Maria Ressa

CEO of Rappler, Journalist, Author, Freedom Advocate

2021 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Maria Ressa is the co-founder and CEO of Rappler.com, an online news organization in the Philippines. Maria’s courage and work on disinformation and ‘fake news’ culminated in being awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” Her numerous awards include being named Time’s 2018 Person of the Year and listed among its 100 Most Influential People of 2019. She has also been named one of Time’s 100 Women of the Year, BBC’s 100 Women 2019, and Prospect Magazine’s world’s top 50 thinkers 2019.

Maria advises organizations and corporations on corporate governance, values, and strategy. Her experience as a journalist and an entrepreneur in the digital world makes her a sought-after keynote speaker and panellist.

A journalist for over 35 years, Ressa was CNN’s bureau chief in Manila, before working as CNN’s lead investigative reporter focusing on terrorism in Jakarta. In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, an online news platform with an ethos of a small tech start-up, starting with a team of 12 young reporters and developers. Through the power of social media, Rappler has grown into the fourth-largest news website in the Philippines with over 100 journalists. Maria has been arrested on 10 charges related to exposing the Duterte government’s corrupt practices and was convicted of cyber-libel in June. She is out on bail pending her appeal but true to form, Ressa, vows to keep fighting.

More recently, Maria is part of the founding group of The Real Facebook Oversight Board – composed of 25 academics, journalists, and activists that will rival the social media platform’s board.

Maria authored Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaeda’s Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia and From Bin Laden to Facebook.

Maria was featured in the 2020 documentary “A Thousand Cuts,” which profiles her fearless reporting on the abuses of Duterte’s presidency, while also illustrating social media’s capacity to deceive and entrench political power. 

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Sample Talks

The crowd was mesmerized. Speechless, until one guest asked how she had hope. Maria’s energy and positivity allows her to deliver the message we all so desperately need to hear in a way we can truly understand it and reflect on it. Maria was warm and open, curious about our group and completely engaging. Only we as individuals can solve the problem of facts: around our dinner tables and in our communities, by listening to people firsthand.“

Darla C. Stuckey, President & CEO – (Society for Corporate Governance)

“On behalf of Mediacorp, we would like to thank you for participating in our CNA Leadership Summit 2022: Women Inspiring Change on International Women’s Day, Tuesday, 8 March. It was our privilege to have you as our speaker in our keynote fireside chat session.  Your candid insight on journalism’s advocacy, viral disinformation, women’s empowerment and holding on to ideals are certainly insightful and inspiring at the Summit. We hope you enjoyed the session as much as we did.““

CJ Young, Lead – Commercial Engagement, News Group (Mediacorp Pte Ltd) (Virtual)

“Many Thanks for your wonderful speech on May 29th in the 2022 Asia Journalism Forum. Your speech impressed the audience. Your voice is a bell tolling for the coming tremendous crisis of truth and trust which are bases of democracy. And you won’t be alone with the many allies standing by you, including us.

Eve Chiu, CEO, The Foundation for Excellent Journalism Award

“Maria was one of the major reason why this congress became such a success. Her engagement, communication skills and her empathy and openness toward other participant is rare. She is a queen.”

Veslemøy Østrem, Program Committee – (World Expression Forum)

“Her remarks were insightful, engaging and inspiring. She explained in a lively and interesting way a very complex and sophisticated story, drawing on current events and data. A real feast for the brain and the heart.” 

Nathalie Des Rosiers, Principal – Massey College, University of Toronto (Camden Conference)

“Thank you for joining us as a plenary speaker at the 2021 Skoll World Forum and for your thoughtful preparation in developing your keynote. The Closing Plenary aired this morning to a community of 1000+ and the admiration for you and your work was off the charts. There were more than 100 comments from attendees during your segment – I won’t post them all, but these encapsulate the sentiments:
 

    • Maria Ressa is our hero
    • I’m utterly in awe of this woman’s courage
    • What a voice of reason and strength! Thank you @MariaRessa
    • “Without facts we don’t have truth, without truth we don’t have trust” ..Amazing Maria
    • Maria Ressa is an absolute legend, inspiration, and champion. #iLike3sToo
    • This woman is just so amazing. It’s great to hear from her here.
    • I am bowing deeply to Maria Ressa and her amazing courage, inspiration and crystal clear message. WOW!!!
    • Thanks, I accept the assignment! Pulling for you!

Jessica Fleuti, Director & Curator, Convenings (Skoll Foundation)

“Maria was a delight to work with and a stand-out speaker at the conference. Her speaking style is engaging and her story is compelling – and frightening. Thank goodness she injects humor from time to time! Our survey results are not all in yet, but I know from verbal feedback that she was the crowd favorite” 
Charlotte Singleton, Chair, Program Committee (Camden Conference) 

“Maria’s interview was my favorite during the festival. We have received great feedback about it. She gave us a good range of both very specific examples when answering questions, and context by connecting those to the bigger, global picture– esp on freedom of the press as it relates to our predominantly American audience.” 
Katie Cassetta, PM (Aspen Ideas Festival) (Virtual)

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