---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Press freedom is not just about…"
description: "\"Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not just about Rappler. Press freedom is... th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg"
---

#  Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's…

![“Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not just about Rappler. Press freedom is... the foundation of every single right of every single Filipino to the truth, so that we can hold the powerful to account.” quote by Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg)

> “Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not just about Rappler. Press freedom is... the foundation of every single right of every single Filipino to the truth, so that we can hold the powerful to account.”

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Press freedom underpins all other rights, enabling citizens to access truth and hold power accountable.

**In simple terms:** Freedom of press protects truth and accountability.

Key Takeaway

Defend and demand press freedom.

Themes

freedom of speech accountability human rights

Mood

concerned determined hopeful

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- journalism
- activism
- policy advocacy
- public education

Key Concepts

democracy media ethics citizen empowerment

Questions to Reflect On

- How does a free press strengthen democracy?
- What can individuals do to protect it?

A Different Perspective

Press freedom can be threatened by censorship and political pressure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-just/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Journalists Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalists-right-3283375/) [Just Journalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-journalists-3283373/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Press Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/press-freedom/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/)

## Related quotes

> [When I did 'Bremner, Bird and Fortune' I think it was accepted that comedians can contest the arguments just as well as journalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/when-i-did-bremner-bird-and-fortune-i-think-it-was-accepted-that/)

[Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/)

> [There are at least two circumstances under which journalists have both a right and an obligation to publish details about a public person's private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/there-are-at-least-two-circumstances-under-which-journalists-have/)

[Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/)

> [I think journalists have the right to their opinions but I think their opinions should be based on history and what they see, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/i-think-journalists-have-the-right-to-their-opinions-but-i-think/)

[Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/)

> [When reporters are in the business of obtaining hard facts that service the free flow of information, journalists should have a right to obtain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/when-reporters-are-in-the-business-of-obtaining-hard-facts-that/)

[Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/)

> [While journalists cannot right every wrong, champion every cause or fix every problem, they can - through the written word - lift someone's burden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/while-journalists-cannot-right-every-wrong-champion-every-cause-or/)

[Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/)

> [Press freedom is the foundation of the rights of all Filipinos to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/press-freedom-is-the-foundation-of-the-rights-of-all-filipinos-to-the/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [To deal with COVID-19, countries like India, Brazil, Jordan and Thailand are cutting press freedom and freedom of expression. In nations like Israel, South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/to-deal-with-covid-19-countries-like-india-brazil-jordan-and-thailand/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [Freedom of press and freedom of speech: What a blessing for a country while in the hands of honest, patriotic men; what a curse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/freedom-of-press-and-freedom-of-speech-what-a-blessing-for-a-country/)

[William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/)

> [To-day a democrat of the old school would demand, not freedom for the press, but freedom from the press; but mean-time the leaders have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-spengler/to-day-a-democrat-of-the-old-school-would-demand-not-freedom-for-the/)

[Oswald Spengler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-spengler/)

> [“And freedom? Oh, freedom. Well that's just some people talking. Your prison is walking through this world all alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/and-freedom-oh-freedom-well-that-s-just-some-people-talking-your/)

[Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/)

> [Freedom is just freedom. It is a condition, not an agent of change. It does not develop or uplift those who win it. Freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/freedom-is-just-freedom-it-is-a-condition-not-an-agent-of-change-it/)

[Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/)

> [“The illusion of freedom is just another sort of prison-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/the-illusion-of-freedom-is-just-another-sort-of-prison/)

[Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/)

> [Freedom, well, that's just some people talking. Your prison is walking through this world all alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-eagles/freedom-well-that-s-just-some-people-talking-your-prison-is-walking/)

[The Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-eagles/)

> [Freedom is just another word: It seems to get truer the older I get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/freedom-is-just-another-word-it-seems-to-get-truer-the-older-i-get/)

[Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/)

> [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

## More by Maria Ressa

> [Without facts you can't have truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/without-facts-you-can-t-have-truth/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [When you're on social media, your brain is being rewired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/when-you-re-on-social-media-your-brain-is-being-rewired/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [I don't think we have wrapped our heads around how much technology has allowed the manipulation of individuals and democracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/i-don-t-think-we-have-wrapped-our-heads-around-how-much-technology/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [You cannot succeed if at some point you haven't failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/you-cannot-succeed-if-at-some-point-you-haven-t-failed/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [To deal with COVID-19, countries like India, Brazil, Jordan and Thailand are cutting press freedom and freedom of expression. In nations like Israel, South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/to-deal-with-covid-19-countries-like-india-brazil-jordan-and-thailand/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [How well we survive this time of creative destruction, it really is, depends on each of us, on each of us fighting our individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/how-well-we-survive-this-time-of-creative-destruction-it-really-is/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [All through my life, when faced with a difficult decision, I always ask myself - where can I learn more. Make the choice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/all-through-my-life-when-faced-with-a-difficult-decision-i-always-ask/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [I'm not a politician; I'm a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/i-m-not-a-politician-i-m-a-journalist/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [In a weird way, I'm a good target for the government, because I can push back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/in-a-weird-way-i-m-a-good-target-for-the-government-because-i-can/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [I work too hard, I'd be a really bad mom, unfortunately. I can't even keep a plant!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/i-work-too-hard-i-d-be-a-really-bad-mom-unfortunately-i-can-t-even/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [Always make the choice to learn. What Princeton taught me was whatever mess you are studying, pull a thread with great persistence 'til you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/always-make-the-choice-to-learn-what-princeton-taught-me-was-whatever/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [“Anyone who stood up to the lies spreading over pro-Duterte and pro-Marcos disinformation networks was gaslit, or told they were crazy. What the bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/anyone-who-stood-up-to-the-lies-spreading-over-pro-duterte-and-pro/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [Embrace your fear. Imagine what you're most afraid of, touch it and hold it so that you rob it of its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/embrace-your-fear-imagine-what-you-re-most-afraid-of-touch-it-and/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [Journalism has a check-and-balance effect to those in power, and those in power submitted themselves to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/journalism-has-a-check-and-balance-effect-to-those-in-power-and-those/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

> [I run Rappler, an online news site in the Philippines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/i-run-rappler-an-online-news-site-in-the-philippines/)

[Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

[Explore all 58 Maria Ressa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/)

## More Foundation quotes

> [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/)

[Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/)

> [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/)

[Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/)

> [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [A loving family provides the foundation children need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bunning/a-loving-family-provides-the-foundation-children-need-to-succeed/)

[Jim Bunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bunning/)

> [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/)

[Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/)

> [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [I was raised playing music in coffeehouses and I feel that was the foundation for my career. I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [God established the family as the foundation of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/god-established-the-family-as-the-foundation-of-civilization/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

> [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/coral-reefs-represent-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-beauty/)

[Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/)

[Browse all 3,310 Foundation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not just about Rappler. Press freedom is... the foundation of every single right of every single Filipino to the truth, so that we can hold the powerful to account.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Maria Ressa"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journalists-right-it-s-not-just-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Foundation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journalists-right-it-s-not-just-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/maria-ressa-11796_foundation_press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journali_1155062.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Press freedom is not just about journalists, right? It's not just about us, it's not just about me, it's not…” — Maria Ressa",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Maria Ressa",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Press freedom is not just about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journalists-right-it-s-not-just-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/press-freedom-is-not-just-about-journalists-right-it-s-not-just-about/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
