The International Press Institute (IPI) on Friday honoured seven journalists as World Press Freedom Heroes and named Hungary’s independent media as its Free Media Pioneer during a ceremony at the University of Vienna held as part of IPI’s 75th anniversary World Congress.
This year’s Press Freedom Heroes are Mzia Amaglobeli (Georgia), Martin Baron (United States), Mariam Abu Dagga (Palestine), Gustavo Gorriti (Peru), Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong), Victoria Roshchyna (Ukraine), and Tesfalem Waldyes (Ethiopia).
The awardees include war correspondents, investigative journalists, and media founders who have all displayed tremendous courage and resilience in fighting for media freedom and the free flow of news.
“As IPI marks 75 years of defending press freedom, we chose to honour seven journalists who truly embody what it means to be a press freedom hero, and one community of journalists that has shown remarkable ingenuity and resolve in the face of pressure,” IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen said. “This group of extraordinary journalists and outlets has a lot to teach us about how we can meet the demands of this current global moment and create a vision for the future of independent journalism.”
Two of this year’s awardees, Dagga and Roshchyna, were honoured posthumously, in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice they made in the line of duty.
Accepting the award on behalf of Dagga were Lucy Nicholson, the Associated Press’ director of photography, and Hadi Torfi, assistant editor-in-chief of Independent Arabia. Dagga freelanced for both outlets while reporting on the war in Gaza.
“Over the past years, Mariam has shared with us powerful footage, photos, and human stories from Gaza,” Torfi said at the ceremony. “During the war she left everything behind her — her home, her comfort, and even her life, to share with us the story of a people whose voices are often ignored.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Roshchyna were Anna Babinets, director of Slidstvo.Info, who has reported extensively on Roshchyna’s case, and Andrey Boborykin, executive director of Ukrainska Pravda, where Roshchyna freelanced.
“It’s strange being on stage in Europe, accepting an award for a colleague, a colleague you knew, a prominent journalist who is not with us anymore,” Babinets said. “Can you imagine that a professional journalist from a European country, in the 21st century, is dying in prison because of torture and starvation? I’m honoured to receive this award for my amazing, brave colleague.”
Amaglobeli and Lai were also unable to attend the ceremony due to their ongoing — and unjust — incarceration. Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, accepted the award on behalf of his father.
“It’s incredibly heartbreaking to say these words, but also incredibly inspiring to see this man, who throughout this hard and soul-shaking ordeal is still standing strong,” Lai said. “I’m sure my father would be tremendously honoured to receive this award among all these other people who have decided to hold a torch to the truth.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Amaglobeli was her friend and colleague, Tamar Rukhadze, deputy director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, the outlet Amaglobeli founded.
“Mzia never sought to be a hero, and perhaps that’s precisely why she is the right person to be one,” Rukhadze said. “This award is not just for Mzia, but for the entire Batumelebi and Netgazeti team who carry on Mzia’s fight.”
In remarks made on receiving their awards, Tesfalem, Gorriti, and Baron highlighted the growing challenges facing the free press, and acknowledged the high cost paid by their colleagues around the world who face harassment, persecution, threats, imprisonment, and even death for their dedication to reporting the truth.
“I am profoundly humbled to share this award with all the journalists who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of their work, with those unjustly imprisoned, and with those who hold the powerful to account,” Tesfalem said.
Gorriti noted that independent journalists in too many places all across the planet face “turbulence and danger”.
“Press freedom is not only under attack by authoritarian regimes… Democracy is receding, under aggression even in places we wouldn’t have expected it to happen.”
Baron said: “Until a decade ago, I took for granted that we would always have a free press in the United States. I will no longer take that for granted. Now, like many American journalists, I take inspiration from our colleagues in other countries who have confronted greater pressures than we. We see you as examples of the indomitable spirit that is needed.”
The Free Media Pioneer award, which honours organizations or media communities that meet the challenges of today’s media environment with innovation, creativity, and determination, went to Hungary’s independent media, in recognition of their resilience in the face of an increasingly hostile environment.
In remarks following the presentation of the award, Márton Kárpáti, CEO of Telex, said, “It is not always easy to be a journalist in Hungary – we have to face many different issues and problems. But with our audience, our families, our friends, and organizations like IPI, it’s much easier to do our jobs…Let me end with a message: despite all the difficulties, keep up, never give up, and spread the truth.”