Jessica Soho retires as news executive

CEBU, Philippines -  GMA Network Inc. announced the retirement of Jessica Soho after 30 long years of loyal, dedicated and outstanding service as an employee and First Vice President for News Programs.

Jessica has served the network well in various capacities as a News Reporter up to 1988, Production News Manager (2000), Acting News Director (2002), Vice President for News (2004), Vice President for News Programs (2008) up to her last promotion last year (2013) as First VP for News Programs.

Under her leadership, GMA News became the leading and most credible broadcast news organization in the country with its premier newscast, “24 Oras” ending competition’s ratings dominance shortly after it was launched in 2004.

“SAKSI” also became an even stronger brand through the years and continues to dominate in its timeslot.

Jessica also helped launch and establish all the other daily news programs on both GMA and GMA News TV as primary news sources in their time slots.

“I am most proud of the fact that under my watch, the credibility of GMA News became even stronger. Filipinos watch us because they know we can be trusted to deliver accurate, objective and balanced reporting because we have no political agenda or biases and we have consistently proven that through administrations, past and present. We mean it when we say, walang kinikilingan, walang pino-protektahan, serbisyong totoo lamang,” Jessica said.

Jessica is home-grown in GMA.“I am a Kapuso through the core of my being. I have worked with only one network throughout my entire career because I truly believe in the network’s independence and professionalism,” she adds.

And although she is retiring from her news executive duties, Jessica stays on as a Kapuso talent as she continues to host her weekly primetime top-rated and award-winning news magazine programs- “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (KMJS) on GMA and “BRIGADA” on GMA News TV as well as anchor her nightly news program “State of the Nation” (SONA), also on GMA News TV.

These programs – KMJS and SONA, recently helped win for GMA Network Inc. its fourth George Foster Peabody Award for its coverage of Typhoon Yolanda.

“SONA” also recently won Silver Medal in the US International Film and TV Festival, also for its coverage of Typhoon Yolanda. “BRIGADA” was given the Gold Medal and for the first time for the network and the Philippines, the much-coveted One World Medal.

Jessica was also recently named Most Trusted News Presenter, for the fourth consecutive year, by Reader’s Digest.“I can never thank the network enough for everything it has given me and my family. I especially thank all my mentors: my bosses and cameramen in our old newsroom as well as my colleagues now, fellow managers, producers, reporters, talents and crews for the opportunity to lead them. It has been a great honor and privilege working with the best in the industry,” Jessica said.

“Although I am retired from my position, I will always be a proud member of GMA News and Public Affairs,” she adds. (PR)