Honduran Journalist Itsmania Pineda Platero Nominated for Netizen Prize

Two billion people worldwide now have Internet access but a third of them lack access to an Internet that is free and open to all because of government censorship, filtering and online surveillance. Around 180 citizen-journalists, bloggers and other netizens are currently in prison because of their online activity. To support their efforts and to mark World Day Against Cyber-Censorship, Reporters Without Borders and Google award the Netizen Prize every March 12 with the aim of drawing the public’s attention to the need to defend online free expression. Since 2008, this prize has been awarded to journalists, bloggers and other netizens who have made a distinguished contribution to the defence of freedom of expression on the Internet.

To stimulate online interest, the winner of the Netizen Prize will this year for the first time be elected by the Internet public, who are invited to cast their vote online. Nine netizens have been nominated by Reporters Without Borders. We have chosen online news and information providers who have distinguished themselves through investigative reporting, projects or other initiatives which have helped advance online freedom of information and which are likely to inspire fellow netizens around the world.

Up until Tuesday, March 5, Internet users can vote for the nominee they think best represents the fight for online freedom of information by going to the Reporters Without Borders YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/netizen2013

The nominee who has received the most votes will be announced on March 7. The winner will be invited to the award ceremony at Google France’s headquarters in Paris on March 12. The nominees for the 2013 Netizen Prize are: Itsmania Pineda Platero (Honduras), Cheikh Fall (Senegal), Oumarou Mohamed Lamine (Mali), Suren Gazaryan (Russia), Murat Tungishbayev (Kazakhstan), Assen Yordanov (Bulgaria), Huynh Ngoc Chenh (Vietnam), Mosireen (Egypt) and Shiva Nazar Ahari (Iran). (3/4/13) (photo of Itsmania Pineda Platero)

Note: This press release was issued by Reporters Without Borders.

Editor's Note: Itsmania Pineda Platero is an independent journalist, blogger, and human rights activist in Honduras. She reports on the "maras" -- the gangs of extremely violent youth criminals who have spread throughout Central America. A vocal critic of the coup in 2009 that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya and its impact on freedom of information, Mrs. Platero led a peaceful demonstration in front of the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa which the police repressed with violence. After receiving repeated death threats, Mrs. Platero was provided with personal protection arranged by Reporters Without Borders. To vote for Itsmania, go to www.youtube.com/rsfinternet?x=us-en_showcase_58_7