WASHINGTON — Russian journalist Ilya Barabanov, who has worked to expose official corruption, was awarded the Peter Mackler Award honoring courageous journalism Sunday, press freedom group Reporters Without Borders announced.
| Mr. Barabanov displays the kind of moral courage that few journalists in the US and western Europe seem to have. Certainly no one at the NYT or the LA Times is going to win this anytime soon. |
Barabanov is deputy editor of The New Times, an opposition news weekly in Russia which has been searched and sued by the Russian government after critical stories.
‘Barabanov, a young journalist, has displayed enormous courage in standing up for journalistic independence and the Russian people’s right to free and balanced news. These character traits are what the Peter Mackler Award seeks to encourage and reward,’ said award director Camille Mackler.
Reporters Without Borders, which administers the prize, said BarabanovÂ’s nomination comes amid growing accusations of Internet censorship and media intimidation in Russia.
‘We are delighted to know this award goes to Ilya Barabanov,’ Jean-Francois Julliard, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders, said. ‘Being a journalist in Russia is one of the toughest jobs around.
‘Russian journalists need to be supported and recognized worldwide for the work they do. Ilya’s talent, courage and persistence are essential to Russian journalism,’ he said. |