Maria Ressa

Filipino and American journalist

Maria Ressa is a prominent Filipino journalist and the CEO and Executive Editor of Rappler, a leading online news organization in the Philippines. Born on October 2, 1963, in Manila, she was raised in Toms River, New Jersey, and holds dual citizenship in the Philippines and the United States. Ressa has spent nearly 30 years in journalism, primarily with CNN, where she served as bureau chief in Manila and Jakarta, focusing on investigative reporting related to terrorism in Southeast Asia.1 2 3

Career Highlights

Rappler: Ressa co-founded Rappler in 2012, which quickly became known for its innovative approach to journalism, integrating social media and crowdsourcing. Under her leadership, Rappler has been critical of government policies, particularly those of former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his controversial war on drugs.3 4 6
CNN: Before establishing Rappler, she was CNN’s lead investigative reporter and opened its Jakarta bureau. Her work at CNN included covering major events and issues across Southeast Asia.1 2 5
ABS-CBN: From 2005 to 2010, Ressa was the head of news and current affairs at ABS-CBN, the largest media network in the Philippines, managing over 1,000 journalists.5

Awards and Recognition

Ressa's courageous journalism has earned her numerous accolades:

Nobel Peace Prize (2021): Awarded jointly with Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.3 6
TIME Person of the Year (2018): Recognized for her fight against disinformation and her commitment to press freedom.4 7
Other awards include the Golden Pen of Freedom from the World Association of Newspapers, Knight International Journalism Award, and several others acknowledging her impact on journalism and democracy.2 4 5

Legal Challenges

Ressa has faced significant legal challenges due to her work. In 2019, she was arrested on charges of cyber libel related to an article published by Rappler. This incident is widely viewed as part of a broader campaign against press freedom in the Philippines under Duterte's administration.3 6 Despite these challenges, Ressa continues to advocate for journalistic integrity and freedom of expression.

Publications

Ressa is also an accomplished author with two notable books:

Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of al-Qaeda’s Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia (2003)
From Bin Laden to Facebook: 10 Days of Abduction, 10 Years of Terrorism (2012) .5

Her work not only highlights critical issues within Philippine society but also serves as a beacon for journalists worldwide facing similar challenges.