Monday, June 22, 2020, 13:00 - 14:00
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English / Speaker will join online.)
Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler
Democracy and Press Freedom in The Philippines
Last week a court in Manila found Maria Ressa, one of the Philippines' best-known investigative journalists and editors, guilty of libel. The popular news website that Ressa runs, Rappler, has made a name for itself scrutinizing human rights abuses and alleged corruption by President Rodrigo Duterte and his government. Duterte and his allies, in an echo of attacks on the media elsewhere, have branded Rappler's reports "fake news" and launched what Ressa and others describe as a vindictive campaign of legal intimidation. They say the government is trying to shut them down.
The conviction of Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr, a former writer, under a new "cyberlibel" law has been widely condemned as an attack on press freedom. Amal Clooney, who leads Ressa's legal defense, accused the court of being complicit in a sinister action to silence a journalist for exposing corruption and abuse" Peter Greste, director of the Alliance for Journalists' Freedom, called the conviction an "extraordinarily damaging precedent for press freedom". Ressa herself said the Philippines is "at the precipice. "If we fall over, we're no longer a democracy," she said.
With a possibly lengthy prison stay looming, Ressa has agreed to discuss her case at the FCCJ, including her views on what it means for media freedom in the Philippines.
How to attend:
Please register at front@fccj.or.jp with your name, name of media outlet, FCCJ membership number. Due to space restrictions, please note there will be a limited number of reservations to attend. Doors open at 12:30. Please sign in your name and contact details at the reception with your own pen and to have your temperature taken before proceeding.
How to watch online: https://vimeo.com/431337958
Livestreaming of the press events will be available and video of this event will be uploaded to our FCCJ YouTube channel.
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/WkYfBz72m1JWt51k6
Members watching the event online can submit questions for the speakers in advance using this submission form (English only).
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Door open for TV crews only at 12:15. There will be five positions available for livestreaming.
Professional Activities Committee