The duo behind Headlines

The dynamic duo behind Headlines, the late-evening newscast of ABS-CBN 2, is gungho about the future of news in the land.

When veteran Malacañang reporter Tony Velasquez joined award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila in the anchors’ table, Headlines became even more compelling and engrossing.

That precisely makes Headlines (Monday to Friday, 10:30 p.m.) stand out from the rest of the pack.

It’s a cross between Fox News and CNN, observers note. It has the fast and furious, gripping and engaging traits of the former and the sober and sedate, distinguished and prestigious air of the latter.

"It’s young," Karen describes Headlines. "It’s fast. It’s fun."

That precisely another aspect that makes Headlines different from other newscasts. It is the fact that its anchors are unafraid to bring some amount of levity to the proceedings.

They are not afraid to laugh on air.

"In the very last segment of the show, when Tony and I are finally together, we banter about entertainment," Karen remarks. "We let our natural selves out more. It’s important to show the audience that we are also human," Karen states. "And that the anchors interact."

This innovation has attracted new loyalists to Headlines’ already stable viewer base.

"If we can only come out on time, we’ll be able to increase our audience share all the more and maintain Headlines’ lead in the late-night news timeslot," Karen asserts.

Truth be told: Karen and Tony share a unique onscreen (and off-screen) rapport.

"Tony and I have chemistry," Karen points out. "He is really funny and extremely witty. When he delivers his lines, he brings so much color and texture to them."

"We are really trying to make Headlines different from the early-evening newscast," Tony explains. "So what we try to do is, at the end of the broadcast, we try to break the bad news that happened in the day, by showing the lighter side of our personalities. We want the viewers to feel a bit more relaxed, that’s why we’re trying to develop a more pleasant way of ending the newscast."

Indeed, the nightly barrage of bad news (of myriad crimes-political or otherwise) can most certainly drive away televiewers.

By reinventing the role of the news anchor, from the stern and authoritative figure of the past to a more human and approachable persona of the here and now, Tony and Karen are heralding the future of broadcast news, so to speak.

It’s a delicate balancing act, for sure, but it’s one mighty challenge that both Karen and Tony are more than equipped to handle.

Karen and Tony, after all, are two of the more seasoned broadcast journalists working on television today. Pairing them on Headlines, in fact, allows them to bring out the best in each other.

Because they are building from the success of their The World Tonight predecessors Angelo Castro and Loren Legarda, Karen and Tony make a good team, observers say.

"Our goal is really to develop a good tandem in Headlines," Karen affirms. "Tony and I are both working journalists. I hope that we are able to bring our expertise, our journalistic background into the show."

Tony concurs: "As an anchor, you are supposed to present a balanced view of the issues. Although we are not supposed to give commentary, there is always room for analysis. That’s why it helps if an anchor has been in the industry for a long time. He or she can analyze the issues and not just comment off the cuff."

Tony, who started out as a Radyo Veritas and Probe cub reporter back in 1986, avers that working as a field correspondent helps him immensely as an anchor.

"I’d like to think that over the years, we’ve accumulated a lot of background information on issues," Tony concedes. "That’s why when a major issue breaks out, Karen and I will be able to provide a bit of context to what’s happening."

"We don’t believe in editorializing the news," pipes up Karen, who is a CNN medalist. "We say it as it is. Factually."

In a noisy playing field, Karen and Tony hope to make a difference, in more ways than one.

"I hope that Headlines will become a part of the lives of televiewers. We don’t want to dwell on just politics all the time. I hope that we can do more stories that concern the viewers. Stories that can help them make decisions. In the States, they have this slogan: ‘News you can use.’"

Tony sees eye-to-eye with Karen on this matter. "We want to make the news relevant to the viewers’ lives. Slowly, we are working on this concept. We want Headlines to awaken people to the kind of problems that each community has to solve."

Tony bewails the fact that media is now doing the government’s job – that of helping people.

"When they have problems, people run to the media," Tony elaborates. "Where is government? What is government doing? It is the government’s role to address the problems of society. Media is just the messenger. So it is our hope that Headlines, as a newscast, will be able to change the attitudes of people. That it will be able to deliver a positive message to the people. That they can take charge of their lives."

"By watching Headlines, they’ll be informed of what is happening in our country," Karen agrees. "And as such they’ll be able to make an informed choice."

Karen and Tony are making Headlines relevant to the times.

Laurente goes solo

Reuben Laurente holds a series of shows a the Hard Rock Café. Reuben has been with the group, The CompanY since 1991. The show at the Hard Rock Café is his second solo project. In 1998, he did a solo album titled Reason For This under Shekinah Music.

"I want to explore new horizons. Having a solo show does not mean that I am leaving The CompanY. Moy, our musical director and leader of the group allows us to do solo projects," Reuben says.

The Hard Rock series slated on Feb. 5, 19 and 26, will showcase Reuben’s versatility as a singer as he sings from a varied repertoire that include songs by Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban. He will also do his own interpretation of The CompanY’s favorite songs from way back like Careless Whisper by Wham, Patti Austin’s Say You Love Me and Oleta Adam’s Get Here.

Reuben is performing with Ehlmir Saison of the Toy Symphony Band. Some of Reuben’s special friends in the music industry will also jam with him in some numbers. Another friend, photographer Ronnie Salvacion will help him out in the publicity photos. Tickets to Reuben’s show are available at the Hard Rock Café.