WE at ABS-CBN News, whether it be in Manila or here in the United States, follow the journalistic principles that the stories we cover and the issues that we follow and report on are news. It is never about us, the people that deliver the news. We are instruments of information dissemination to help our audience come better informed citizens.
Once in a while, however, we find ourselves the subject of a news story, and thankfully the story being told is good news — a testament to the vision, diligence, and hard work of the people that bring you the newscasts that you watch on ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel.
The story was chronicled by Media Newser Philippines (MNP), the popular go-to website for “News on Philippine Television News.”
Recently, the Newser released its annual list of Winners and Losers in Philippine News Yearend Report. Among those recognized as winners were the men and women of ABS-CBN integrated news.
Allow me to share with you with so much pride this excerpt from the Media Newser article. Almost all of those recognized as “winners” have at one point been a part of The Filipino Channel News team:
Ging Reyes
A decade ago, ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs was at its lowest point. Not only did 24 Oras snatch the number one spot from TV Patrol, but also overall, GMA News and Public Affairs was the undisputed champion — reaping both critical and commercial plaudits. Many were also questioning their journalistic integrity then, with pundits and observers accusing them of media bias, allegedly through selective news reporting.
These days, you won’t hear much about that, thanks to the many structural changes implemented by Ging Reyes, who was summoned four years ago to replace the then-outgoing Maria Ressa. [Ging used to North America News Bureau Chief of ABS-CBN News, over-all in charge of the news programs produced here in the United States]
Under her leadership, the news division has become a place of a more serious reporting, with more focus on national news, foreign affairs — with the help of ABS-CBN Global — and enterprise stories, reasons why it continues to garner considerable amount of critical praise. (TV Patrol Weekend took home a special journalistic recognition from the International Emmy Awards in 2014.)
Also, ratings for the network’s daily programs have stabilized, with its flagship newscast TV Patrol narrowing the gap with 24 Oras in Mega Manila, while consistently winning in Kantar Media’s national TV ratings.
Beyond Politics with Lynda Jumilla
For Lynda Jumilla, the past 12 months have been an exciting year where she established herself as the go-to political interviewer in local television, landing one big interview after another. From controversial politicians to major newsmakers, Jumilla’s program on the ABS-CBN News Channel, Beyond Politics, was their primary destination.
When Senator Jinggoy Estrada decided to speak to the public right before he was detained at the PNP Custodial Center following his involvement in the PDAF scam, he didn’t turn to Valdes or Davila, he talked to Jumilla. And when embattled Vice President Jejomar Binay finally decided to talk about those corruption allegations, Beyond Politics was his first and only choice.
It will be interesting to see what’s next for Jumilla and BP this year. How about getting more cross-promotional opportunities on ABS-CBN programs? Or better yet, how about occupying the Friday afternoon time slot of Atom Araullo’s Red Alert? If given more importance, this program could draw more eyeballs and possibly become an even bigger program than it is today.
ABS-CBN Global Reporters
“If there’s anything that TFC: The Filipino Channel demonstrated last year is that no other news team does foreign news better than their ABS-CBN Global newsers. Through the likes of Balitang America anchor Gel Santos Relos and reporters Steve Angeles, Don Tagala, Bev Llorente, Henni Espinosa, and of course, Yong Chavez (now our three-time honoree), Pinoys in and outside the country got a more analytical summary of the news from all across America — be it the 2014 U.S. midterm elections, the Ebola virus, or stories of our kababayans bringing pride to this nation. ABS-CBN Global reporters have also exhibited the kind of journalists we need in local news, or at least in TV5 and 9TV — journalists who can write, shoot, edit their own stories without too much reliance on network producers.”
ANC: The ABS-CBN News Channel
The ABS-CBN News Channel has one again re-established itself as the first and top news destination by being the place where viewers can get news anytime of the day. From non-stop and wall-to-wall coverage of the many Senate hearings in 2014, to special reports and discussions on hot button issues — DAP scam, MRT, Hagupit. Bangsamoro peace process — ANC was the only news channel which lived up to its slogan of delivering news 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. [ANC is now headed by Nadia Trinidad, former North America news Bureau Chief after Ging Reyes]
MARAMING SALAMAT PO!
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
