[WATCH] Chatham House Prize 2018: The Committee to Protect Journalists

Originally posted on the Chatham House website

A free press provides an essential check and balance on government by scrutinizing policymaking and public administration and helping to promote honesty, accountability, and transparency.

But as the rules-based liberal international order has come under pressure over the last decade, and technological advances have given the world a variety of platforms to publish news and opinion, the fourth estate finds itself facing a number of challenges in fulfilling this watchdog role.

Chief among these challenges, as recent news has demonstrated, is ensuring that journalists are free to report the news safely and without reprisal.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has been awarded the 2018 Chatham House Prize by the institute’s membership in recognition of its efforts to defend the right of journalists to work without fear at a time when the free press is under serious pressure in many parts of the world.

Joining the discussion are:

• Joel Simon, Executive Director, The Committee to Protect Journalists. He led CPJ through a period of expansion, helping to launch the Global Campaign Against Impunity, establish the Emergencies Department, and create a North America program focused on press freedom issues in the United States. 
• Lynsey Addario, freelance photojournalist. Addario is the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship, a Pulitzer prize, The Overseas Press Club’s Olivier Rebbot Award, and two Emmy nominations.
• Mona Eltahawy, freelance journalist. In November 2011, Egyptian riot police beat her, breaking her left arm and right hand, and sexually assaulted her as she was detained for 12 hours by the Interior Ministry and Military Intelligence. Newsweek magazine named Eltahawy one of its “150 Fearless Women of 2012”, Time magazine featured her along with other activists from around the world as its People of the Year and Arabian Business magazine named her one of the 100 Most Powerful Arab Women.
• Maria Ressa, CEO and Executive Editor, Rappler. Maria has been honored around the world for her work in fighting disinformation, “fake news” and attempts to silence the free press. This year, she won the prestigious Golden Pen of Freedom Award from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, the Knight International Journalism Award of the International Center for Journalists, the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Journalist of Courage and Impact Award of East- West Center, and the IX International Press Freedom Award of University of Málaga and UNESCO, among others.
• Frans Everts, Executive Vice President, External Relations, Royal Dutch Shell. From May 2011 till early 2016, he served as VP of Shell Energy North America and was responsible for the company’s overall operations in natural gas, power and emissions trading in North America.
• The Baroness Manningham-Buller LG DCB, President, Chatham House. She was director-general of the UK Security Service (MI5) between 2002 and 2007 and became an independent life peer in 2008. Manningham-Buller served as Chairman of the Council of Imperial College London from 2011 to 2015.
• Dr Robin Niblett CMG, Director, Chatham House. He became director of Chatham House in January 2007. Previously he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) from 2001 to 2006.

– Rappler.com