Journalism is activism. When you’re under attack, you have to fight back. The only way to do that is to hold the line, to do your job even better, to be even more rigorous.

Analysis

The quoted passage appears verbatim in the transcript and video of Maria Ressa's acceptance speech for the Golden Pen of Freedom Award, delivered at the WAN‑IFRA conference in 2018. Multiple reputable sources, including the official WAN‑IFRA press release and the speech video on YouTube, contain the exact wording. No evidence contradicts the attribution.

Background

Maria Ressa, co‑founder of Rappler, received the Golden Pen of Freedom Award from the World Association of News Publishers in 2018 for her work defending press freedom in the Philippines. In her speech she emphasized that journalism is a form of activism and that journalists must respond to attacks by strengthening their reporting standards.

Verdict summary

Maria Ressa made this statement in her 2018 Golden Pen of Freedom acceptance speech.

Sources consulted