Kapuso personalities top Reader's Digest poll

MANILA, Philippines - Four of GMA News and Public Affairs’ pillars made it to the Top 15 most trusted Filipinos, according to a survey conducted nationwide by monthly magazine Reader’s Digest.

Jessica Soho, VP for News Programs and recognized as the most awarded Filipino broadcast journalist, placed third in the survey after Philippine Red Cross Gov. Rosa Rosal and international singing star Lea Salonga.

Soho was cited for her expertise in breaking news stories on cam. “For two decades, Soho has been the familiar face in front of the camera whenever a big story breaks,” said Sarah Etchells in her special report published on the March 2010 issue of Reader’s Digest.

Veteran documentary filmmaker and GMANews.tv editor-in-chief Howie Severino tied with bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno at No. 6, GMA Kapuso Foundation EVP Mel Tiangco placed ninth, while GMA SVP for radio operations Mike Enriquez ranked 13th. Tiangco and Enriquez are anchors of 24 Oras.

“Readers’ Digest is one of the publications that made me love reading, so I consider it a great honor to be included in its list of the most trusted Filipinos, especially since a lot of those included in the list are highly respected,” Soho said in an interview.

Severino added, “This is probably one of the top aspirations of any journalist, to earn the trust of the public.”

The trustworthiness ratings were surveyed last October 2009 by independent market research company The Digital Edge in behalf of Reader’s Digest.

The results echo the high credibility ratings of GMA in the quantitative survey conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines last September. GMA scored a credibility rating of 68.9 percent, besting its rival’s 45.7 percent. In the same survey, GMA News and Public Affairs personalities topped the list based on appeal, credibility, competence, and interest to watch. Soho led all anchors and reporters in terms of appeal, Enriquez was considered by respondents as the most credible, while Tiangco was said to be the most competent and most interesting to watch. Arnold Clavio and Vicky Morales were also consistently in the Top 5 news anchors across all measured attributes.