Maria Ressa

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Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa.jpg
Ressa on July 6, 2011
Born
Maria A. Ressa

Manila, Philippines
CitizenshipUnited States
Philippines[1]
EducationPrinceton University
University of the Philippines Diliman
OccupationJournalist, author
Known forCo-founding Rappler
WebsiteRappler
Official website

Maria A. Ressa is a Filipino-American journalist and author. She is best known for co-founding Rappler as its chief executive officer.[2] She previously spent nearly two decades working as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN.

Ressa was included in Time's Person of the Year 2018 as one of a collection of journalists from around the world combating fake news. She was arrested for "cyber libel" amid accusations of various instances of falsified news and corporate tax evasion on February 13, 2019. Ressa has since posted bail while the lawsuits are now pending in regional court.[3] As an outspoken critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, her arrest was seen by the international community as a politically motivated act by the government.[3]

Early life[edit]

Ressa was born in Manila and grew up there until the age of 9, when her parents relocated to Toms River, New Jersey. There she spent the rest of her childhood and adolescence and graduated from Toms River High School North.[4]

Ressa studied molecular biology and theater as an undergraduate at Princeton University, where she graduated cum laude with a BA degree in English.[5][6] She then was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for political theater, with which she completed her master's at the University of the Philippines Diliman.[7]

Career[edit]

Ressa conducts an interview with former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the Music Room of the Malacañang Palace, June 7, 2016

Ressa's first job was at CNN where she worked for nearly two decades, serving as Manila Bureau Chief from 1988–1995 and as Jakarta Bureau Chief from 1995-2005. As CNN's lead investigative reporter in Asia, she specialized in investigating terrorist networks.[8] She became an author-in-residence at The International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) of Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.[9]

From 2004, Ressa headed the news division of ABS-CBN,[10] while also writing for CNN[11] and The Wall Street Journal.[12] Her eventual departure from ABS-CBN came in 2010 after being given a “resign-or-be-fired” offer for moonlighting for CNN. Ressa's contract stated she was an exclusive talent.[13] In an open letter dated October 11, 2010, Ressa noted that she will not renew her six-year contract with ABS-CBN.[14]

She is the author of two books concerning the rise of terrorism in Southeast Asia: Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaeda's Newest Center (2011) and From Bin Laden to Facebook 10 Days of Abduction, 10 Years of Terrorism (2013).[15]

She established the online news site, Rappler in 2012. It started as a Facebook page named MovePH in August 2011[16] and later evolved into a complete website on January 1, 2012.[17] The site has since been a major news portal in the Philippines, receiving numerous local and international awards.

Arrest[edit]

On January 22, 2018, Ressa appeared before the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to comply with the subpoena over an online libel complaint. The subpoena was issued on January 10 to Ressa, former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos, and businessman Benjamin Bitanga. The subpoena was filed in October 2017 by Filipino—Chinese national Wilfredo Keng after Rappler published a story on Keng allegedly lending his sports utility vehicle to the impeached and now-deceased Chief Justice Renato Corona as a bribed form of favor.[18]

In November 2018, the Philippine government announced that it would charge Ressa and Rappler's parent company, Rappler Holdings Corporation, with tax evasion and failure to file tax returns.[19] The charge concerns the investment in Rappler by the Omidyar Network in 2015. Ressa has denied wrongdoing,[20] originally claiming that the foreign money was donated to its managers, later claiming the investments were in the form of securities.[13] Rappler has issued a statement also denying wrongdoing.[21] The Philippines' Bureau of Internal Revenue, after a study of Ressa's explanation, ruled that Rappler’s issuance of securities generated capital gains, which, therefore, must be taxed. Rappler evaded such payment of P133 million in taxes.[13]

On February 13, 2019, Philippine judge Rainelda Estacio—Montesa of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch # 46 issued the arrest warrant for "cyber libel" against Ressa. The officials of the Philippines National Bureau of Investigation fulfilled this warrant filed under the charge of cyber libel. The charge is currently being contested by Ressa due to the outdated law concerning the article in question. However, Rappler, instead of taking down the article, has released an update to the same story on February 2014.[22][23] The arrest was live-streamed by many of Rappler's senior reporters on Facebook as a sign of protest.

Due to time constraints, Ressa was unable to post bail amounting to ₱60,000 ($1,150) resulting in her arrest and confinement within the (holding) board room office of the NBI building. A grand total of six lawyers, two (pro bono) were assigned to work on her case.[24] On February 14, 2019, at the executor proceeding of Manila city Judge Maria Teresa Abadilla, Ressa gained freedom by posting bail at ₱100,000 ($1,900).

Ressa's arrest was criticized by the international community. As an outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, many viewed the arrest as being politically motivated.[3] In contrast, the official spokesperson for the Malacañang Palace denied any government involvement in the arrest, asserting that the lawsuit against Ressa is put forth by a private individual, the plaintiff Wilfredo Keng.[25]

Madeleine Albright, a former U.S. Secretary of State, issued an opinion stating that the arrest "must be condemned by all democratic nations".[25] Similarly, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines called it "a shameless act of persecution by a bully government".[26]

The National Press Club has stated that the arrest was not harassment, and that Maria Ressa should not be relegated to "the altar of press freedom for martyrdom".[27] It also warned against politicizing the issue.[27]

Awards[edit]

Over the duration of her journalism career, Ressa has won the Overseas Press Club Award for Best Documentary[citation needed], the National Headliner Award for Investigative Journalism[citation needed], an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Investigative Journalism, the Asian Television Awards, TOWNS – Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (Philippines) and TOYM Philippines.[28][29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Macaraig, Ayee (February 13, 2019). "From wars to Duterte: Maria Ressa 'refuses to hide'". Philstar Global. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Arsenault, Adrienne (April 27, 2017). "'Democracy as we know it is dead': Filipino journalists fight fake news". CBC News.
  3. ^ a b c Leung, Hillary (February 14, 2019). "Philippines Journalist Maria Ressa Released on Bail After Arrest for 'Cyber Libel'". Time. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Amanda Oglesby: TIME person of the year, from Toms River, to trigger Time Square ball dro. Ashbury Park Press, 31. Dezember 2018
  5. ^ "Maria Ressa : HuMan of the year". Spinbusters. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  6. ^ "Maria Ressa: The best is yet to come". The Philippine Star. September 4, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2019.|df=}}
  7. ^ Garceau, Scott (August 4, 2013). "The expat files". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  8. ^ Life, the news, and Maria Ressa by Doreen Yu[dead link]
  9. ^ Maria Ressa invited to author a book on the Asian terrorism threat
  10. ^ "Palace: No media censorship on Rappler". The Manila Times. January 16, 2018.
  11. ^ From  Maria Ressa, Special to CNN. "Spreading terror: From bin Laden to Facebook in Southeast Asia". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Noynoy Flunks his First Test
  13. ^ a b c https://www.manilatimes.net/the-truth-about-ressa-and-her-vilification-of-duterte/514307/
  14. ^ "Maria Ressa's letter to ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs". Abs-cbnnews.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  15. ^ "Results for 'au:Ressa, Maria.' [WorldCat.org]". www.worldcat.org.
  16. ^ "MovePH". Facebook. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  17. ^ Ressa, Maria. "About Rappler". Rappler. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  18. ^ "Rappler CEO Maria Ressa faces NBI over online libel complaint". cnn. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  19. ^ Share; Twitter. "DOJ orders filing of charges vs. Rappler head, accountant". www.pna.gov.ph.
  20. ^ Stevenson, Alexandra (November 9, 2018). "Philippines Says It Will Charge Veteran Journalist Critical of Duterte" – via NYTimes.com.
  21. ^ Rappler.com. "Rappler: Tax case clear harassment, has no legal basis". Rappler.
  22. ^ Jr, Reynaldo Santos. "CJ using SUVs of 'controversial' businessmen". Rappler. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "Mark Lopez". www.facebook.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  24. ^ CNN, Joshua Berlinger and Lauren Said-Moorhouse. "Maria Ressa, journalist and Duterte critic, arrested in Philippines". CNN. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Maria Ressa, head of Philippines news site Rappler, freed on bail". BBC News. February 14, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  26. ^ Cabato, Regine (February 13, 2019). "Top Philippine journalist and Time person of the year arrested on libel charges". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  27. ^ a b "National Press Club: Ressa arrest 'smacks of bad taste,' but not harassment". philstar.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  28. ^ Lungay, G.J. "Maria Ressa - Achievements". Prezi.com. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  29. ^ "Local Female Leaders". Islands Society. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  30. ^ "Maria Ressa-The Sexiest Woman Alive Atlas". Esquire.com. October 11, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  31. ^ "Rappler CEO Maria Ressa gets lifetime achievement award at PMPC Star Awards". Rappler. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  32. ^ Ramos, Poyen (March 7, 2016). "8 Most Influential and Powerful Women Leaders". Kalibrr.
  33. ^ "2017 Democracy Dinner Explores the Global Threat of Disinformation". November 2, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  34. ^ Albeanu, Catalina (June 7, 2018). "Maria Ressa, executive editor of Rappler, receives Golden Pen of Freedom". Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  35. ^ "Metro News Today: Rappler's Maria Ressa among TIME'S Person of the Year 2018". League Online News. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  36. ^ Vick, Karl (December 11, 2018). "TIME Person of the Year 2018: The Guardians". Time. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  37. ^ http://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/5567672/maria-ressa/

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

Media offices
Preceded by
Dong Puno 		SVP for News and Current Affairs, ABS-CBN News
2004–2010 		Succeeded by
Ging Reyes
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maria_Ressa&oldid=893137268"