Carlos Aboitiz
Chief Corporate Services Officer
Aboitiz Power Corp.
It is evident that the dissemination and consumption of publicly-relevant information have shifted dramatically since the advent of social media. This transformation continues to accelerate alongside advancements in AI and the ongoing evolution of our policy, technology, and society.
Over the next five years, I expect these forces to persist. Information will multiply, an increasingly polarized world will lead to deeper divisions in perspectives, and the disintermediation of humans within the information chain—driven by AI—will make fact-based decision-making more difficult.
In this climate, the core values of journalism—accuracy, independence, fairness, humanity, and accountability—become even more vital. As a society, we must find innovative ways to support journalism to rebuild trust in our systems and foster continued human development.
My primary news sources remain reputable outlets like the Manila Bulletin, which invest in journalistic values and rigorous systems to produce fact-based reporting. I wish the Manila Bulletin another 126 years of success in our shared duty to leave this world better than we found it.
Jessica Sy
Vice President and Head of Design, Innovation and Strategy
SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
News consumption is shifting from passive scrolling to active curation. With the integration of AI, individuals can now filter information, summarize what matters most, and delve deeper into the topics they truly care about.
I still rely on newspapers, as I find them more trustworthy than many digital alternatives. When a topic piques my interest, I commit to deeper research; I value fair, balanced reporting from diverse perspectives—a standard I believe more people are beginning to demand as well.
Hans T. Sy, Jr.
President
SM Engineering Design and Development
There is a major split in news consumption today. While older demographics remain loyal to traditional print and television, younger audiences have migrated almost entirely to online platforms and social media.
Over the next five years, this divide is expected to widen. The authority of information may also shift, moving away from institutional news brands toward podcasters and social media influencers.
Personally, I rely primarily on online platforms and social media for my news and information.
Robina Gokongwei Pe
Chairman
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.
I think news consumption will become even more platform-led. Most people won’t “go to the news” so much as the news will find them—via feeds, search, and whatever pops up in the group chat at the exact moment they’re trying to rest.
The format will continue shifting toward video, audio, and quick hybrid updates designed for life on the move. While AI will make it easier to catch up fast, it will also make misinformation look more polished. That is exactly why trusted institutions matter now more than ever. In an era where anyone can publish, people will value reporting backed by standards, editors, and accountability. The Manila Bulletin has provided that for 126 years; that kind of track record is only going to matter more in an increasingly noisy world.
One of my daily go-tos is the Manila Bulletin for local news and a pulse on what’s actually happening on the ground. From there, I scan a few other sources depending on the topic. In a time when headlines move fast—and overconfidence moves even faster—I still prefer journalism that verifies before it amplifies.
Steven T. Tan
President
SM Supermalls
Over the next five years, established news organizations will play an increasingly vital role, not only in disseminating information but in safeguarding credibility within a fast-evolving news cycle.
As misinformation proliferates, these credible outlets will ground audiences in verified, meaningful stories that serve communities and drive tangible impact.
This makes institutional support from organizations like SM essential in strengthening trusted media so they can continue delivering uninterrupted public service well into the future.
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng
News will continue to be consumed on media brands or individual creators through platforms like Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube. This is how people will discover the news. However, the biggest change will be when readers go to Google Search, Open AI, and other AI platforms for the news. When people actively want to search for a news item, they will go to these AI platforms and will be fed a news summary. It's already happening now.
The big questions will revolve around: How will business models transform to sustain news operations? How will fake news be combatted as it becomes even easier to create and distribute such with AI tools? Technology can be used in many ways that are exciting but scary as well.
Having said that, the Bulletin has thrived for 126 years and I have no doubt its leadership will continue to evolve with the times. Happy Anniversary!
Stephen Cheng
Vice President
HONOR Philippines
Over the next five years, news will become more immersive, intelligent, and deeply integrated into everyday life. Technology—particularly AI—will not just shape how news is delivered, but how it is personalized, verified, and experienced. We will see seamless connections across platforms and devices, from mobile phones to smart electronics, enabling real-time access to information wherever people are.
That said, as innovation accelerates, trust will become the true currency of news. The organizations that succeed will be those that balance speed with accuracy, technology with responsibility, and innovation with credibility.
Ed Bartilad
Executive Editor
Manila Bulletin
News will remain relevant and will continue to be consumed mostly through digital platforms, especially online video, in the next five years. However, the manner by which people consume news will continue to change, especially with the advent of technology, the latest of which is artificial intelligence. And with a fast-paced world where the way of life continues to evolve, readers would now look for context and simplified explanations that would help them readily understand the “whys” and “hows” behind events. Rather than just being informed that an issue had just happened, readers want to know how an issue affects them, its impact on the society, and how this is addressed. In short, people simply want clarity. And the best platform to disseminate information for now is through online video platforms as it immediately grabs attention and engages viewers. And videos come in handy in mobile phones, which I believe is where most people, like me, read their news now.
