The journalists Maria Ressa from the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov from Russia were awarded for their brave efforts in defending freedom of expression, a crucial element for democracy and peace. The committee praised them as representatives of all journalists who fight for these principles in a world where democracy and press freedom are under increasing threat. Maria Ressa, a Fulbright scholar and Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2018, has been a vocal critic of her country's authoritarian leader, Rodrigo Duterte. Through her media company Rappler, she has exposed government corruption, investigated the financial interests of top officials, and shed light on the violent anti-drug campaign under Duterte's administration, which the committee likened to a war against the Filipino population due to the high number of deaths. Ressa and Rappler have also reported on how social media is being utilized to disseminate false information, intimidate opponents, and influence public discussions. Ressa, the 18th woman to receive the Peace Prize in its 120-year history, expressed her gratitude during a Facebook Live broadcast on Rappler's platform, stating that she hopes the award acknowledges the challenges faced by journalists today. Muratov, who has been advocating for freedom of speech in Russia for many years, has faced increasing obstacles in his work. Following the announcement of the award, the Kremlin intensified its crackdown on dissenters, branding nine journalists and activists as "foreign agents." Despite facing threats, violence, and even killings, Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper co-founded by Muratov in 1993, has continued to operate under his leadership as editor-in-chief since 1995. Since its establishment, six journalists from the newspaper have been killed, according to the committee, which mentioned Anna Politkovskaya, known for her articles on the Chechnya war. The committee commended editor-in-chief Muratov for maintaining the newspaper's independent stance despite the threats and violence. Muratov has consistently supported journalists' right to write freely, as long as they adhere to professional and ethical standards. Many Russian dissidents had anticipated that the award would go to Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opposition leader, and were disappointed by the decision. Muratov expressed surprise at receiving the award and stated that he would have given it to Navalny. He mentioned that he missed several calls from Norway on the day of the announcement but was informed by his press secretary just before the news broke. He mentioned that he would donate a portion of the prize money to the battle against spinal muscular atrophy, a cause he has supported for a long time, and to assist journalism in resisting pressure from Russian authorities. Muratov stated in a radio interview on Friday that the fight against the media is essentially a fight against the people. This year marked only the third occasion in the 120-year history of the prize that journalists were recognized for their efforts towards promoting peace. Ernesto Moneta, an editor of a newspaper and a leader in the Italian peace movement, was the recipient in 1907. Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist, pacifist, and critic of Nazism who was incarcerated by Hitler, received the prize in 1935. The Nobel committee selected from a pool of 329 candidates, which was one of the largest ever considered. The favorites included climate-change activists, political dissidents, and scientists who contributed to battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee emphasized the importance of free and independent journalism in preventing abuse of power, lies, and war propaganda. They stated that freedom of expression and press are crucial for promoting peace between nations, disarmament, and a more just world order in today's society.