Bribe, Swindle or Steal Maria Ressa on Holding the Line
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May 14, 2025 
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, a renowned journalist and co-founder of Rappler, dives deep into the fight against corruption and disinformation. She shares her personal struggles and insights on confronting authoritarianism, drawing parallels between the political landscape of the Philippines and today’s challenges with social media. Ressa discusses the double-edged sword of social media for journalism, the alarming spread of misinformation, and the critical need for collective action to uphold truth and integrity in the media.
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Social Media's Threat to Democracy
- Social media platforms have transformed democracy by rewarding lies over facts and rolling back democratic values to 1989 levels.
- Technology's design exploits misinformation for geopolitical power, which cripples truth and trust necessary for democracy.
Marcos Jr.'s Social Media Comeback
- Maria Ressa describes how Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used social media from 2014 to recast his father's dictatorship legacy and win presidency.
- Marcos Jr. was transformed from a kleptocrat to a hero through targeted information operations Rappler exposed.
Journalist Under Attack
- Maria Ressa endured relentless disinformation attacks equating journalists to criminals, receiving about 90 hate messages per hour.
- She used data analysis of these attacks to understand how information operations influence public perception and behavior.
