Latest news with #JessicaSoho
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jessica Soho Celebrates 40 Years in the Industry via Digital Archive
From Accidental Journalist to One of the Nation's Most Powerful Voices From Accidental Journalist to One of the Nation's Most Powerful Voices Jessica Soho Celebrates 40 Years in the Industry via Digital Archive Jessica Soho never planned to be a journalist. She had her sights set on Political Science, with hopes of becoming a lawyer. But the road to law school came with too much math—so she decided to take up journalism instead, mainly because it only required one math subject. 'I am an accidental journalist, motivated firstly by my fear or phobia of Math,' she often says, with her trademark laugh. But after four decades of telling the stories that matter, nothing about her journey seems like an accident. From her first assignments—covering coup attempts, typhoons, and disasters—to high-risk, near-death coverage in the field, Soho has braved danger not for fame, but for truth. And with every step, she raised the bar for journalism in the Philippines. Marking her 40th year in journalism in 2025, GMA Public Affairs launches 'Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos.' This digital archive, available beginning May 30 on GMA Public Affairs' YouTube channel, celebrates her four-decade legacy of public service and storytelling excellence. It features curated exclusives, landmark reports, and deeply human stories that shaped national conversations and gave voice to the unheard—with new content uploaded weekly. The Power of Stories As a journalist, Soho has witnessed the good and the bad. In 1989, while en route to Pag-asa Island, her plane went missing—only to be found safe days later after an emergency landing in the Spratlys. In 2002, while covering post-war Afghanistan, a landmine exploded just meters away. These moments of danger and resilience highlight the risks journalists face in pursuit of the truth. But not all stories are born out of conflict. Some are rooted in compassion. Others inspire generosity and remind us of our shared humanity. 'Bukod sa mga istorya ng trahedya, giyera, at sakuna, ang isa sa lubos na ipinagmamalaki ko at ng akingteam ay ang mga kuwentong nakapagpabago ng buhay ng marami-rami nating mga kababayan,' Soho shared. There's Ranelyn from Bantayan Island, who was too small for her favorite dress because she was severely malnourished. After her story aired, aid came in droves. Today, she is healthy and back in school. There's Daxen from Antique, who battles a rare condition and found hope through strangers who came forward to help after seeing his story. Raymark from Sultan Kudarat had to abandon childhood and the classroom to work in the fields. After his story reached the public, he was able to return to school—trading his plow for books. Soho and her team also leaned on science, even learning genetics in the process, to establish parenthood in the case of two babies switched at birth. 'Ang 'word on the street' natin ay 'family.' Importante ang pamilya sa atin. Kaya 'pag may nabubuo sa tulong ng aming mga programa—hindi lang sa KMJS kundi pati sa mga dati naming show tulad ng 'Sanay Muling Makapiling' at 'Reunions'—dagdag points tayo kay Lord. Corny pakinggan, pero totoo 'to. Feeling namin para kaming nginingitian ng langit tuwing mayroon kaming nahahanap na nawawala, at nabubuo ulit ang isang pamilyang nawalay sa isa't isa.' These are more than just stories—they are lives transformed. A Filipina Trailblazer A true pioneer in broadcast journalism, Soho has not only blazed a trail but also set new benchmarks for Philippine media on the global stage. She made history in 1999 by winning the country's first-ever George Foster Peabody Award for her groundbreaking reports Kidneys for Sale and Kamao—a distinction she would earn again in 2014 for the coverage of Typhoon Haiyan. She became the first Filipino to be nominated and to win in the New York Festivals (NYF) TV & Film Awards. She holds the distinction of having won all the medal categories at the NYF. This year, her show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) won a Bronze Tower Trophy at the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards for its investigative documentary Minahan sa Homonhon Island (Nickel and Dime: The Cost of Mining in Homonhon Island). The same episode was nominated at the 2024 Association for International Broadcasting (AIBs) Awards in London under the Sustainability category. In 2024, her documentary Secret Slaves: The Jessica Soho Special Report on Human Trafficking won Gold at the ContentAsia Awards for Best Current Affairs Programme Made in Asia for Regional Asia and/or International Markets. Her credibility and connection with the public are just as remarkable: she has been named 'Most Trusted TV Host for News and Current Affairs' for 13 consecutive years by the Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards. She also became the first UP College of Mass Communication alumna to receive the prestigious Gawad Plaridel Award for Journalism. 'Sa lahat ng mga assignment, trabaho, at programa na ibinigay sa akin, wala akong masasabi sa sarili ko na hindi ko itinodo. 100 percent or more. You're not the story. Ang importante 'yung story.' At a time when truth is under siege, when fake news spreads faster than facts, Soho stands as a rare constant. Credible. Trusted. Still chasing stories—not for clicks or clout—but because she believes the Filipino story is worth telling. 'Aaminin ko, pinanghihinaan din ako ng loob. Pero hindi kasi tamang isuko ang katotohanan. Kailangan itong ipaglaban—lalo na't marami pa tayong dapat bigyan ng linaw at liwanag sa ating bayan,' she said. And she continues to pass it on—speaking to thousands of aspiring writers and journalists at the National Schools Press Conference held last week in Ilocos Sur, reminding them to pursue not just accuracy and balance, but above all, kindness and goodness in their work. 'If I have to live my life all over again, pipiliin ko pa rin maging journalist. Basically, because I love telling stories,' she ended. And perhaps that's the clearest truth of all: Even if she never planned this path, she chose to walk it with purpose. Because for Jessica Soho, every story—big or small—is a chance to do good. And for forty years, she has done just that. Catch 'Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos' on GMA Public Affairs' YouTube channel starting May 30.
