Maria Ressa

The social media platforms have taken over the distribution of news globally. They treat a lie the same way you would treat a fact.

The difference between Rappler and other newsgroups in the Philippines is that journalists control Rappler both editorially and commercially. We make decisions that are bad for business but protect the public sphere.

If you want to rip the heart out of a democracy, you go after the facts. That's what modern authoritarians do. You lie. All the time. Then, you say it's your opponents and the journalists who lie.

Embrace your fear. Imagine what you're most afraid of, touch it and hold it so that you rob it of its power.

Let me go back to a fundamental thing we all used to agree on: information is power. That's why we became journalists in the first place.

Technology enabled Rappler's fast growth starting in 2012, but we were also among the first victims when social media was weaponized in 2016.

In 14 months, my government, the Philippine 2 government, has filed 11 cases. I posted bail eight times, I've been arrested twice in five weeks, detained once, and the only thing I've done, my only crime is to be a journalist, to speak truth to power.

All through my life, when faced with a difficult decision, I always ask myself - where can I learn more. Make the choice to learn.

I always felt that I wasn't as American as Americans and then I realised when I got back to the Philippines that I was not Filipino.

After I got arrested the Filipino government unshackled me. I knew first-hand how they violated my rights and I could speak about that from experience.

Journalism has a check-and-balance effect to those in power, and those in power submitted themselves to it.

I landed in New Jersey, where I could barely speak English, and I had to figure out what a short brown kid was going to do in this big white world.

Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not just about Rappler. Press freedom is... the foundation of every single right of every single Filipino to the truth, so that we can hold the powerful to account.

Don't be afraid - if you don't exercise your rights, you will lose them.