Statement of Maria Ressa on her leaving ABS-CBN released by Bong R. Osorio, ABS-CBN Corporate Communication
My contract ends on Jan. 3, 2011, and I will not be renewing. I have nearly six months of accumulated leaves so I will go on terminal leave beginning Nov. 15.
It’s time for me to move on, but it’s important we transition properly and prepare our organization – and its new leader – for the challenges ahead.
Ging Reyes will be taking over as news head. She will be arriving in Manila on Oct. 18 to begin our transition. Home-grown ABS-CBN, she has more than twenty years experience as a journalist, the last eight years as North America bureau chief.
Please give her your full support as she takes the helm of our multi-platform operations.
I want to thank you for six amazing, incredible years where we took risks together to help define the future of journalism and our nation.
We decided to take a stand and say no to corruption; to embrace the growth of social media; and to join hands with citizen journalists to patrol our votes and our nation .
Thank you for your trust and support, for following me even when I tilt at windmills.
Journalism faces challenging days ahead. Value and protect your editorial independence. I wish you clarity of thought, stamina, and courage to fight for what is right and avoid the compromise of mediocrity.
You have taught me so much about what it means to be a Filipino. While my time with this company is ending, one of the most precious things it has given me are our friendships, which I hope will continue to grow even when I’m no longer with ABS-CBN.
As PNoy appoints the Lopezes in his administration, Ressa was sacrificed. Who would believe that her leaving ABS-CBN has nothing to do with her “Noynoy flunks his first test” article?
Good for her, she’s brilliant and can find a more fulfilling job outside of the network.
It’s all about politics. Maria Ressa was not only very fluent in English, she was very articulate and brought to ABS-CBN some great new ideas and reforms. She has not been with the Station too long to have let go given her contributions. One thing noticeable about this woman is her guts and determination to say what she thought was right. She was not afraid to tell the truth even if some issues proved detrimental to the Station.
The Lopezes of ABS-CBN are not only shrewd businessmen but politicians. The late Fernando Lopez was a Vice President to Marcos. With his business going bad and unable to influence Marcos, he parted ways and became an opposition with his family leading to the 1986 Edsa Revolt. Thanks to Cory when she became the President. Cory handed back ABS-CBN, Meralco and all the Lopez companies to the Lopezes without any question. Since then, the Lopezes were part of the Yellow Brigade. They made sure any threat to the Aquinos would be stopped even if they had to let go of their talents. Edu Manzano left (or fired) because of his decision to run as Vice President with the GMA ticket.. It even affected his relationship with Pinky Webb; but the report is they’re back in each others’ arms. Dolphy also left after the election after supporting Manny Villar. Before Noynoy, the Lopezes sided with GMA purely for business survival They’re willing to let go anyone…even Willie Revillame who brought in millions of pesos to the Station, and now Maria Ressa.
Dang! What a shame, she is now WHITE. Such a hypocritical extreme make-over.
Buti pa si Ellen, kayumangging kayumanggi.
Good for her indeed. In fact, uttering those words “I’m no longer with ABS-CBN” might be the best thing that she said since she joined DOS.
Actually, ABS-CBN’s big bosses are going too far. They even rejected the airing of former President Estrada’s campaign commercial just because a portion of it showed Cory apologizing to Estrada. I think Ressa had nothing to do with it. She has had it for too long.
Excellent decision Ms. Ressa, ang pagiging bias ng ABS-CBN ay pumapabor lamang kung saan sila makikinabang?
Nasaan ang tunay na pagbabalita ng katotohan…kung saan IN doon sila, ibig sabihin ginagamit lamang nila ang mass media upang protektahan ang kanilang negosyo.
When the Lopezes were supporting Gloria, almost all the station’s talents and celebrities were campaigning for Gloria…Boy Abunda, Kris, Ai-Ai, etc. When the Lopezes supported Noynoy last election, these same talents also supported Noynoy. If you don’t call it politicking and bias, I don’t know what.
Ellen,
Could it be that the company itself has hinted at not wanting her to continue to stay on board? Tee-hee!
Anna,
That maybe true, because of the irresponsible acts of the media during the August Hostage tragedy. In my opinion, Maria Ressa, as head of the News Dept of ABS-CBN did not exercise what she had learned with CNN.
