Holding the Line
Maria Ressa’s name is spoken with awe by journalists around the world: she is a beacon for truth and a warrior in the fight against disinformation. She is the founder of Rappler, one of the few Philippine media organisations to openly criticise the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte and his policies, and has called out technology giants for spreading fake news and inciting hatred and violence. This dedication to journalism has led to accolades including Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2018, Unesco’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2021 and, of course, the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, alongside fellow journalist Dmitry Muratov.
Tatler hosted Ressa in conversation with fellow journalist (and Tatler Philippines’ December cover subject) Karen Davila on having a sense of purpose, what she holds Mark Zuckerberg accountable for, and why she is still optimistic.
The following questions and responses have been edited for clarity and length. Watch the full conversation online on our YouTube channel.
People might grow up imagining the possibility of winning an Oscar or an Olympic gold, but not
