At the Nobel Peace Conference 2026, Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, urged journalists to take ownership of technology that dictates how news is delivered.
Speaking on September 3, Ressa highlighted the risks posed by artificial intelligence and outdated business models in the media industry. She stressed that to maintain information integrity, journalists must become 'tech builders.'
The Challenge of an Evolving Media Landscape
The only way you have information integrity is for journalists to become tech builders. We must build, we own our data, we own the technology.
Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler
Ressa warned that many news organizations might not survive the next few months if they fail to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape. She noted that the traditional reliance on platforms like Google and social media is diminishing as AI can now provide users with direct answers without directing them to original news sources.
- Ressa describes the current media environment as an 'information armageddon.'
- She calls for collective action to create alternative infrastructures for journalism.
She cited Rappler’s development of an application using the Matrix protocol as a model for news organizations to follow. This app, initially created for Rappler, has now expanded to support other media groups as well.
A Call for Technological Independence
Ressa's message resonates amid a broader discussion about the intersection of technology and democracy. With AI evolving faster than regulatory frameworks, the potential for misinformation and erosion of public trust in media grows.
As co-chair of the UN’s Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, Ressa is actively involved in exploring the implications of AI on society and democracy. The panel recently raised concerns about the technology's impact on shared reality and civic engagement.
Ressa’s advocacy for journalists to build and own their technology is not just a call to action; it is a necessary step to safeguard the future of journalism in an increasingly automated world.