Journalist Maria Ressa Discusses Press Freedom and Authoritarianism Concerns in the U.S.
A recent policy shift by the U.S. Justice Department has sparked concerns among journalists about the potential impact on press freedoms. This change is particularly alarming to Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for her staunch defense of journalistic integrity globally.
On Friday, the Justice Department rolled back a policy from the Biden administration that safeguarded journalists in leak investigations. This reversal could lead to the use of subpoenas to compel reporters to testify in cases against leakers, a move that Ressa views with apprehension.
Maria Ressa, who co-founded the investigative news site Rappler in the Philippines, has firsthand experience with government pressure. Her reporting on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration led to multiple arrests and a libel conviction in 2020.
Expressing concerns about the current trajectory in the United States, Ressa warns of an increasing shift toward authoritarianism. “Oh, my God, I feel like I have – it’s – I feel like it’s both deja vu and I have PTSD,” she said, comparing it to her experiences in the Philippines.
Ressa highlighted several worrying trends in the U.S., drawing parallels to the rapid erosion of democratic norms she witnessed under Duterte. “All of these moves that he had done have accelerated in the United States,” she noted, emphasizing the role of technology as an accelerant.
The decline of press freedom, according to Ressa, follows a pattern of targeting various sectors, including the media, academia, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), ultimately leading to a collapse in the rule of law.
Ressa shared insights from her own experiences of resisting government pressure. Despite facing arrests and targeting, she never considered compromising her principles, believing that “silence is consent” and stressing the importance of standing by one’s values.
Addressing skepticism toward experts and media in the U.S., Ressa emphasized the need to persist in communicating the truth. “This person has been insidiously manipulated. And does that mean we stop trying to reach the person? Absolutely not,” she asserted.
Maria Ressa remains committed to her mission, continuing to speak out and engage with those holding different views, underscoring the critical role of journalists in navigating these challenging times.
