Newyork, November 19, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today paid tribute to brave journalists from Guatemala, Mozambique, and Myanmar by presenting them with CPJ’s 2021 International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) in New York. CPJ also honoured Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. “The journalists we are honouring today have been sustained by a fierce belief in the justness of their cause and the power of an informed society. They have risked their lives and liberty to bring us the news,” said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. “We are reminded by their sacrifice that to practice journalism in the face of grave danger requires a profound sense of optimism and a sincere faith in humanity.” The awardees recognized at the event included Mozambican investigative journalist Matías Guente, Guatemalan radio journalist Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz, and Myanmar journalist and Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) founder Aye Chan Naing. This award is an enormous responsibility for our role in the defence of press freedom “I see this award not only as recognition, but also as an enormous responsibility for our role as Mozambican journalists in the defence of press freedom,” said Guente, who has faced attempted kidnappings, physical attacks, and threats in retaliation for his outlet’s hard-hitting reporting. Guente, who received his award from CNN senior international correspondent Nima Elbagir, described his recognition as “a call to the world that press freedom transcends borders, and we are all called upon to defend it.” Aye Chan Naing accepted his award from Ed Yong of The Atlantic. As DVB’s founder, editor and director, Aye Chan Naing—who ran an underground network of in-country reporters from exile in Norway before helping bring DVB aboveground—said there was “one bright light” after February’s military coup led to the latest press crackdowns in Myanmar. “Ten years of relative freedom had created a generation of talented, dedicated Burmese journalists,” he said. “Through online platforms, these journalists have fought every waking hour since February to uncover the grave crimes against humanity committed by the military. Their work is breathtaking, as is the unconquerable desire…