We were always taught in Communication class that one of the most important roles of the media is to be the watchdog of the government. Rappler, for example, is one of the boldest news organizations, fearlessly reporting despite their own government’s flagrant attacks on press freedom. Is it the responsibility of these media institutions that the administration is riddled with controversies?
As 2021 comes to an end, a woman rekindles the flickering flame of the fight for freedom of the press — Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is the First Woman in this year’s roster of laureates and the First Filipino to win such a prestigious award.
Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts “to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” They were recognized for their brave battle for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia, respectively. At the same time, they are ambassadors for all journalists who fight for this ideal in a world where democracy and press freedom are increasingly threatened.
Ressa is perhaps best known for standing up against President Duterte and holding the line in “Exercise the rights that are in the Philippine Constitution” The president subsequently launched a probe on Ressa for alleged tax evasion in 2018. She has been indicted on tax violation and libel charges and had to post bail 10 times at huge expense, but still faces the possibility of life imprisonment.
Her news website has challenged the Philippine government. Rappler has challenged the government’s claims and policies. Rappler was singled out by authorities after its piece on a pro-Duterte online ‘troll army’ the troll army was pushing fake news to manipulate the narrative around Duterte’s presidency. This news website is also known to report on extrajudicial killing and human rights violations on the ongoing “War on Drugs” in which the administration attempted to suppress Rappler.
What an irony that the lady who firsthand experienced the abuse of authority in putting her in a chokehold to silence the press, what was intended to coerce Rappler and Ressa only emboldened them and thus gave recognition of this prestigious award – a huge back slap to Duterte’s administration as she passionately smashed every expectation and proved that she’s worth more than anybody bargained for.
Ressa has become a beacon of holding the line and standing up for truth, she made clear conviction in the acceptance speech that she believed in three principles she’s holding unto underlying journalism: Without facts, you can’t have truth. Without truth, you can’t have trust. Without trust, we have no shared reality, no democracy.
