2020 Fourth Estate Award Gala - Maria Ressa Aubuchon Press Freedom Award

Named for a former Club president who fervently advocated for press freedom, the John Aubuchon Press Freedom Awards are given each year to one journalist in the United States and one journalist overseas who bravely pushes to disclose the truth in trying circumstances.

The 2020 International honoree was Maria Ressa, CEO and president of Rappler, who was convicted in the Philippines on trumped-up charges of cyber libel. Ressa and Rappler have been the target of repeated efforts by the government of President Rodrigo Duterte to silence her. Ressa has emerged as one of the leading voices for press freedom in the Philippines amid threats to independent journalism in the country.