism is weakening, and journalism is threatened. Democracy is disinformation, rumors. , Weakened by hate speech. “

Known for its French acronym RSF, the group works with Lessa and Muratov to defend their country’s journalism and is regularly criticized by authoritarian governments.

“This award is a great signal that it is a very powerful message to defend journalism everywhere,” he said.

After the announcement, the Nobel Committee itself was put in place by reporters asking about the decision to award the Nobel Prize. 2019 Peace Prize To Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Domestic conflict with the powerful Tigray region..

“Today I do not comment on other Nobel laureates or other issues at the table today, but Ethiopia’s press freedom situation is far from ideal and faces severe restrictions.” Said Reiss-Andersen. Said.

The award will receive a gold medal and SEK 10 million (over $ 1.14 million). The prize is a bequest from Nobel, who died in 1895.

This week’s Nobel Committee received the following awards:

— Physiology or Medicine Awards by Americans David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian How the human body perceives temperature and contact..

— The Physics Award Three scientists who found order in what makes work look disorderlyHelps explain and predict the complex forces of nature, including better understanding of climate change.

— The Chemistry Award was found by Benjamin List and David WC McMillan. Easier and environmentally cleaner way to build molecules It can be used to manufacture compounds such as pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

— The literary award British-based Tanzanian writer Abdul Razak Gruna, “Uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the influence of colonialism and the fate of refugees.”

Still coming Monday is an award for outstanding work in field economics.

Jordan reported from Berlin and Gera from Warsaw, Poland. Contributed by Associated Press writer Masha Macpherson in Paris, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Vladimir Isachenkov in Russia.

Read more stories about the Associated Press’s past and present Nobel Prizes https://www.apnews.com/NobelPrizes