A new documentary tracks award-winning Filipino journalist Maria Ressa’s dual life in recent years.
Email this article
“In 2016, it was really, really laughable. And I thought, ‘Oh, doesn’t matter.’ I laughed,” said the country’s most well-known journalist and leader of the independent Rappler news organization. The film argues that Americans should learn from the recent history of the Philippines, where social media has helped to divide the country and critical press outlets are regularly lambasted by the president. ABS-CBN, the country’s largest TV network, was shut down by the government’s telecommunications regulator in May.
Facebook has become the center of the internet for most Filipinos, and Rappler utilized it to grow rapidly as a startup news site. But the film shows how Duterte’s populist campaign harnessed the platform to spread its message and target Ressa and other journalists. Ressa began wearing a bulletproof vest because of threats. She is seen in the film repeatedly pleading with Facebook representatives to delete violent posts or cut live streams. Last month, she grew frustrated watching Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other tech leaders speak before the U.S. Congress.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Locarno, Venice Winner Lav Diaz’s ‘When the Waves Are Gone’ Raises Budgetary Bar for Filipino AuteurHalted by COVID-19, and now part of Locarno’s The Films After Tomorrow competition, Lav Diaz’s “When the Waves Are Gone” looks set to mark the first time the Filipino auteur will enjoy the upsides …
Read more »
Grown-Up Denim Shorts You Won't be Embarrassed to WearIs there an outfit they don't work with?
Read more »
You Can Absolutely Make Flour Tortillas From Scratch. Here's HowSpoiler alert: you don't need (and won't even want) a tortilla press.
Read more »
Refinancing Your Student Loans Could Cost YouHere's how refinancing your student loans could cost you:
Read more »
You Won't Believe These Fascinating Facts About Brad Pitt - E! OnlineSome fascinating facts about Brad Pitt ahead of Monday's 10 Things You Don't Know premiere!
Read more »