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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.
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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
