The award, which has been awarded since 2007 (the year after the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya), goes to "a journalist who, in his work, distinguished himself in the defense of freedom of expression and print".
“Maria Ressa is an obvious recipient of this year's award. Through her work, we are reminded why journalism is needed. In the ongoing war on freedom of the press for which President Duterte has been, she has become the clearest target. Despite this, Maria Ressa continues to stand for freedom of the press and opinion, ”said Publicist Club President Robert Aschberg in a press release.
Ressa, who is the keynote speaker at Gräv in Borås this fall, was sentenced this week to imprisonment for between six months and six years, for "slander online" after she published an article examining the exercise of power by the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte.
The ruling has been criticized by several press freedom organizations.