<span style="color: #222222;">The Nobel Peace Prize awarded on Friday to journalists Maria Ressa of Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia for their fight for freedom of expression in their countries.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The pair were honoured for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace, said the chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They are representatives of all fearless journalists who stand up for truth in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions, she said.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''58 years old Ressa and 59 years old Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''Ressa, a former CNN correspondent who also holds US citizenship, is currently on bail pending an appeal against a conviction last year in a cyber libel case, for which she faces up to six years in prison.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Muratov, has defended freedom of speech in Russia for decades, under increasingly challenging conditions.</span>