Jessica Soho's multi-awarded magazine program 'Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho' raises Philippine flag with Gold Medal win at 2023 New York Festivals (Images provided by GMA Network)

Jessica Soho, widely regarded as the Philippines’ most awarded broadcast journalist, is expanding her audience beyond television through "The GMA Public Affairs Talk," which will soon travel across the country.

The first leg was called “The New York Festival Medalists & The National Artist GMA Public Affairs Talk on Storytelling and Producing,” where Soho shared with GMA staff and employees her extensive experience in reporting and broadcasting spanning almost four decades. 
 
GMA Public Affairs is planning a road show version of this, which will be open to students and young professionals.

After renewing her contract with Kapuso Network, we had the opportunity to interview Soho and gain valuable insights about the industry from her.

"I think I am exactly where God wants me to be. Wala naman akong pinagsisisihan because aside from doing meaningful work for my shows, I had the chance to conceptualize several programs in GMA News and in GMA Public Affairs: Brigada Siete, Emergency, I-Witness," said Soho, when she reflected on her current stint with the leading broadcast network, during an exclusive interview recently. "We launched '24 Oras' in 2004 followed by our other news programs."

Recently, Soho also developed a concept for a popular Kapuso primetime series.

"I even managed to pitch the idea of an action drama series on primetime - Lolong!" she said.
 
Soho added: "But the one thing I am most proud of is having mentored and paved the way for probably a whole generation of journalists, producers, and storytellers in our organization."

Lessons learned

Despite the industry's challenges, journalists are still needed and play a crucial role in providing accurate and reliable information to the public.

Soho believes that this is the opportune moment when reporters are most crucial.

"Sabi nila, this is not a good time for journalists. But I say (at dapat lahat tayo!) higit kailanman, mas kailangan tayo ngayon!  
 
"Fighting, sabi nga madalas sa mga Korean drama. And especially with so much wrong information online.
 
"But maybe this is also an opportunity to keep improving our storytelling," Soho commented.

Soho advocates for the principles of accuracy, fairness, and accountability in journalism, thus reinforcing the core values upheld by journalists.

"I don’t want to speak for the entire industry. But when I was running our newsroom, I did my best in upholding values passed on to us by our pioneers: accuracy, fairness, and responsibility," she said.

Soho came up with the brilliant concept of crafting remarkable and meaningful taglines for GMA News and Current Affairs.

"It was during my time that we put together “Walang kinikilingan, walang pinoprotektahan. Walang kasinungalingan. Serbisyong Totoo Lamang. For one election coverage, 'Dapat Tama'. These are taglines, yes but these are really just affirmations of our values as journalists," she said. 
 
Although the journalism industry has undergone significant changes, Soho emphasized that content remains the most crucial aspect.
 
"Hindi lang pabilisan, pagalingan din sa content at presentation. After all, it is our content that goes through the tedious and rigorous process of getting verified, fact-checked, researched, analyzed, edited, proofread, etc so somehow, that has to show," Soho said.

Advice for future journalists

Soho aims to emphasize the significance of journalism among aspiring and emerging reporters.
 
“Two things I’ve always been consistent about every time I am asked for advice to young journalists: Read up or keep on reading and that it’s never about us,” she said.

“The first one is self-explanatory so let me expound on the second one. We are not the story. I get the need for selfies and the influencing and promoting on our social media accounts but when chasing after stories and reporting or producing those, the “old school” rules should never be compromised. Because those are values and what journalism is all about: accuracy, fairness, responsibility.”

“It’s a continuing quest to be trusted or to be worthy of trust,” she adds. “Earn your stripes. Show up for work even on bad days. Especially on bad days. Because there’s a public to be served and to borrow a line from colleague and fellow Kapuso journalist Malou Mangahas — 'Journalism is a far bigger cause than anyone of us."

"Alam ko mahirap na itong sabihin ngayon sa panahon ng selfies, self-promoting and influencing but really, journalism is not about ourselves. There is a public to be served. Show up even on bad days, especially on bad days! Ang hirap bumangon on rainy and stormy days but we just have to!" Soho said.

No respect for 'me' time

It was not until the pandemic that Soho realized the importance of having a consistent sleep and meal routine.

"It actually took the pandemic for me to realize na necessity pala sa buhay to have regular sleep and meal habits. Because how do you do that when you’re always running after stories and deadlines; video-editing documentaries and special reports overnight and constantly getting sleep-deprived? Ang trabaho natin as journalists, walang respeto sa personal or 'me' time," she said.

Soho added: "Iyung tinatawag ng millennials and GenZ’s na work-life balance, hindi natin alam iyun way back in the 80s to the 90s when so much was happening - a series of coup attempts, calamities, conflicts, etc."

Although having had a prosperous career in broadcasting, Soho never indulged in the glory she attained through her work.

"The pressure never lets up which is also probably why I never bask in whatever glory there is in my kind of work. Iyung perks and privileges, yes they come with the job like fame and material comforts pero all of that should be as consequences of hard work. I’m grateful that I’m looked up to but that’s also a lot of work or a huge responsibility to live up to so dapat chill-chill lang, sabi nga ng mga bata ngayon," she also said.

Soho was the first UP College of Mass Communication alumna to receive the Gawad Plaridel Award for Journalism. She became the first Filipino to be nominated and to have won in the New York Festivals (NYF) TV & Film Awards. She holds the distinction of having won all the medal categories at the NYF. 

"Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" took home the Gold World Medal earlier this year – the show’s third World Medal after winning Bronze Medals in 2019 and 2022. Her other former programs 'State of the Nation with Jessica Soho' and 'Brigada' have also brought home Silver and Bronze Medals in previous NYF Awards.

Soho also helped give the Philippines its first George Foster Peabody award in 1999 and soon earned another Peabody win in 2014.

Soho, who hails from the province and achieved success, admits that working in the broadcasting field is always challenging. "I have always been a serious student and on TV, we really sweat the small stuff! You have to micromanage and it is really back-breaking work!"

With such a busy schedule, how does Soho find time to relax and recharge?

"I read; binge-watch Korean dramas or series like 'Succession'; hit the road to empty my head and occasionally go home to La Union to touch base with my family and my 'roots.' I want to travel more kaya sana mawala na talaga itong COVID," Soho ended.