More milestones for Peabody winner Soho

MANILA, Philippines - This year, Jessica Soho, the country’s most awarded broadcast journalist, marks two more milestones in her illustrious career. 

Soho, winner of the country’s very first Peabody Award, the most prestigious honor in electronic media, and also the head of GMA News Programs, takes on her first ever news anchoring post — at the helm of GMA News TV’s flagship primetime newscast, State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

GMA News and Public Affairs takes its commitment of delivering serbisyong totoo one step further by providing hourly news from morning until evening on free television through the recently-launched GMA News TV. And as news is provided all day, GMA News TV’s flagship newscast, State of the Nation, takes on a more in-depth approach.

One of the things to look forward to in the newscast, according to senior program manager Ella Evangelista-Martelino, is Soho’s thorough interviews with the biggest local and international newsmakers.”

On its first week, Mar Roxas, who has evaded media since after the elections last year, came out for the first time in a live interview with Soho. Embattled Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez also appeared, in fighting form, live on the show. And Soho’s interview with Sen. Bongbong Marcos, where she pressed him for answers to allegations of corruption and human rights abuses during his father’s administration, showed the quality of journalism that the newscast embraces.

Soho is backed by the full force of GMA News reporters and producers, who are some of the most trusted and respected in the industry. Aside from their daily reports, they will also come up with features that will speak to the heart and mind of the ordinary Filipino.

On Assignment Pilipinas, State of the Nation takes viewers to the streets and into the lives of the common people and the issues that matter most to every Juan. GMA News Investigates aims to uncover the truth behind some of the biggest anomalies and controversies in the country. All these, carefully researched and skillfully crafted for the highest production value.

Clearly, this is not a run of the mill evening newscast. State of the Nation could very well redefine evening newscast in the Philippines. It is informative while being analytical, serious while being interesting, and intelligent while being engaging. And with Soho at the helm, viewers can be sure that quality and credible news will be delivered night after night.

Brigada, on the other hand, takes off from Brigada Siete, which was launched in 1993 with the multi-awarded tri-media journalist Louie Beltran mentoring some of today’s most trusted broadcast journalists, including Soho.

“A lot of the faces and big names that we see on Philippine TV now, as far as news reporting is concerned, mga produkto ng Brigada Siete,” Soho says. These Kapuso journalists include GMA News pillar Arnold Clavio, Peabody winners Jay Taruc and Kara David, and Jiggy Manicad, Susan Enriquez, and Cesar Apolinario.

“We want to continue the legacy of Brigada Siete, which we would like to believe started a lot of good things in the GMA News and Public affairs team,” adds Soho.

Soho acts as the informal judge — inquiring, assessing and then giving her verdict or insights on the reports at the end of every episode.

Asked what lessons she learned from her mentor, Louie Beltran, that she in turn would like to impart to the new generation of reporters, Soho says, “He used to tell our journalism class in UP to climb the fence if they shut the door on you.”

State of the Nation airs weeknights at 9 o’ clock and Brigada airs every Monday, 8 p.m. on GMA News TV Channel 11.