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jessica Soho's journalism legacy: 40 years of impactful stories
Earlier this May, Jessica Soho served as the keynote speaker at the 2025 National Schools Press Conference and National Festival of Talents. Held in Ilocos Norte, the event gathered over 4,000 aspiring journalists from 17 regions nationwide. Soho was warmly welcomed with cheers, countless selfies and autographs, and heartfelt appreciation from student journalists. In her inspiring speech, the Kapuso journalist shared seven important principles in journalism: Accuracy, impact, content, fairness, reading, balance, and doing good. She emphasized that the only real secret in her 40 years in the industry was hard work and dedication. "Alam ko, medyo gasgas nang salita ang hardwork," she said. ["I know the words 'hard work' sounds like a cliché these days.'] "But in my case kasi, iyon lang ang naging formula ko: Work hard and everything will follow," she added. ["But in my case, that was just my formula: Work hard and everything will follow."] Aside from breaking stories, Soho said stories hold a special power of improving lives. "We believe in the power of stories," she said. Reflecting on her career as a journalist, which spans 40 years, Soho recounted defining moments that shaped her career since 1984: From being a rookie GMA reporter to covering major national events like military coups, hostage crises in Cagayan, and even surviving a near-plane crash on the way to the Spratlys. She also highlighted some of her notable achievements and memorable experiences in media, including being the co-founder of "i-Witness," winning the Peabody Award, and producing powerful stories such as "Kidneys for Sale" and "Kamao." "Naghahanap talaga ako ng long form na format kasi takeaway from 'yung specials na ginagawa namin sa news noon," she looked back. [" I was really looking for a long-form format because it was a takeaway from the specials we used to do in news back then.'] "So hanggang ginawa ko 'yung concept ng 'I-Witness' and then I fought for it and it got approved." ["So I went ahead and created the concept for Ii-Witness,' and then I fought for it. Eventually, it got approved.'] Aside from her achievements, Soho shed light on how a journalist must brave the frontlines of the most dangerous situations to cover the news. She was on the frontlines of numerous natural disasters in the past, including gunfire during coup attempts, a landmine explosion in Afghanistan, as well as the Hyatt Hotel tragedy in Baguio during the 1990 earthquake. Above all, Soho took pride in the stories that transformed lives, particularly through her show 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.' Among the stories she was proud of are 'Bestida ni Ranelyn,' 'Sugat ng Pangungulila,' and 'Ang pag-uwi ni Jojo,' to name a few. In her speech, Jessica Soho said 'After 40 years of chasing the story; I often ask myself the same existential question many journalists surely ask themselves too: 'Is it all worth it? Sulit ba ang lahat ng aming pagod, hirap at sakripisyo?' Pero ako, if I have to live my life all over again, pipiliin ko pa rin maging journalist.' [ 'Is it all worth it? All the hard work, the struggles, the sacrifices?' For me, if I had to live my life all over again, I would still choose to be a journalist."] In celebration of Soho's 40 years in broadcasting, a digital archive of some of her most unforgettable reports and interviews will be launched in an online series dubbed "Jessica Soho at 40: Telling the Story of Filipinos." It's set to be released on the YouTube channel of GMA Public Affairs beginning on June 1, 2025.
