Democracy, Human Rights and the Freedom of Expression: A Conversation with Maria Ressa

FRONTLINE presents

a virtual event in partnership with

the Human Rights Watch Film Festival

Friday, January 29 – 5:00pm ET / 2:00pm PT

FRONTLINE and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival present a special discussion forum with award-winning journalist Maria Ressa on the freedom of the press, human rights, and the importance of empowering and informing citizens within democratic societies.

Ressa, chief executive of the independent news site Rappler, was recently served her 10th arrest warrant and is currently facing jail time under a cyber libel law. She is the subject of “A Thousand Cuts,” a FRONTLINE documentary, that chronicles her embattled journey as the top target of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who has cracked down on news reporters critical of his brutal war on drugs.

Ressa was the recent recipient of the “Truth to Power Award,” given by the International Documentary Association, which recognizes individuals who display “uncompromising fortitude, tenacity and resoluteness while holding those in power to account.” Join Ressa as she leads this special conversation on the importance of speaking truth to power and its impact on democracies affected by authoritarian leadership.

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Maria Ressa: CEO & Executive Editor, Rappler Ramona Diaz: Film Director, “A Thousand Cuts” Carlos Conde: Researcher, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch Nani Jansen Reventlow: Founding Director, Digital Freedom Fund, and Advisor at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard University

Moderated by Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, International Documentary Association

The event will feature clips from “A Thousand Cuts” — a film that goes inside the escalating war between the Philippine government and the press, and follows Ressa and her reporters’ efforts to hold the government to account.

Watch “A Thousand Cuts” here: https://cms.prod.frol.us/wgbh/frontline/film/a-thousand-cuts/