Bright Lights 2021

JOURNALISM

MARIA RESSA

As the first-ever Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa is a beacon of light for many for her bravery and call to keep speaking truth to power. The co-founder and CEO of news outlet Rappler received the prestigious recognition alongside Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. In 2020, Ressa was charged with cyber libel by the Philippine court, a case that was ultimately dismissed. Years prior, the brazen writer was bombarded with a series of other accusations ranging from tax evasion to securities fraud, and was issued a total of ten arrest warrants in just two years. Ressa’s unwavering devotion to protecting Filipinos’ democratic rights through journalism has been well-documented. She was named Person of the Year and a Guardian in the War on Truth by in 2018. The multi-awarded journalist was the subject behind the documentary film, , which explores the conflicts between the press and the Filipino government. Her book titled , with a foreword