Maria Ressa

Maria Angelita Ressa (born October 2, 1963) is a Filipino-American journalist, author, and the co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a Philippine online news website. She is renowned for her work in investigative journalism and her advocacy for press freedom. In 2021, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

Early Life and Education

Maria Ressa was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved to the United States with her family when she was ten years old. She attended Princeton University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and certificates in theater and dance in 1986. Ressa later returned to the Philippines on a Fulbright Fellowship to study political theater at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Career

CNN

Ressa began her career in journalism at CNN, where she worked for nearly two decades. She served as CNN's bureau chief in Manila and later in Jakarta, covering major events such as the People Power Revolution in the Philippines and the Bali bombings in Indonesia.

ABS-CBN

After her tenure at CNN, Ressa joined ABS-CBN, one of the largest media networks in the Philippines, as the head of its news and current affairs division. During her time there, she focused on developing the network's investigative journalism capabilities.

Rappler

In 2012, Maria Ressa co-founded Rappler, an online news platform that combines journalism with technology to create a more interactive and engaging news experience. Rappler has been at the forefront of digital journalism in the Philippines, known for its critical coverage of the Rodrigo Duterte administration and its controversial "war on drugs."

Advocacy and Challenges

Ressa has been a vocal advocate for press freedom and has faced numerous legal challenges due to her work. She has been arrested multiple times on charges that many international observers view as politically motivated. Her legal battles have drawn global attention to the state of press freedom in the Philippines.

Awards and Recognition

Maria Ressa has received numerous awards for her work in journalism and her advocacy for press freedom. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, she has been honored with the Golden Pen of Freedom Award, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, and was named one of Time magazine's "Persons of the Year" in 2018 as one of "The Guardians" in the "War on Truth."

Also see

• Rappler
• Rodrigo Duterte
• Nobel Peace Prize
• Press freedom in the Philippines
• Journalism

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  Maria Ressa at the International Journalism Festival 2024

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  Maria Ressa at Rappler

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  Maria Ressa

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  Maria Ressa at Tully Center Event

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  Nobel Peace Prize Recipients 2021