Singapore Press Club congratulates the two journalist co-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize 2021

Maria Ressa receiving WAN-IFRA's Golden Pen of Freedom award at the 70th World News Media Congress in Portugal, 6 June, 2018 (Photo: Ricardo Lopes/WAN-IFRA)

The Singapore Press Club is delighted that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 was won by two journalists, Maria Ressa, co-founder of the Philippine news website Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper, Novaya Gazeta. The last time a journalist won the Nobel Peace Prize was in 1935.

Maria Ressa is well known to many Press Club members, especially those who have been to WAN-Ifra and other regional events where she has shared her inspirational stories. Maria has been a model of fearless journalism in the face of reprisals and threats to her life. She also made fact-based reporting her mission. "A world without facts is a world without truth and trust,'' she has said.

Dmitry Muratov is not as well-known to the media fraternity in Singapore. But he too has been a courageous defender of the freedom of speech in his country. He has dedicated his award to six colleagues who were murdered in the course of their work.

As the Norwegian Nobel Committee chair Berit Reiss-Andersen said, the two co-winners represent all journalists who stand up for the ideal of freedom of expression in a world where the press face increasingly adverse conditions. "Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda."

The Singapore Press Club and its members warmly congratulate Maria and Dmitry on their awards. We are so proud of them.

Patrick Daniel
President, Singapore Press Club

Maria Ressa (centre) with Singapore Press Club members Glenn van Zutphen (left) and SPC VP Lau Joon-Nie (right) at Google NewsGeist 2019 in Singapore.