00:00DW's Director-General Barbara Massing explained why Jimmy Lai had been chosen.
00:05Jimmy Lai has stood unwaveringly for press freedom in Hong Kong at great personal risk,
00:11even as space for independent journalism became increasingly limited.
00:16With Apple Daily, he gave journalists a platform for free reporting
00:19and a voice to the democracy movement in Hong Kong.
00:23In early 2026, a Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison.
00:30Basically, a life sentence due to his age of 78.
00:34With the DW Freedom of Speech Award, we want to shed a light on his situation
00:38and showcase his outstanding commitment to press freedom
00:42as well as his dedication to democratic values.
00:47His commitment reminds us that press freedom is never a given.
00:52It must be constantly defended.
00:55And is it his trial you condemn or the severity of his sentence?
01:02Actually, first of all, we condemn the situation of the press freedom in Hong Kong
01:12because it was declining during the last years really seriously.
01:20And we also see this regarding censorship and the lack of free media.
01:29Also, the DW is blocked in Hong Kong and China for many years right now.
01:37So, Jimmy Lai should not have been facing trial for just doing his job in the first place.
01:48This is why we also chose Jimmy Lai because he stood very firmly with the freedom of press.
01:56He gave journalists a platform with his Apple Daily newspaper and then digital media.
02:04And I think it's really impressive that he even took these personal risks who brought him into jail.
02:13And this is why we honour Jimmy Lai this year with the DW Freedom of Speech Award.
02:26Well, his family is very honoured and very happy about the fact that Jimmy Lai is going to receive the
02:36DW Freedom of Speech Award this year.
02:39They're grateful and even if it's really difficult to forward messages into the prison.
02:49But for Jimmy Lai, it's really important to remain remembered and to remain also talked about his case in public
03:01because this is helping a lot.
03:04And what difference do you hope that this award will make?
03:11Well, we see that it was published today that it's the first time in history that more than half of
03:23the countries in the world regarding the facts of reporters without borders,
03:30that more than half of the countries, the situation of the freedom of the press is difficult or very serious.
03:41So I think what is really important with the DW Freedom of Speech Award is to spot a light to
03:50the situation of the freedom of press,
03:53but also to the journalists and it is always an example of journalists working in a very, very difficult environment
04:06and under very difficult circumstances.
04:09And it's like an example for the whole situation of freedom in the press worldwide.
04:14And it's the same case for some of our DW colleagues, because right now we also have two colleagues who
04:27are in prison for just doing what they do for doing the job,
04:31reporting fact-based about what is happening.
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