Maria Angelita Ressa (born October 2, 1963) is a Filipino-American journalist, author, and co-founder and CEO of the independent news website Rappler. She is an outspoken critic of the Philippine government and a prominent advocate for press freedom and human rights. In 2021, Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Dmitry Muratov for "their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace."
Early Life and Career Born in Manila, Philippines, Ressa moved to the United States with her family at a young age, where she became a naturalized American citizen. She graduated from Princeton University in 1986 with a B.A. in English and pursued graduate studies in political theater at the University of the Philippines Diliman on a Fulbright Fellowship.
Ressa's journalism career began in 1987 at CNN, where she worked for nearly two decades. She served as CNN's bureau chief in Manila (1987-1995) and Jakarta (1995-2005), specializing in investigating terrorism in Southeast Asia. She also taught courses in political science and journalism at the University of the Philippines Diliman. In 2004, she returned to the Philippines to head the news division of ABS-CBN, the country's largest media conglomerate, a position she held until 2010.
Rappler and Investigative Journalism In 2012, Ressa co-founded Rappler, an online news platform that quickly became known for its innovative use of social media and its critical, in-depth investigative reporting. Rappler has extensively covered issues such as corruption, extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs," and the spread of disinformation and propaganda on social media. Ressa's work has highlighted the weaponization of social media and the erosion of democratic institutions through online manipulation.
Legal Challenges and Press Freedom Advocacy Under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Ressa and Rappler faced numerous legal challenges, which have been widely viewed as attempts to silence critical media. These include charges of cyber libel, tax evasion, and alleged foreign ownership violations. In June 2020, Ressa was convicted of cyber libel, a charge stemming from a 2012 article published before the cybercrime law was enacted. She remains free on bail while her appeal is pending.
These legal battles have made Ressa a global symbol of the fight for press freedom. She has repeatedly stated that she will not be intimidated and will continue to report the truth, even in the face of state-sponsored harassment and online attacks. Her advocacy extends to warning about the dangers of "information warfare" and the need to protect independent journalism in the digital age.
Nobel Peace Prize In October 2021, Maria Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov. The Nobel Committee recognized their work "for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia." The award underscored the vital role of free, independent, and fact-based journalism in the pursuit of peace and democracy.
Publications Ressa is the author of two 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 Terror (2013)
Recognition and Awards In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, Ressa has received numerous international awards and recognitions for her courage and journalism, including:
- Golden Pen of Freedom Award (2018)
- Knight International Journalism Award (2018)
- Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award (2018)
- Time Person of the Year (2018, as one of "The Guardians" of the truth)
- ICFJ Award for Excellence in Journalism (2020)
- UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize (2021)