Maria Ressa - Hold the Line

Press Freedom On Trial In The Philippines

This is an information and campaign page focusing on Maria Ressa, and The Rappler who are under attack in the Philippines. On the right a brief clip with some words by Maria Ressa speaking about the state of censorship in the Philippines. Maria was speaking to our founder Kiran Nazish on the phone in 2019 after being arrested and released on bail.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has been closely following the attacks on journalist Maria Ressa, and her team at Rappler, which entails several charges including those of cyber libel. The indictment came after an investigative story was published by Rappler during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. The charges have been placed under the Cybercrime Prevention Act (2012), despite the legislation not being a law until later in 2012. The Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution has cited the multiple publication rule to validate the charges. Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler - a digital news outlet that flourished under Facebook, also developed what she calls the “Shark Tank”. She runs one of the largest independent databases of Facebook accounts and comments that tracks 15 million accounts found to be disseminating misinformation on social media and are to control debate not only within the Philippines but globally.

Index

1. Statements

2. Timeline

3. Resources

4. Concerned Voices

5. Twitter Thread

6. Joint Statement

Statements

Read All Statements >

CFWIJ Joins 60 Organizations To Back Maria Ressa’s #holdtheline Campaign

The Coalition For Women In Journalism joins a 60 organization coalition to campaign for Maria Ressa and press freedom in the Philippines. Read the press release lead by ICFJ, CPJ and RSF and Sign the Petition in the link below

Timeline

Resources

• Twitter Published A Statement About Ressa’s Case. Link >

• SPJ Released A Statement On Maria Ressa Verdict. Link >

• Statement By NDI On Maria Ressa. Link >

• CPJ Released A Statement About Her Case. Link >

• AAJA-Asia’s Statement Condemning The Conviction. Link >

• Alliance Condemns Conviction Of Maria Ressa. Link >

• Amnesty’s Statement About Conviction Of Ressa. Link >

• Ifex Is In Solidarity With Ressa. Link >

• MDIF Condemns Conviction Of Maria Ressa. Link >

• Pen International Released A Statement. Link >

• Index On Censorship Condemns Prison Sentence. Link >

• FCC Hong Kong Deplores Guilty Verdict. Link >

• Want To Counter Attacks On Press In The Philippines? Support Rappler! Here Is How. Link >

Concerned Voices From Across Asia

We asked our colleagues within the Asian press and media industry to share their views about the constant threats faced by Maria Ressa and Rappler. This is what they have to say.

Alan Soon

Duterte's blatant attack on Maria Ressa reveals a president who will stop at nothing to silence critics. Duterte remains a popular president -- but to go after a media organization and journalists shows insecurity and an inability to accept criticism in a democracy. Philippines, like many countries in Southeast Asia, needs credible and diverse media to inform and engage with citizens. In a media landscape that is dominated by big business and political interests, Maria and Rappler provide an important third option. Silencing her and crippling Rappler is not in the best interests of Philippine democracy

Kirsten Han

Southeast Asia is a region where press freedom is already under attack. Platforms like Rappler and journalists like Maria Ressa are extremely valuable in standing for freedom of expression and information for the people of Southeast Asia, who deserve independent, fearless reporting on issues of critical importance.
Independent media outlets and journalists have to stand together and support one another in the face of crackdowns on the media across Southeast Asia, from Papua to Cambodia to Myanmar and the Philippines.

Twitter Thread

We condemn the arbitrary conviction of @rapplerdotcom’s CEO @mariaressa for cyber libel by a court in the Philippines. Former journalist Reynaldo Santos Jr has also been found guilty in the same case along with @mariaressa, causing a major blow to press freedom in the country. pic.twitter.com/72moz6npb3

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020

The award-winning journalist and CEO of @rapplerdotcom has a history of going head to head with the government over press freedom. A statement on @rapplerdotcom’s website states that the organization, and @mariaressa, will not back down. #HoldTheLine https://t.co/PExFgwJMk9 pic.twitter.com/vz961kFm63

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020

CFWIJ has been following the case closely and condemns the conviction of Ressa and her team. You can see the timeline of attacks against @mariaressa and @rapplerdotcom here: https://t.co/znYtUQevKD #DefendPressFreedom #IStandWithMariaRessa #HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/Ql5NBLbWlQ

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020

Manila’s court sentenced @mariaressa and Reynaldo to a minimum of 6 months and 1 day to a maximum of 6 years in jail with a bond of P200,000 in moral damages and another P200,000 in exemplary damages. #DefendPressFreedom Read more here: https://t.co/oZjz4jQrCc pic.twitter.com/qHCPg84qo1

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020

Journalist and human rights groups have condemned the attack & indicated it as a politically motivated decision. #DefendPressFreedom #IStandWithMariaRessa #HoldTheLine https://t.co/xNR9PY5AfE pic.twitter.com/Ob3OmiAzlG

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020

This is not the first instance that @rapplerdotcom or Ressa have been attacked for their journalism.We condemn the manner in which laws are being twisted and used against journalists in the country. https://t.co/xNR9PY5AfE pic.twitter.com/ua9oNxQu0p

— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) June 15, 2020