Pinky Concha Colmenares
Executive Editor
Manila Bulletin
News will always be news, a group of facts that aims to inform people about all things around them, which will affect their lives. With new technology, news is consumed because it is relevant to the reader’s life; and, because it attracts attention. Because technology now allows a flood of information, some of them fake, sources of information present the news to attract the eye and the intellect. Thus, news is now delivered in various ways – through videos, photographs, voice recording, illustrations, and words. In five years, with the presence of AI, we should not be surprised if more people will be attracted to news simply because it is delivered with entertainment as a main element. Meanwhile, I shall continue to consume news as a reader, with photographs and videos illustrating what I have read first.
Isabel C. de Leon
Senior News editor
Manila Bulletin
News will probably go more digital in the next five years with consumption mostly from multi-media portals. Visuals will be more voraciously consumed. But the newspaper or print, in its glorious and traditional form, will stay. I mainly get my news from both the traditional and digital platforms – traditional for a more leisurely read, digital for quick snap-ups.
Rocky Nazareno
News editor
Manila Bulletin
The difference between legitimate news and mere chatter is getting more and more narrow with the advent of social media.
Words and phrases like gaslighting, or fake news, outright lies, and cyber libel now dominate discussions on media, assailing nasty and untrue chatter that have been maliciously made to look like real news.
And yet, when such illegitimate information on a topic or incident is spread far wider and faster than real facts – these are now, sadly, being taken as truth by many.
Even artificial intelligence could pick up these erroneous information, and be able spin these lies into a well-written piece of article that any reader could take as gospel truth.
I am afraid this is where news may be headed in the next five years – when deception and stubbornness to stick to first impressions would dictate how people regard what is true in journalism.
When what will matter is the manner by which information is disseminated or shared, and no longer its veracity.
That is the sad truth we could expect in the coming years when it comes to being able to discern between mere chatter and legitimate news.
Chino Leyco
Business editor
Manila Bulletin
News consumption is shifting away from social media noise toward “intentional media.” Exhausted by AI-generated slop and clickbait, readers prioritize clarity over volume. Also, business news is migrating into private, high-signal spaces like specialized newsletters, Viber communities, and direct-to-subscriber updates. Over the next five years, I think the real value for business and economic journalists won’t be in breaking news, but in delivering the “so what” through deep analysis and no-nonsense vertical video.
Tristan Lozano
Provincial editor
Manila Bulletin
News is here to stay in the next five years. It won’t disappear.
People live and breathe news 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Although the way it may be presented will probably change.
They get news in their phones and if you’re holding one and constantly on social media platforms, you’ll probably get your more than the usual dose from reliable sources or people who just add things for content.
I read my news in reputable news platforms. However, I do read each and everyone of them to compare details and see their treatment.
One needs to be very discerning about news now. With the advent of artificial intelligence, people need to be careful.
News will be served to people whether we like or not. In any new, outdated, or upcoming platform.
Ramon Bonilla
Sports editor
Manila Bulletin
The world of sports flourish in a space deeply entrenched in both the traditional mediums to the ever evolving digital realm. While the introduction of artificial intelligence offers channels and sources that could benefit newsrooms in a broader context, nothing can replace human senses that get stimulated under one big roof of a roaring stadium or the hot and humid tracks of the tropics. For sure, artificial intelligence, in its spectrum of tools that simplifies work, could be a big help in data gathering and analysis, video creation, or audio enhancement, writing sports need no assistance in creating pieces that border news presentations amplified by color and creative touch. Sports writing is here to thrive, and co-existing with the availability of machines or learning instruments would only mean efforts saved from the toll of daily coverages, and efforts realigned to other tasks worthy of editorial supervision.
Rey Robes Ilagan
Lifestyle editor
Manila Bulletin
In the next five years, I believe people will increasingly rely on established and credible news sites, such as the Manila Bulletin, as their primary source of news. Trusted news organizations remain essential for delivering accurate and accountable reporting, especially in an era defined by intensifying content creation and information overload.
As fake news infiltrates AI-generated content, trusted newsrooms will be crucial in safeguarding public trust. While audiences continue to consume news through social media and AI-powered platforms, I also foresee renewed relevance for print, offering permanence and a more meaningful way to engage with journalism. Print, in my view, will evolve into a slower-paced medium, encouraging readers to step away from screens and scrolling.
As Gen Z and Millennials become the dominant force in the workforce, personality-driven trust in news will continue to rise. News creators will play a growing role in shaping how younger audiences discover and engage with information.
Iñigo Roces
Motoring editor
Manila Bulletin
Social media is increasingly becoming an inescapable element of daily life. The same can be said of the automotive industry. Automotive brands themselves are beginning to realize the power and reach of social media, becoming content creators themselves in order to reach their target audience and better educate them about their products and services. Developments in the industry also break and spread in social media networks. As such, it’s necessary to keep a close eye on these networks to stay abreast of the latest developments and news.
