Maria Ress, also referred to as Maria Angelita Ress, was born in Manila within the Philippines on October 2,
Maria Ress graduated from Princeton University and in addition obtained a master’s degree on the University of the Filippines Diliman.
When she was nine, Maria and her family moved to the United States and settled there.
Who is Maria Ress?
Women fighting for the liberty of the press
Since 1995, Maria Ressa has been a neighborhood CNN journalist, covering the event of terrorism in Southeast Asia.
During her profession at CNN, Ressa included many key political moments in Southeast Asia, including:
- Six attempts on the coup d’état against the President of the Philippines. Aquino (1985-1987)
- Fall of President Suharto in Indonesia (1998)
- Violence in the course of the Eastern Independence Referendum (1999)
- The strategy of the Filippine impeachment of President Joseph Estrada (2000)
In 2012, RESSA founded an information website called “Rappler” and served as its general director and editor -in -chief.
The site developed quickly and have become one in all the leading information platforms in investigative journalism within the Philippines.
This led to her recognition because the fearless defender of freedom of expression, where she successfully revealed numerous abuses of power, violence and growing authoritarianism under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, constituting critical emphasis on the controversial and dangerous anti -diarrhea campaign through her reports on Rappler.
In the case of the “Rappler” ministry, it serves as a tool to emphasise the usage of social media as a weapon, in addition to disclosure of corruption practices and breaking human rights.
On the web site of Rappler Ressa also documented the best way social media is used to distribute false information, attack opponents and manipulate narratives.
Her fight immortalized in a documentary film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy_GWR0DEPY
As the final director of Rappler (leading digital information platform), Maria Ressa is on the forefront of the fight for the liberty of the press within the Philippines.
Ress met with various types of political harassment and constant detention of the Duterte government and was forced to pay fines persistently to stay free.
In 2017, the Rappler’s operational license was canceled with allegations against the RIDS regarding tax evasion and violation of foreign property.
Then, in 2020, RESSA was found guilty of cybernetic defamation, which caused a six -year prison sentence.
Although the appeal process was delayed, in 2023 RESSA won the legal battle and was ultimately acquitted for tax evasion.
One of her famous quotes at her acquittal was “Today the facts prevail, the reality prevails, justice prevails. “
Her struggle for the defense of Rappler and the conflict, which she faced with the federal government authorities, is taken into account one in all the drivers of democratic truth within the press of freedom, inspiring the document on the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, entitled “A Thousand Cuts”.
Also read: Voices of changes: 5 inspiring women from Southeast Asia
Nobel Prize 2021
For the courage and integrity of journalism, in October 2021, RESSA stood “Her efforts to guard freedom of expression, which is a preliminary condition for democracy and lasting peace.”
Other works of Maria Resy
In addition to working in journalism, Ress also created various works, similar to:
- Seed of Terror: Annal witnesses from the most recent Al-Qeda Operation Center in Southeast Asia. This work reviews how the strategy of studying terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, especially Jemaah Islyyah, is related to Al-Qeda after attacks of September 11 within the United States in 2001.
- From bin Laden to Facebook: 10 days of abduction, 10 years of terrorism (2013). Maria Resy’s work emphasizes her research on how the terrorist networks use social media to radical and mobilize their supporters.
- Maria Ressa also wrote a book that was published in November 2022 entitled “How to oppose the dictator”. The book was translated into 20 languages and an increased publication was still recorded in subsequent years. Work is a memory and a manifesto that argue that corporations in social media have contributed to the gradual fall of democracy.
Also read: Marsa (Voice of Baceprot) named in BBC 100 Women 2024
Selected for the organization of the United Nations
In 2022, RESSA was appointed by the UN Secretary General on the Leadership Panel of the Internet Management Forum and appointed its vice -chairman.
RESSA may be very focused on critical issues related to the division of the worldwide information ecosystem into South -Eastern Asia and the way the actions of the combined community can maintain the front line to guard democratic values.
Maria Ressa isn’t only a journalist, he’s an emblem of truth and courage in Southeast Asia.
Let’s tell stories that matter, Morsiny!
Reference:
Distribution of PBS. (2020, 14 Juli). Official TRAILER OF A thousand cuts (2020). https://youtu.be/gy_gwr0depy?si=73ucim7cwt1uhdbi
