The quest for truth has been a timeless pursuit for humanity, and as we grow and evolve, so do our methods in determining what is genuine. In recognition of this, Notre Dame Magazine has published an article titled “The Gist: Truth and Consequences”, exploring the deep-rooted human desire to find the truth and the potential consequences that can follow. By diving into various areas such as science, history, politics, and ethics, this article takes a thought-provoking look at how we have come to understand and navigate the world around us. Notre Dame Magazine’s “The Gist” brings an insightful and timely perspective on the most important issues of our time, and the question of truth and its consequences is one that we cannot afford to ignore.
Maria Ressa, an American-Filipino journalist, was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in reporting on abuses of power and for defending freedom of expression. Ressa spoke about the importance of facts, truth, and trust at the Asia Leadership Forum hosted by Notre Dame’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies. She focused her talk on the effects of social media on society and democracy, and how misinformation can spread quickly through these platforms. Ressa cited her experience reporting on the Duterte regime in the Philippines, which used social media to manipulate public discourse, and filed 10 arrest warrants against her and sought to shut down her startup, Rappler. Ressa’s work documenting how social media outlets are used to spread falsehoods underscores the need for reporters to remain committed to ethical journalism.
Ressa discussed how social media has drastically changed the landscape of journalism, making it difficult for reporters to stand out amid the clutter of a never-ending news cycle. She called the current environment “quick sand” and spoke on the addictive nature of social media, which is designed to keep users scrolling. Ressa explained that social media has transformed the way we see ourselves and how big data can be used to create a clone of ourselves, revealing the staggering amount of personal information companies like Facebook have on their users.
However, Ressa also acknowledged that social media’s addictive quality is no accident: algorithms trigger emotions such as fear, anger, or hate to keep users engaged, creating a “surveillance capitalism” model. The biggest challenge, she said, is to establish protective legislation as the sea change created by technology companies has pushed human beings into a commodified state.
In her advice to fellow journalists, Maria Ressa emphasized the importance of vulnerability, a trait often seen as a weakness in the industry. She said, “vulnerability oftentimes is seen as a weakness. But really — at least for me, and you can see I’m a pretty hardcore journalist — it’s been a strength.” Journalists have a critical mission to report truthfully, despite its unpopularity, and must hold themselves to high standards of ethics and professionalism.
Maria Ressa’s work serves as an important reminder of the role journalists play in upholding democracy and protecting the truth. Ressa has remained committed to ethical journalism, even in the face of arrest, personal attacks, and threats of imprisonment. It is incumbent on journalists, like Ressa, to continue to provide accurate and fair coverage of events worldwide. Without factual reporting, there can be no truth or trust, and without these three elements, we have no shared reality.
