Amal Clooney has been honoured with a prestigious Press Freedom Award.
I know, I know. You’re thinking, wait a minute, she isn’t press…she’s a human rights lawyer!
And you’re right.
But she was this year’s recipient of the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, for showing “extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.”
Basically, she’s been a huge advocate for press freedom and has served as international counsel for a number of journalists under threat.
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In fact, right now, Amal is representing Maria Ressa who’s been convicted of cyber libel which is a criminal offence in the Philippines. (Maria also happens to have won the Press Freedom Award in 2018.)
Hollywood star Meryl Streep presented Amal with the award during a virtual ceremony, describing her as “a woman who exemplifies the tireless struggle for press freedom and justice.”
During her acceptance speech, Amal not only thanked Meryl for the kind intro but also cracked a joke about their mutual connection – George Clooney.
“I know I can’t ever hope to win the number of awards that you’ve won, but it does occur to me that we have something special in common, which is that we’ve both been married to my husband. And honestly, that that you did it as Mr and Mrs Fantastic Fox makes that so much less awkward.”
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She went on to discuss how important press freedom is:
‘Democracy must constantly be defended and the press vigilantly protected. So I’d like to accept this honour on behalf of all the lawyers who work to protect journalists and others being persecuted around the world. And I’d like to dedicate it to all those who fought for the rights that we enjoy today, because progress is not inevitable.”
The Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award is named after journalist and newscaster Gwen Ifill who in 1999 became the first African American woman to host a nationally televised public affairs program in the U.S. She was also a board member for the Committee to Protect Journalists and passed away in 2016.
(Feature Image Credit: magicinfoto/Shutterstock.com)