The Peter Mackler award rewards journalists who fight courageously and ethically to report the news in countries where freedom of the press is either not guarantied or not recognized.

Integrity, passion, and a never-ending desire to have the news reported accurately were trademarks of Peter's style of reporting. These principles he sought to teach to all those he mentored, supervised, or even met in passing.

Peter strongly believed that practicing fair and accurate journalism was not only a great service one could do for others, but that anyone could translate this into what he dubbed "life skills". The ability to communicate effectively, to ask the right questions, to think independently, to present all the facts in an unbiased way are tools that anyone could use.

Peter also believed that anyone, no matter their country of origin, had a right to unrestricted access to information and news. He held in high regard those who sought to pursue those principles even when their work placed them at risk. He was never too busy to encourage, and reward when he could, those who wanted to learn and those who took risks in reporting the news.

Through this award, Peter's legacy and hardwork will continue to encourage young reporters.

The award is administered by the US branch of Reporters Without Borders, an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of journalists and freedom of the press world wide.