LIZ WAHL

INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST

On the evening of March 5, Filipino-American reporter Liz Wahl went off-script on her broadcast for news channel RT America by quitting her job on live television. The clip quickly spread online, garnering millions of views across social media. Liz made appearances on CNN, ABC, and The Colbert Show and even wrote a long feature for Politico.com explaining her side of a story that had taken a life of its own.

Viral resignations are nothing new, but in this case the significance runs deeper than, say, “Animator Quits Via Interpretive Dance.” Liz’s act served as her one-woman protest against RT America’s “Putinist agenda,” specifically calling out the lack of transparency in the way Russian-Ukrainian tensions were being covered.

“It was an incredible weight off my shoulders to be able to take a stance at a critical time,” writes Liz. “It has strengthened my belief in being true to yourself, and that taking a principled stance can be rewarding both personally and professionally.”

Liz Wahl was meant to be a journalist. A very specific kind of journalist, whose civic duty is to uphold a truth bigger than what the boundaries of nations can contain. “Important stories are everywhere,” she states.

It helps that she possesses an international heritage that shapes her personal philosophy. She was born in the Philippines to a Hungarian-American father and Filipino mother. She still has family in Manila and East Visayas, and is proud to call herself a global Pinoy. “I think it’s important to never forget your roots…. [Filipinos] tend to be welcoming, warm, persistent, and resilient—these are traits I strive to maintain.”

One major question that still follows Liz is where the next step of her career will take her. For now, Liz is keeping discreet, but promises she’s exploring several exciting opportunities. Considering her integrity, global perspective, and hunger for the truth, any network would be lucky to have her.—BP