✪ Jessica Soho often shares her story about being an “accidental journalist,” but her long list of achievements including the distinction of being announced as the Philippines Most Trusted News Presenter for 2014 by Reader’s Digest Asia is certainly no coincidence.
The veteran broadcaster’s latest honor is featured in the June 2014 special issue of Reader’s Digest. Voted for by consumers, Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand Awards have been given to brands excelling in various fields for the past 16 years.
“It’s always a proud moment for me to go up on stage and receive my award “says Soho in an interview”. I’m grateful because Reader’s Digest is such an influential and respected magazine,” says Soho in an interview.
“Trust is a very big honor in itself but I know that it’s also a major responsibility,” she added.
She credits the Digest for getting her hooked on reading and shared how she would even borrow her aunt’s magazines since her family couldn’t afford their own subscription back then.
Soho, GMA Network’s vice president for News Programs, is widely regarded as the most awarded broadcast journalist in the country and her long list of awards includes two George Foster Peabody Awards for her investigative reports “Kidneys for Sale” and “Kamao.” The Peabody Awards are considered the Oscars of broadcast journalism.
Initially planning to study law, Soho met journalist Luis Beltran at the UP College of Mass Communications, and he inspired her to finish Mass Communications.
She joined the GMA team in the mid-80s, fresh from college, just after finishing with her undergraduate thesis.
Soho is the first Filipino to win in the New York Film Festival for Coverage of a Breaking Story for her account of a hostage crisis in Cagayan Valley. She also received the Ka Doroy Valencia Award given by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and is included in the list of 100 Filipino Women of Distinction.
With almost three decades of experience as a journalist, Soho has set the bar for quality reportage in Philippine broadcasting. Her trademark straight-to-the-point style of interviewing guests and reporters provides viewers with in-depth analysis and insights on local and international issues.
Apart from GMA News TV’s flagship newscast, State of the Nation, Soho also hosts the award-winning weekend news magazine program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. ♣
Until our next trip in the City!
またね Mata ne!
