Good News Pilipinas Filipino journalist Maria Ressa awarded UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize Maria Ressa’s fight for press freedom in the Philippines has gained international awareness on the plight of Filipino journalists. UNESCO Photo. Filipino journalist Maria Ressa has been named the recipient of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Press Freedom Prize. The investigative journalist from the Philippines was announced on April 27 as the 2021 laureate of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, on the recommendation of an international jury of media professionals. - Advertisement - Maria Ressa will receive the award in a ceremony webcast on May 2 from Windhoek, Namibia, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.