Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa joins WNYC’s Brian Lehrer in New York for a live conversation on defending and rebuilding democracy in the age of artificial intelligence
New York Public Radio (NYPR) and Rappler, the Philippines’ leading digital media company, are proud to co-present the next edition of NYPR’s ongoing live event series “Democracy Dialogues” on Thursday, October 15 at The Greene Space (44 Charlton Street).
The program will feature WNYC’s Brian Lehrer, host of the Peabody Award-winning “The Brian Lehrer Show,” alongside Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa, one of the world’s most prominent advocates for journalism and co-founder and CEO of Rappler. The event will be live streamed on wnyc.org, Rappler.com, C-SPAN and YouTube at 7 pm ET (October 16, 7 am PH time). Portions of the conversation will air on WNYC as part of “The Brian Lehrer Show” on Friday, October 16 at 10 am ET. The full conversation will air as a special on WNYC at a later date.
“Democracy Dialogues” is New York Public Radio’s live event series that examines the state of democracy and the essential roles journalism, free expression and an informed public play in sustaining it. In this conversation, Lehrer and Ressa will focus on understanding, defending and rebuilding democracy in the age of AI.
The event will take place at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space (“The Greene Space”), NYPR’s street-level event space and broadcast studio in Lower Manhattan, located at 44 Charlton Street. Tickets are available now by visiting https://wnyc.org/events/democracy-dialogues.
About Maria Ressa
Maria Ressa is the co-founder and CEO of Rappler, the Philippines’ independent news organization. Rappler has been a target of the country’s authoritarian government for its investigative reporting on corruption and malfeasance at the hands of the Duterte administration and endured multiple arrests in attempts to silence her, ultimately winning multiple accolades for her reporting and bravery. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, she won the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize in 2021, was TIME’s Person of the Year in 2018, and was also named by TIME as one of the most inspiring and influential women of the century. Ressa is the author of a new book, “The Fight Back: A Citizen’s Guide to Standing Up to Dictators,” available on October 13, 2026.
About New York Public Radio
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio (NYPR) produces innovative, critically acclaimed programming for local and national broadcast, on-demand and live-streaming audiences. NYPR’s brands include WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, New Jersey Public Radio and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. The WNYC newsroom and Gothamist produce award-winning local journalism for New York City, New Jersey and the surrounding region. WQXR, the city’s only all-classical radio station, broadcasts new and archival classical recordings and makes live performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues available to all. WNYC Studios is a premier producer of on-demand and national broadcast audio, and home to some of the industry’s most impactful award-winning podcasts and national radio shows, including “Radiolab,” “On the Media” and “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” among others. The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is NYPR’s intimate street-level broadcast studio and live event space. Further information about programs, podcasts and stations may be found at www.nypublicradio.org.
About Rappler
Founded in 2012 by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa and a group of veteran Filipino journalists, Rappler has grown into one of the Philippines’ leading independent news organizations, recognized for its fearless investigative journalism and innovative use of technology. At a time when disinformation and attacks on press freedom threaten democratic institutions, Rappler has remained committed to journalism that holds power to account, exposes corruption and abuses, and delivers meaningful impact in the communities it serves.
Through independent journalism and technology-driven civic engagement, Rappler continues to champion a future where facts matter, communities have a voice, and technology serves democracy rather than undermines it. – Rappler.com
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