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Dear
Perhaps we have yet to meet. I’m Baybars Örsek, and I lead the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at Poynter. I’ve been a professional fact-checker for eight years and something happened in 2021 that changed me forever. As someone who supports Poynter and stands for journalism and fact-based expression, I wanted to share my story with you.
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of traveling to Oslo, Norway, to attend the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. You might think that having the IFCN nominated for the prestigious honor would have been the moment that changed my life. But it wasn’t until I was humbled to be in the room with the winners — two journalists whom I admire very much — that the gravity of the situation found me.
The timing of this year’s historic recognition of journalism is striking. The last time a journalist was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize was in 1935 — and German laureate Carl von Ossietzky was barred by the Nazis from attending the ceremony in Oslo. He had been imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps for his work in exposing the German re-armament.
This year’s winners, Maria Ressa with Rappler in the Philippines, an IFCN verified signatory, and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov, editor-in-chief of an independent newspaper in Russia, shared their stories of what it was like to pursue the truth in nations where fact-finding can be quite dangerous.
You can imagine then what it felt like to stand together in Oslo with fellow journalists and fact-checkers 86 years later. We continue this tradition of holding powerful people to account, despite the danger.
The Nobel committee’s recognition of journalism's role in lasting peace is a reminder for us of what's at stake with our democracy — our freedom of choice and expression — in this age of rising antagonizers and bad information.
This is the final email message you’ll receive in Poynter’s 2021 annual appeal campaign, and it’s also the last opportunity you have this year to support our important work. If you are as transformed as I am by the fact that journalism safeguards freedom, please consider making a gift ([link removed]) to support the pursuit of facts and the preservation of lasting peace on Earth.
Be part of our global movement as we contribute to public discourse, set the standards for the worldwide fact-checking community and provide support for new projects and initiatives that advance humility and humanity through journalism. Together, we can #GetToThePoynt.
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Wishing you peace and a well-informed new year,
Baybars Ă–rsek
Director of the IFCN and Director of International Programming
The Poynter Institute
P.S. If you’ve already made a contribution to Poynter during our annual appeal — thank you!
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