Maria Ressa, an outspoken champion of press freedom, was convicted today in a case that is widely seen as a crackdown on independent journalism in the Philippines.
“This is a miscarriage of justice," said ICFJ President Joyce Barnathan. “Maria is facing a bevy of charges designed to silence her and Rappler. If journalists are convicted for exposing corruption, democracy itself is at stake. ICFJ condemns Maria's conviction and calls for all other charges against her to be dropped.”