_2025_05_23_12_45_16.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
GMA Network brings home 3 World Medals at the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards
Broadcast giant GMA Network reaffirmed its global excellence in producing world-class content that resonates with international audiences, bringing home 3 World Medals for the Philippines at the 2025 New York Festivals TV & Film (NYF) Awards–including another prestigious Gold medal for 'The Atom Araullo Specials (TAAS).' For the third consecutive year, The Atom Araullo Specials earned the World Gold Medal, this time in the Documentary: National Affairs category for its powerful episode 'Pogoland.' Aired in 2024, the documentary hosted by Atom Araullo delved into the vast, deep, and intricate world of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), offering viewers a deep and nuanced look into this controversial industry. The Atom Araullo Specials also won back-to-back Gold Medals in the Documentary: Social Issues category for 'Batas Bata' (Child's Game) in 2024 and 'Mata sa Dilim' (Eye in the Dark) in 2023. Aside from Gold, the Silver and Bronze medals were also won by GMA Public Affairs. Earning a Silver medal was the multi-awarded and highly-acclaimed film 'Firefly,' which won in the Films: Feature Films category. Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, Firefly previously emerged as the runaway winner at the inaugural Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood, California, taking home the highly coveted Best Picture honor. Shown in 2024, the film also dominated the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival. The Philippines' most awarded news magazine program 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS)' added another laurel to its growing list of international accolades, taking home the Bronze medal for its episode 'Minahan sa Homonhon Island' (Nickel and Dime: The Cost of Mining in Homonhon Island) in the Documentary: Environment & Ecology category. The episode featured the devastating effects of large-scale mining in Homonhon Island in Guian, Eastern Samar, which sparked discussions online as host Jessica Soho went to Guiuan to personally investigate the issue. Equally giving the country prestige are '24 Oras' and "Lost Sabungeros," which earned Finalist certificates in their respective categories. GMA Integrated News' flagship newscast "24 Oras" was conferred with a Finalist Certificate for its special coverage titled 'Super Typhoon Carina (Typhoon Gaemi) and Habagat (Southwest Monsoon).' The recognition celebrates 24 Oras' exceptional journalism and public service as it delivered timely, accurate, and life-saving information to millions of Filipinos during one of the most destructive weather events in 2024. GMA Integrated News mobilized its reporters on the ground, integrated real-time data, and provided vital updates through multiplatform coverage. The program served as a critical lifeline for communities in distress, highlighted GMA Integrated News' continued excellence in disaster reporting to keep the public informed and safe, and its standing as the most trusted news organization in the Philippines. Completing the recognitions for GMA Network was "Lost Sabungeros," which secured a Finalist certificate in the Documentary: Investigative Journalism category. Directed by Bryan Brazil, the GMA Public Affairs' first-ever investigative documentary tried to shed light on the disappearances of over 30 sabungeros (cockfighters) who have been abducted in various incidents since 2022. Celebrating the world's best since 1957, the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards honors creative excellence and mastery of craft in all lengths and forms. This year's roster of shortlists included a diverse range of engaging primetime entertainment, documentaries, investigative journalism, sports coverage, promos, streaming media, and brand image films. GMA Network has consistently led the Philippines' presence at the New York Festivals, garnering the most nominations and awards for the country year after year. For more updates about GMA Network, visit
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
GMA Reinforces Leadership in Philippine Broadcast, Digital Media
GMA Network further solidified its position as the Philippines' leading media company in 2024, outperforming the competition across broadcast and digital media platforms. Speaking at the GMA Network Annual Stockholders' Meeting held virtually on Wednesday, May 21, President and CEO Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr. highlighted the Network's robust performance despite challenging economic conditions. 