Jessica Soho carries on calling to tell stories and advocate for truth
Her body of work and collection of accolades are a testament to Jessica Soho’s calling. That’s to tell stories that help the public understand about a slice of life or an aspect of it. The veteran broadcast journalist will carry on such mission with her renewed ties with GMA 7.
Her success story, which thrived on a genuine love for storytelling and the commitment to it, must have commenced with some baby steps, leading to where she is right now. In a previous interview with this paper, Jessica shared that winning awards and living up to the expectations of the title of Reader’s Digest Most Trusted TV News Presenter “should come as a consequence of hard work.”
“My family and I will forever be grateful to Tina Monzon-Palma for hiring me and giving me my biggest break in life,” began Jessica when asked to where and whom she attributed her success in the media profession in an e-mail chat. Tina is an icon in the field of broadcast journalism. “My dad used to watch Tina on News at Seven, every night in the early 1980s so imagine his thrill every time Tina would lead-in or introduce my reports in the newscast.”
At the University of the Philippines Diliman, she also learned the ropes of journalism from her professor Louie Beltran, who, Jessica said, “is the one who inspired me to become a journalist. My ambition was to become a lawyer, but Mang Louie made me appreciate the power and value of words through excellently-written articles from the New York Times.”
Looking back on, she feels lucky and privileged “to have been mentored by many,” said she, “from the pioneers of our (GMA) news organization to our bosses — Tony Seva, Rey Vidal, Steve Serna, Jun Bautista, cameraman Ric Villegas and so many more.”
Jessica also generously shared that she started her TV career as a news reporter, who covered “various beats and breaking stories from 1985 to the early ‘90s.” She earned her stripes or the respect of colleagues by showing her dedication, perseverance and resilience to report “from conflict or battle zones and disaster areas.”
After that, she explored the related fields of investigative reporting, doing news magazines and special reports as well as producing and conceptualizing shows like Brigada Siete, Emergency and I-Witness. Jessica also had ample time and experience to see what’s going on behind the camera or behind the scenes, aside from being the face or voice of programs and reports.
Recent proof of her knack for coming up with new ideas is Lolong, with Ruru Madrid as the lead character, who has the ability to communicate with a crocodile named Dakila.
“I was pitching the idea of an action-drama format with crocodiles,” said she. “I just thought that was compelling, (it was) inspired by true stories about crocodiles that aired on KMJS.”
Speaking of her weekly news magazine show, titled Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), which airs Sunday nights, Jessica said that she considers it “one of my biggest blessings.”
“It is an honor and privilege to be working with the best team and be able to tell stories to a wide audience on primetime TV and online. Stories that not only tell us who we are, but also inspire, bring people together, help, give hope and change lives,” she added.
About working on TV, Jessica had this to say: “No one can claim solo credit for any piece of work; everything is the sum total or product of the blood, sweat and tears of an entire organization or even the whole network.”
At this point in her career, does Jessica see herself as more of a mentor?
“I like to think of myself as part of what I may call the ‘bridge generation’ in our old newsroom,” answered she. “We worked with the pioneers and the founders, who mostly came from the old ABS-CBN of the 1970s. They lost their jobs (when the network was closed during Martial Law); bought airtime in GMA and produced the newscast, News at Seven. Inabutan ko pa iyun when I came in, late 1984. So when my turn came to help run and lead our organization, I was guided by the skills and especially by the values passed on by those who came before us.”
“I sound so ancient saying this now, but I’m proud and happy to have done my own share of paying it forward — by mentoring perhaps a whole generation of reporters, producers, news gathering and production staff and helping pave the way for them,” she continued.
As for the pieces of advice she would give the new generation of news workers, Jessica said, “Get it right (accuracy, fairness, responsibility) at ‘Dapat Tama,’ which I coined for one of our election coverage(s) as our slogan and guiding principle. Two things I have also been consistent about when giving advice to young journalists, producers, storytellers: To keep on reading and that it is never about us. We are not the story.”
“Alam ko mahirap nang sabihin iyun sa panahon ng selfies and social media but it’s true,” added she. “There is a public to be served and like what fellow Kapuso journalist and colleague Malou Mangahas once said: Journalism is a far bigger cause than anyone of us.”
Away from the grind and routine to present engaging and entertaining content for her show, Jessica finds time to unwind and take things slowly.
“I read, binge-watch the occasional Korean drama on Netflix or HBO series like Succession,” she said. “I love the beach and go home to La Union to touch base with my ‘roots’ and my family. To empty my head and find inspiration in things, I take road trips or travel abroad. Not as much as I want to, however because of COVID.”
Does she have any advocacy that the country’s most awarded broadcast journalist pursues on top of her work?
“I don’t really have a lot of free time and my only advocacy for now is Journalism,” she said, “for truth to prevail.”
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