The hostage incident may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Galit na galit si Joker kay Ressa coz the Philippine hostage drama was covered by CNN non-stop and the whole world viewed the “mis-handling” of the rescue (or was there any?). The airing was part of ABS-CBN’s contract with the international netwoks.
Hindi din nagustuhan ng mga Lopezes yung assessment ni Ressa kay Pnoy.
Hi Luz!
Maybe she didn’t learn anything at all… She was probably contaminated by the polluted air of Jakarta 🙂
i remember during the campaign period, nung pinagpipilitan ni Kris na wag i-air ng ABS ang pagsigaw ni Baby James ng “Villar”.. pero ipinalabas pa rin nila Ressa….
payback time na nga siguro
good for abs-cbn… obvious naman hindi abs-cbn boss nyan si Ressa (check)… sumunod kay wowowillie… and who’s next? Dolphy? 🙂
Good riddance! she is another example of “story” and “scoop” first before regularity! she’s a cautionary tale… 🙂
Ressa has independent mind that did not go well with the Lopezes. She speaks her mind like a true journalist. I can see in her the same passion and fairness in Ms. Ellen Tordesillas.
Naglilinis na ng bakuran ang abs-cbn… may kaugnayan malamang sa Aug23 incident… imbes kasi na gumawa na hakbang para maresolba ang kakulangan ng media sa insidente… paninisi pa ang inatupag:
http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=12840
“Noynoy flunks his first test”
@15
You do Ellen injustice. That tweet of Ressa re the hostage crisis showed clearly what sort of a journalist she is. Ellen does not practice the sort of journalism Ressa does.
It’s for Ellen to say if I’ve done her injustice, not you Mr. Buencamino. Ressa just did her job. It’s the usual saying “Damn if you do, damn if you don’t”. I said both Ellen and Ressa are similar for their passion and guts. Now if you disagree, please explain why.
@18.
Ressa was passionate and gutsy going after the ratings. (Read her tweet about Luneta.) Ellen on the other hand is passionate and gutsy about getting the truth. Truth, in effect, was incidental for Ressa whereas it is the goal of Ellen.
“It’s for Ellen to say if I’ve done her injustice, not you Mr. Buencamino.”
Then don’t throw a statement like that in public – “Ressa has independent mind that did not go well with the Lopezes. She speaks her mind like a true journalist. I can see in her the same passion and fairness in Ms. Ellen Tordesillas.” – if you can’t stand someone disagreeing with you! By making that statement publicly you allowed me to express my opinion publicly as well. It is now also okay for me to say that you did Ellen injustice.
Like your input, Manuel.
Manuel, if you followed the hearing when another journalist Erwin Tulfo testified, he frankly told the panel that stations were after ratings so they had to outsmart each other. The first to get the scoop wins. Ressa was not only reporting the news as it was; it was also a business decision.
Outwardly, her big boss might have pressured her to resign due to the coverage of the incident. But deep inside, her boss was very happy for the rating and revenue it brought to the Station. Now Manuel, this is a blog and everyone has the right to express his opinion even if it runs counter to yours.
And if you hate Ressa, don’t express it in public too !
Hi Anna!
CNN is very careful in their reporting, especially in real time airing. They scrutinize what they should show in public. But they are recording all the aspects of the incidents to be shown later. Like the 9/11 Terrorism. We are being updated of what is happenning, but they are not showing the gruesome reality because the effect may not be good for the govt and the authorities, and also for some individuals. But we were able to know more details about it afterwards. Sa Pinas media kasi, dahil sa ratings game eh, kesehoda sa epekto ng pagrereport nila basta maka-scoop lang at maging bida. Tulad nila Rogas at Tulfo. Dapat dyan sa dalawang iyan eh kasuhan at hindi dapat ma-absuwelto. Meddling at Obstruction ang ginawa nila at hindi reporting.
I’ve no interest in the so called “tsismis” but I learned that one of the reasons for dumping Maria Ressa was Korina Sanchez’s return to her programs in ABS-CBN.
ressa became a “coconut” in her “flunk test” article…
http://www.stuartsantiago.com/ressa-media-flunk-test/