To better cover the industry and bring the information closer to our readers, Manila Bulletin’s Drive section is itself evolving its social media presence, presenting news in a more visual manner. It too is becoming a content creator, adapting news into easily digestible visual and video content.
John Roland Legaspi
Associate editor
Manila Bulletin
In the Lifestyle beat, we have seen the rise of communities and subcultures. These groups thrive in sharing the same goals, interests, and values. I think that will change the way a newsroom works by creating niche content for specific groups of readers. As information is easily accessible these days, and also with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), people would want to get news not just from credible sources but also from individuals who they trust and feel personally connected to.
In the next five years, I think platforms such as newsletters, Instagram channels, and messaging groups will be the primary sources of news and updates for people. We cannot also disregard reporters being seen more beyond their byline. In the world of AI, having a person who shares news in a more conversational manner will be key to building trust, authenticity, and lasting engagements
Jessica Pag-iwayan
Data Analyst
Manila Bulletin
Over the next five years, AI will continue to evolve and play an increasingly significant role in information circulation. However, it will also pose a challenge in disseminating misinformation. With that, trust and credibility will emerge as the true currency.
Newsrooms will adapt and shift their focus from solely relying on clicks and pageviews to building loyal communities through newsletters, niche beats, and explainers or evergreen stories that provide context rather than noise. Visual storytelling and data-led reporting will thrive, but they will be presented in a more engaging and accessible manner. In a fast-paced, algorithm-driven world, the future of news lies in depth, authenticity, and relevance—empowering people, its audience, not just to know what happened but to understand why it matters.
Ellson Quismorio
Senior section editor
Manila Bulletin
In general, I see more blurring between news and opinion in next five years. In the past decade, local media picked up and experimented with the practice of "storifying" opinion pieces, political columns, podcasts, and the like.
From what I see, these type of news have an audience, perhaps because they are different, compelling, and dare I say, "sexy". Right or wrong, it is embracing the model of news as a form of entertainment; after all, writers tell stories.
News can sometimes appear pointless or unimportant without nuances or context (for example, why was something said or done). To supply context is to supply interpretations of events. To some readers this makes news more appealing, like putting butter on toast. Plain toast can fill you up and gets the job done. But buttered toast just tastes better.
I try to get or read my news from not just one outlet or source. It exposes me to different styles and it's fun to see how different stories are handled. Even news vlogs are worth checking out, if only to see how these stories are spun and presented.
Jel Santos
Senior reporter
Manila Bulletin
In the next five years, technology may advance to the point where artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into almost all news desks.
Still, for me, you can never remove the human touch from news.
Journalists interview people, press public officials with hard-hitting questions, and choose the most pressing angle from a flood of information.
A news writer gives their soul to a piece- - -whether hard news or feature stories.
As my college professor once said, technology can never replace man because its very purpose is to aid him. This was also the argument of a journalist from Belgium whom I met during a coverage in 2024.
It should be seen as a tool, not a competitor. Human insight remains the soul of journalism- - -it shapes perspectives, puts issues under a microscope, and helps the public become fully informed.
Five years from now, news will still be written by people who understand the struggles of ordinary citizens and choose to highlight what matters most to them, and write stories that inspire, empower, and help others. After all, it’s people who consume news, not AI.
Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Senior reporter
Manila Bulletin
Covering the political beat has taught me one thing: democracy dies in confusion, not just silence. The first half of this decade proved that news is the ultimate survival tool in an era of global uncertainty. But as we look toward 2030, the challenge is shifting from information scarcity to information saturation.
In this new landscape — defined by AI-generated content, a polarized political climate, and the high-stakes 2028 elections — the public needs more than facts; they need a compass. Over the next five years, the journalist's role will evolve. We are no longer just messengers, but authenticators. In a democratic yet chaotic marketplace of ideas, the news will serve as the primary sense-maker that will cut through the noise by providing accurate, verified information and not just juicy headlines.
Patrick Ely Garcia
Senior reporter
Manila Bulletin
Five years from now, news will continue its transformation by being even more streamlined and accessible to the public through next-generation technology. Technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be further introduced and integrated in the newsroom to ensure that accurate and precise information is presented in an easier and more coherent manner to the people. News and other forms of information will also continue to be available for public consumption online through credible news outlets and websites in the next five years, but it will also usher in the dawn of a new type of news format: the rise of professional journalists who are using their platforms online in the delivery of news to further reach more audiences. Despite these drastic changes and adaptations, we journalists must continue to uphold our responsibility and obligation of providing accurate and precise information to the public no matter what the future holds for us.
Ian Ureta
Manila Bulletin
I still get a lot of my news from newspapers, which feels like a disappearing art form but also one that forces you to slow down and actually read the full story. I pair that with social media, not as a source of truth, but as a way to see what people are paying attention to and why it matters to them. I like that balance; depth from print, immediacy from the feed.
In five to ten years, I think news will be less about being first and more about being clear, especially as people get tired of constant outrage. Ideally, that means journalism becomes more thoughtful, more human, and better at explaining the world instead of just reacting to it.
