VOA慢速英语2021--诺贝尔和平奖授予两位记者

Reporters Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The two won the prize for their fight for freedom of expression in countries where journalists have faced continuing pressure, attacks and even murder.

Berit Reiss-Andersen chairs the Norwegian Nobel Committee. She said the two were awarded "for their courageous¹ fight for freedom of expression" in their countries.

Reiss-Andersen added, "They are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse² conditions." She added, "Free, independent and fact-based journalism³ serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda."

Maria Ressa

Ressa is the first winner of a Nobel prize in any field from the Philippines.

The Nobel committee noted⁴ that, in 2012, Ressa co-founded Rappler. The news website has centered critical attention on what the Nobel committee called President Rodrigo Duterte's "controversial, murderous anti-drug campaign" in the Philippines. Rappler has also shown how social media is being used to spread false news and attack opponents.

Ressa was found guilty last year of libel and sentenced to jail. In August, a Philippine court dismissed the case. Ressa said she hopes the Nobel Peace prize will help investigative journalism "that will hold power to account."

Dmitry Muratov

Dmitry Muratov is the first Russian to win the Nobel Peace prize since Soviet⁵ leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990. Gorbachev used some of his prize money to help what would become Novaya Gazeta newspaper. The money went toward buying office equipment and computers.

Muratov was one of the founders⁶ of Novaya Gazeta. The Nobel committee called the publication "the most independent newspaper in Russia today." The committee praised the paper for providing Russians with important information "rarely mentioned by other media."

Muratov dedicated⁷ his award to six Novaya Gazeta journalists who were murdered for their reporting on human rights violations⁸ and corruption⁹. He said, "Igor Domnikov, Yuri Shchekochikhin, Anna Politkovskaya, Stas Markelov, Anastasia Baburova, Natasha Estemirova - these are the people who have today won the Nobel Prize."

The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 17 media workers were killed in the Philippines over the past 10 years. Twenty-three were killed in Russia, the group reported.

The French group Reporters without Borders, or RSF, has worked with Ressa and Muratov to defend journalism in their countries. RSF noted, "This prize is a great signal, a very powerful message to defend journalism everywhere."

Reiss-Andersen told Reuters that she believes the awards will force leaders of both the Philippines and Russia "to defend the present situation." She added, "I am curious how they will respond."

Words in This Story

journalist - n. reporter

courageous - adj. very brave

ideal - n. something that you admire and want to imitate

adverse - adj. bad, not good

libel - n. the act of publishing a false statement that causes people to have a bad opinion about someone

dedicate - v. to officially honor or remember someone or something

respond - v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done

1 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

2 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

3 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

6 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。