Show notes
In our inaugural episode, Derek Vaz speaks to award-winning journalist and CEO of Rappler, Maria Ressa. Maria spoke from her home in Manila, where a local lockdown was in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode Maria discusses the turmoil in the Philippines under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, and the threat to press freedom, her news agency and herself since he took office in 2016. She explains the role social media has played in empowering authoritarian governments through the unchecked spread of misinformation. This episode was recorded on May 7, 2020. Original music in this episode was composed by Paul Chin.
