Stories using mobile phones shine on ‘Stand for Truth’


Atom Araullo (center), Richard Heydarian and Joyce Pring

GMA News and Public Affairs’ pioneering mobile journalism newscast “Stand for Truth” recorded a total of 22.3 million views on Facebook via its official page in July.

One of  the top videos that contributed to the high volume of views include Atom Araullo’s “Di Matapos Na Krisis: A Stand for Truth COVID-19 Mid-Year Report” that aims to show how the government has responded to the crisis from the day the pandemic has been announced up to half of this year.

Another is Nico Waje’s exclusive stories "Ex-Policemen Project: Illegal Construction sa Watershed” and “Baklas sa Baras: Illegal Construction, Binaklas na!” The two-part report exposed the illegal construction within a watershed and protected area in Baras, Rizal. Just 10 days after airing the first part of the report last July 22, Masungi Georeserve Foundation, DENR, and PENRO-Rizal announced that the illegal construction will be demolished by LGUs.

 Other most-watched SFT stories on Facebook are “Women’s Desk: No Police Escort,” “Pinalayas ni Sinas,” “Hostage Taking sa East Avenue Medical Center,” “High Profile Inmate, Buhay Raw” and “Patay Pero Gumaling sa COVID-19.”

Joining Araullo in SFT is political analyst Richard Heydarian. Aside from Waje, Geronimo, and Bolledo, producing their stories using their mobile phones are Manal Sugadol, Shai Lagarde, Izzy Lee, and Jm Encinas. “Stand for Truth” streams every night at 9 p.m. via its Facebook page, as well as GMA News’ and GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube channels.