STAR, ABS-CBN combine strength in news reporting

The Philippine STAR and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) under which the two entities would share news content and present reports globally through the "Filipino eyes" of the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

STAR editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte and news editor Marichu Villanueva signed the MOA with Maria Ressa, senior vice president and chief of news and current affairs, and Chari Villa, executive producer for news, at the ABS-CBN head office in Quezon City.

Villanueva said the tie-up was a major step that would surely broaden The STAR’s reach to Filipinos.

"It’s a major step for our paper, which was recently named ‘Best Newspaper of the Year’ by the Manila Rotary Club. It will help us expand our horizon but it will also work both ways," Villanueva said.

She noted ANC stands to benefit from partnering with The STAR.

"We have extensive news coverage all over the Philippines, with over 40 men and women field reporters and correspondents in major areas of the country, from Aparri to Jolo," Villanueva said.

"In our national team, we have 25 men and women who are in the mainstream of the news plus about a dozen business reporters and two dozen news photographers."

"I think it will work to the benefit of the two companies, both of which are considered to be very reliable sources of information in the Philippines and abroad," she emphasized.

Ressa said the agreement is to share content between ANC and The STAR as ANC begins to reprogram starting July 10.

"One of the major things we’ve done in ANC now is to really position it globally," said Ressa.

"To look at global events through Filipino eyes and to make that even more relevant, we want to bring the best of Filipino journalism to them," Ressa said.

Aside from The STAR, ABS-CBN has also tapped newspaper groups Business World and Business Mirror.

"There’s going to be a specific program with The STAR… its content will be branded as The STAR’s. And what we hope is that we will be able to actually create a synergy (in bringing the news to Filipinos)," Ressa added.

She said that Filipinos overseas can turn to ANC for a complete, top of the hour coverage of burning issues.

"Just like in the United Nations, what we hope to do is to bring the best of each of us together for an international audience. We want to upgrade the content (of ANC) and we are going to do that with partners like The STAR," said Ressa.

Villa sees the partnership to "expand the resources" of The STAR and ABS-CBN and "strengthen both our news rooms."

"You would have ABS-CBN resources and The Philippine STAR together to bring in stories that matter," she said, complimenting The STAR editorial team including Villanueva and STAR executive editor Ana Marie Pamintuan.

"I know them from way back," Villa noted.

"Based on our experience also, we believe The Philippine STAR and ABS-CBN will be the paper to read and network to watch when you want to see stories that really matter," she said, adding, "With your reach and our reach, we will really go a long way and we intend this relationship to last."