How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future

Maria Ressa, the author of How to Stand up to a Dictator, is a renowned journalist, media executive, and advocate for press freedom. Her background and experiences have significantly shaped her perspective and approach to the topics discussed in her book.

Born in 1963 in Manila, Philippines, Ressa moved to the United States at the age of ten when her mother remarried an American. This early experience of cultural transition appears to have influenced her ability to bridge different worlds and perspectives, a skill evident throughout her book. In the United States, Ressa attended Toms River High School North in New Jersey, where she excelled academically and participated in various extracurricular activities, including music and student government.

Ressa’s higher education took place at Princeton University, where she studied molecular biology and theater. This interdisciplinary background is reflected in her analytical approach to journalism, combining scientific rigor with a storyteller’s sensibility. At Princeton, Ressa was deeply influenced by the university’s Honor Code, which emphasizes personal integrity and collective responsibility. This ethical foundation would later inform her approach to journalism and her stance against corruption and authoritarianism.

After graduating from Princeton, Ressa returned to the Philippines on a Fulbright Fellowship. This experience marked the beginning of her professional journalism career and her reconnection with her home country. She joined Probe, an investigative news outlet, where she honed her skills in investigative reporting and documentary production. This early experience in Philippine media gave her firsthand insight into the challenges of journalism in a developing democracy, a theme she explores extensively in How to Stand up to a Dictator.

In 1987, Ressa began her long association with CNN, initially as the network’s lead investigative reporter in Asia and later as the bureau chief in Manila and then Jakarta. During her nearly two decades with CNN, Ressa covered major events across Southeast Asia, including the fall of Indonesian President Suharto and the growth of terrorist networks in the region. This experience provided her with a deep understanding of Southeast Asian politics, the dynamics of social movements, and the complexities of reporting in conflict zones—all topics that feature prominently in her book. Additionally, Ressa’s expertise in covering terrorism, particularly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, is evident in How to Stand up to a Dictator. She draws parallels between terrorist networks and the spread of disinformation on social media, applying her understanding of network dynamics to contemporary digital challenges.

In 2005, Ressa returned to the Philippines to lead ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, the largest news organization in the country. This role allowed her to put into practice her ideas about building a strong, independent media organization in a challenging political environment. Her experiences in this position likely informed her discussions in the book about The Relationship Between Democracy and Journalism.

In 2012, Ressa co-founded Rappler, an online news organization known for its critical reporting on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Her work with Rappler, which has faced numerous legal challenges and attempts at suppression, forms a crucial backdrop to How to Stand up to a Dictator. The book draws heavily on her firsthand experiences of confronting authoritarianism and defending press freedom in the digital age.

Ressa’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including being named Time Person of the Year in 2018 and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her efforts to safeguard freedom of expression. These recognitions underscore the global significance of the issues she addresses in her book.