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New York - Journalists in South Africa, Burma, Iran and Russia who continued their work in the face of violence and censorship, were named the recipients of this year's International Press Freedom Award by the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday.
Ferial Haffajee, editor-in-chief of City Press; Burmese journalist Aung Zaw, founder and editor-in-chief of The Irrawaddy; Iranian freelancer Siamak Ghaderi and Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, editor-in-chief of the Russian independent TV channel Dozhd will receive the distinction this year.
"We are confronting record levels of violence and repression against journalists and, recently, vivid displays of brutality perpetrated against reporters covering the Syrian conflict," said Joel Simon, CPJ executive director.
"The journalists that CPJ will honour with the International Press Freedom Award are undeterred and unbowed. They have risked all to bring us the news."
Haffajee has faced criticism and threats after publishing critical stories.
Zaw's independent magazine The Irrawaddy was branded an "enemy of state" by the former Burmese government and has been under pressure by the country's current government.
Ghaderi, who had previously worked with the Islamic Republic's official new agency IRNA, was released in July after four years in prison.
Zygar's independent TV channel Dozhd provides an alternative in Russia where most of the media are controlled by Moscow.
Jorge Ramos, co-anchor on Univision News, will receive the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for lifetime achievement.
The recipients will be honoured on 25 November at a benefit dinner hosted by CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
