Ljubljana - This year's Nobel Peace Prize "shows that the academy has recognised the importance of freedom of expression and journalism in times of global turbulence", said the Slovenian Association of Journalists (DNS), responding to today's decision by the Nobel Committee to award the prize to a couple of journalists.

The committee rewarded the investigative work and courage of Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, "who work in authoritarian environments where power is abused".

"The prize is a warning that, since the fall of the Berlin Wall, democratic values have never been under such an attack, including in the heart of Europe," the DNS said in a press release.

The association went on to warn about attempts to create an environment of hatred directed against journalists, including in Slovenia.

"Only free journalism can be a bulwark against fake news disseminated by social networks," the DNS added.

The committee gave a similar justification for awarding this year's prize to the two journalists for defending freedom of expression.

"Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda," it said, noting that Ressa and Muratov were "representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions".