Maria Ressa

Biography

Maria Angelita Ressa, born on October 2, 1963, in Manila, Philippines, grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. She studied at St. Scholastica's College, Toms River High School North, Princeton University, and the University of the Philippines Diliman. After finishing her studies, she began a journalism career that spanned several decades and made her one of Southeast Asia's most influential media figures.

Ressa spent almost twenty years as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN, covering major regional stories and gaining expertise in conflict reporting and political analysis. Her work during this time built her reputation as a brave journalist willing to tackle tough subjects and hold powerful figures to account. In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, a digital news platform in the Philippines focusing on social media and investigative journalism.

As CEO of Rappler, Ressa became a vocal critic of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, especially regarding its human rights record and war on drugs. Her investigative reporting and editorial position led to several legal challenges, including her arrest on February 13, 2019, for cyberlibel charges. On June 15, 2020, a Manila court found her guilty under the Anti-Cybercrime law, a decision widely criticized by human rights organizations and press freedom advocates as politically motivated.

Ressa's efforts to fight disinformation and defend press freedom have gained international recognition. She was featured in Time magazine's Person of the Year 2018 issue as one of the journalists battling fake news. In 2021, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov for their work in safeguarding freedom of expression. Since 2023, she has been a distinguished fellow at Columbia University's Institute of Global Politics and became a professor of professional practice at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs in 2024.