Thread by @cfishman

The Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 goes to:

Two reporters. Journalists.

Maria Ressa in the Philippines, holding Pres. Duterte accountable.

Dmitri Muratov in Russia, co-founder and editor of Novaya Gazeta, holding Pres. Putin accountable.

Fearless.
nytimes.com/2021/10/08/wor…

2/ Both the Philippines & Russia are societies where journalism is one of the few ways to understand what's happening with power & corruption.

The presidents of both nations are documented killers.

Just telling the story every day of what's happening is life-threatening.

3/ Ressa & Muratov received this year's Nobel Peace Prize 'for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy & lasting peace.'

—>

4/ 'Their efforts' ... which require every day require courage, determination & putting the interests of their nations, their fellow citizens, ahead of their own bodily safety.

Except for military, law enforcement, firefighters, few of us put our lives at risk for our work.

5/ In the US, being a reporter has in the last 10 years become a completely different world, one in which you can often find yourself under attack.

In ways that are startling, frightening, and discouraging.

6/ Journalism isn't perfect.

But journalism is essential — for democracy, for fairness, for capitalism.

You can't have freedom without journalism.
You can't have accountability without journalism.

Amazed at the Nobel committee's choice, and these journalists' fearlessness.