'We retained our position as the convincingly dominant TV broadcast network in the country,' Duavit said. Commanding Broadcast Media Leadership GMA Network maintained its status as the top TV broadcast network in the country in 2024. According to Nielsen's National Urban TV Audience Measurement (NUTAM) People Ratings, its main GMA channel averaged 5.1 rating points, followed by TV5 (1.9) and GTV (1.2), the Network's second channel. GMA also led in Nielsen's Philippine National TV Audience Measurement (PHINTAM) People ratings, averaging 4.7 rating points, again ahead of TV5 (1.7) and GTV (1.1). GMA programs dominated the list of top 30 shows, with 26 entries in NUTAM and 27 in PHINTAM. Multi-awarded public affairs show 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho' led both lists. For the same period, 19 of the top 25 News, Public Affairs/Service programs in both NUTAM and PHINTAM were from GMA, led again by "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" and followed by "24 Oras" and "24 Oras Weekend." In radio, flagship stations Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz and DWLS 97.1 Forever! continued to lead in Mega Manila, according to data from Nielsen's Radio Audience Measurement (RAM). DZBB grew its audience share to 43.4 % in 2024, while DWLS 97.1 netted an increased audience share of 50.5 %. GMA stations in Iloilo (AM and FM) and Baguio (FM) also ranked No. 1 in their respective areas, based on Nielsen's Key Cities RAM for Q4 2024. GMA Regional TV newscasts One North Central Luzon, Balitang Bisdak, One Western Visayas, and One Mindanao were likewise the preferred news sources in the regions, generating a combined reach of approximately 20 million viewers. Strengthening Digital Dominance GMA's momentum continued in the digital space. In 2024, GMA was the highest-ranking media company across Southeast Asia in Tubular Lab's Leaderboard for Media and entertainment properties for 11 consecutive months, with global rankings of between 15th and 20th place within the same period. Based on the same Tubular Labs data, GMA's official accounts tallied a total of 45.5 billion video views across Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Meanwhile, led all Filipino publishers in local rankings for five months in the second semester of 2024, and in global rankings for three months for the same period, according to data from Similar Web. Total Subscribers/Followers/Users across all digital platforms, along with its digital revenue, grew 14 % year-on-year. Cinematic Successes GMA's film production, led by GMA Pictures, was marked with big successes in 2024. "Green Bones," co-produced with GMA Public Affairs, emerged as the big winner at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). 'Balota,' a collaboration with GMA Entertainment Group, received critical acclaim and was a top-grosser at Cinemalaya. The blockbuster Star Cinema-GMA Pictures co-production "Hello, Love, Again" set the record for the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time. Several titles were also licensed for streaming: the multi-awarded film "Firefly" on Prime Video and the highly-acclaimed drama series "Pulang Araw" and "Balota" on Netflix. The co-production "Everything About My Wife" is also set to debut on Netflix. Operational Highlights With 2024 being a challenging year for the Network, GMA ended the year with consolidated Net Income After Tax (NIAT) of P2.065 billion, down 35% year-on-year. Consolidated net revenues reached P17.565 billion, a 6% decline from last year. It was able to manage its total OPEX at P14.386 billion, only up by 2% versus FY 2023; inclusive of a non-recurring expense of P118.62 million for the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Further cementing its superiority in broadcast-terrestrial reach, GMA commissioned eight new DTT stations and one upgraded analog TV station. It now has a total of 115 analog and digital TV transmitter stations nationwide. 'As we go forward, no effort is spared towards achieving our objective of value optimization in the broadcast and digital spaces, keeping a keen eye out to ensure our continued leadership and competitiveness in both,' Duavit emphasized. With GMA celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the Network remains attuned to the evolving viewing preferences of an increasingly global audience—embracing digital transformation and storytelling innovation as it expands its reach across all platforms.
_2025_05_21_08_15_41.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Jessica Soho inspires Next-Gen Journalists at NSPC 2025 as she celebrates 40 years in broadcasting
It wasn't a concert, but the energy in Bantay, Ilocos Sur was electric. Over 4,000 campus journalists and teachers, cheering and raising their phones for selfies, packed the venue, buzzing with excitement not for a chart-topping pop star, but for the country's most awarded broadcast journalist: Jessica Soho. It was a display of her enduring connection with the youth. The occasion: the opening of the 2025 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) and National Festival of Talents (NFOT)—the country's most prestigious gathering of young storytellers. Before the competitions began, all eyes were on Soho as she took the stage for her keynote speech. In an age of disinformation, her presence was a powerful reminder: that truth still matters, and stories—when told with heart and integrity—can still move a nation. As host of 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,' Soho didn't just teach journalism; she spoke of passion, purpose, and the 'why' behind every story. She shared seven guiding principles for young journalists: accuracy, impact, content, fairness, reading, balance, and above all, the call to do good. Accuracy According to Soho, accuracy is the "bedrock" or foundation of the media industry. "Totoong nangyari. Totoong data. Totoo. Walang labis, walang kulang. Nakita mo, nasaksihan mo. First-hand information hangga't maaari at hindi lang nanggaling sa Marites o sa tsismis," she said. She emphasized the need to verify crowd-sourced or second-hand information, citing the newsroom standard of the two-source rule: any detail must be confirmed by at least two credible sources before it's reported. 'Huwag lang sa iisang tao maniwala, dapat may confirmation mula sa reputable source or sources- yung may totoong kinalaman or nakasaksi sa nangyari. Fact-check, cross-check.' Impact Soho believes that one of the greatest advantages of TV and online journalism is their impact. It's not enough to have the facts and visuals down, but also to tell a story that will impact the lives of others for good. 'Effective storytelling is a key lesson. Iyun bang hindi nila basta-basta malilimutan. Ang dami-daming content ngayon sa TV and online- billions! Your story or content should stand out and matter, in a good way!' 'You also need to guard against sensationalism,' she cautioned. Content "Content will always be king or queen," according to Soho. A story should have substance and depth. "Substance, sustansya. Hindi ampaw ang istorya, may laman at may lalim." She also said that in journalism, the stories, not the journalists, should take center stage. "Hindi tayo ang istorya. Ang istorya ang bida, hindi tayo," she reminded. Fairness Journalists must always strive for fairness. Per Soho, this was how GMA Public Affairs and GMA News made their name. She shared one of her proudest achievements in GMA, which was when they came up with the slogan, "Walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan." "Gospel truth po sa amin ito. Sacred. To always get the other side of the story; to give the other person a fair shake. 'Pag may inakusahan, kunin din ang kaniyang panig. Kung ayaw niya, say so- sinubukan po naming kunin ang kaniyang panig pero ayaw niya," she said. She added that fairness has become a part of GMA's culture, if not the standard. Reading To write well, you need to read extensively. Soho emphasized that reading helps you learn about the world and understand people better. "If you have to be hungry or thirsty about anything in life, that's knowledge, information, experiences, wisdom. And much of that you can get from books, newspapers, online posts, or readings," she shared. "Sabi ng isa sa mga journalism professor ko noon, kahit 'yung ipinambalot sa tinapa na binili ng nanay n'yo, basahin niyo! All of that is value added to your brain," she added. Balance Soho emphasized that journalists must learn to balance privilege with responsibility. She recognized the youth's tech-savviness, creativity, and influential presence on social media—commending how they drive conversations and question long-standing beliefs and norms. 'Because you have been truly blessed with digital technology and the skill set to go with it, may I urge you to please use technology for good? Gamitin niyo ang teknolohiya para sa kabutihan.' Soho also encouraged young journalists to use their platforms to bring attention to critical societal issues like health, injustice, and corruption. "Kung sa tingin niyo may mali, tiwali o kailangang baguhin, call it out and post it. Marami nang mga bagay at issues na dahil nag-nag-viral, naaksyunan ng mga kinauukulan. " Moreover, she also encouraged members of Gen Z to pursue a healthy sense of balance in their lives. 'Kapag may pleasure? May pain. 'Kapag may vacation? Unfortunately, may deadlines! Work-life balance sabi nga ninyo, a concept or idea that was so alien to us, until you guys raised it. So thank you to your generation for teaching us new things," she said. Do good and be good And if there's one message Soho wants her audience to remember, it is this: be good and do good. "No bullying. No bashing. Criticize if you have to, but always on issues, not so much on personalities. No name-calling, no body-shaming, no below-the-belt attacks," she said. "No spreading nor sharing of fake news or wrong information. Being in media gives us some sense of moral ascendancy. Para rin tayong moral compass ng bayan kung ano ang tama at mali. Kaya dapat maging mabuti." She wrapped up her talk with a familiar line—one she proudly coined for GMA: 'Dapat Tama!' This year's NSPC carries a timely and forward-looking theme: 'Empowering Filipino Youth: Unleashing Potentials in Journalism and Creative Industries in the Era of AI.' It is in support of Republic Act 7079, also known as the Campus Journalism Act of 1991, which aims to develop and promote campus journalism, uphold student press freedom, and empower the Filipino youth to be critical and creative thinkers. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Jessica Soho in the broadcast industry. To celebrate this milestone, GMA Public Affairs is launching Jessica Soho @40: Telling the Story of Filipinos—a digital archive featuring weekly releases of her most iconic and impactful stories through the years. The series premieres on Friday, May 23, on the GMA Public Affairs YouTube channel. Meanwhile, "KMJS" continues to uphold its mission of telling the real stories of Filipinos. "KMJS" is recognized as the most-watched TV show in the Philippines in 2024, based on Nielsen TV Audience Measurement data. As Soho stepped off the NSPC stage, she left a powerful reminder: in a world flooded with content, let your truth rise above the noise —and let your stories make a difference. And if the energy last night was any indication, then as Soho herself said, the future of journalism is bright. — CDC/LA, GMA Integrated News
