Journalist Maria Ressa just won the Nobel Prize. Watch inewsource’s 2020 interview with her

Two journalists have won the Nobel Peace Prize, including Filipina American journalist Maria Ressa who joined inewsource for a virtual event last year to discuss the importance of fact-based journalism and the dangers of media being manipulated by the government.

Ressa and Russian journalist, Dmitry Muratov, won the award “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace,” according to the news release announcing the prizes. 

Ressa is the co-founder and CEO of Rappler, a digital media company in the Philippines established with the goal of creating an investigative news platform where journalists have complete editorial independence. In announcing the prizes, the Nobel committee recognized Rappler’s work in bringing critical attention to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and exposing the dangers of the manipulation of information on social media. 

In her acceptance speech, Ressa acknowledged the significance of this year’s award going to journalists. “It’s a recognition of the difficulties, but also hopefully of how we’re going to win the battle for truth, the battle for facts. We hold the line,” she said.

inewsource founder Lorie Hearn said Ressa’s win underscores the necessity of freedom of expression. 

“The Nobel Committee made a powerful statement at a critical time in awarding the Peace Prize to journalists,” Hearn said. “Around the world and here at home, we are gripped by fierce polarization and government secrecy that erode the principles of democracy.”

“Brave, passionate journalists like Maria Ressa inspire us at inewsource to continue standing up to the powerful for the public good,” Hearn said. “We pride ourselves on fact-based in-depth journalism. And as Ressa has said, ‘Without facts you can’t have truth.’”

During a virtual discussion with inewsource in August of last year, Ressa highlighted how technology has contributed to polarization and has changed the information ecosystem.

She described the ways in which social media has been used by corrupt leaders as a tool to spread disinformation and harass critics.

Ressa stressed the importance of investigative journalism and ongoing efforts to combat the spread of lies. 

“This time demands more from each of us to protect democracy. We have to be up to the challenge,” she said.