Freelance journalist and NewsCentral24x7 contributor Swati Chaturvedi won the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF’s) press freedom award for courage on November 8. The RSF had instituted the awards for the first time in 2018 and Chaturvedi was one of the four nominees in the category. The award ceremony was held in London.
The RSF said that Chaturvedi “has been the target of vicious online harassment campaigns, like many other outspoken journalists in India”.
The Prize for Courage is given to journalists who show courage in their work or in the defence and promotion of journalism. This year’s prize has been awarded to Swati Chaturvedi @bainjal#RSFAwards2018 pic.twitter.com/d838cBg3Nd
— RSF (@RSF_inter) November 8, 2018
“The Prize for Courage is awarded to journalists, media or NGOs who demonstrate courage in the practice, defence or promotion of journalism in a hostile environment and despite threats to their freedom or safety,” according to the RSF.
Chaturvedi’s fellow nominees in the award category included Turkish journalist Cigdem Toker, Moroccan journalist and founder of Badil.info Hamid El Mahdaoui who was incarcerated for a three-year term in June, and Italian journalist Paolo Borrometi.
The jury members included RSF President Pierre Haski, Chinese activist Wu’er Kaixi and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Speaking to Gulf News, Chaturvedi after winning the award said, “I have always been doing the same thing, since the day I started my career. I have remained the same. I speak the truth as I perceive it and that’s that.”
In 2016, Chaturvedi’s book I am a Troll, in which she documented the internal workings of online troll factory allegedly run by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, created much storm.
Some of Chaturvedi’s articles for NewsCentral24x7 include: