Various media groups lauded Filipino journalist Maria Ressa for winning the Nobel Peace Prize for 2022 for exemplary efforts to "safeguard freedom of expression" in the Philippines.
Ressa and fellow journalist Dmitry Muratov of Russia were jointly honored with the Nobel Peace Award.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) said Ressa's victory highlights the importance of "freedom of the press and of expression" and a "vindication for many Filipino journalists."
"We commend them for defending these freedoms in increasingly challenging conditions -- in Ressa's case, these challenging conditions have included a raft of cases and legal proceedings -- and are proud to be in the community of independent journalists ready to hold the line with them,' NUJP said.
"We see Ressa's recognition as a vindication for many Filipino journalists who have been subjected to relentless attacks -- those who have been harassed, red-tagged, slapped with libel, and cyber libel charges, arrested, and killed," IAWRT added.
Ressa and Rappler faced multiple criminal charges and investigations after publishing stories critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's policies, including the drug war.
Meanwhile, the Asian American Journalists Association's Asia (AAJA-Asia) thanked the Nobel Prize for "shining a light on freedom of expression and the role of journalists."
"AAJA-Asia has unequivocally stood in full support of Ressa, Rappler, and all journalists around the region who face harassment and threats in the course of their work."
Ressa is the first Filipino recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.