Award-winning broadcast journalist Jessica Soho has stepped down as host of GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” as of Monday, January 4. Atom Araullo and Maki Pulido now host the newscast, which airs at 9:15 p.m. weeknights.
Soho anchored the show since its initial telecast on February 28, 2011.
Araullo anchors the pioneering mobile journalism newscast “Stand for Truth” where he leads the new breed of journalists with the program’s compelling and exclusive stories.
Pulido, who is known for her passion for news and in-depth reporting, made a niche in the industry for her exclusive reports and coverage on significant national issues. She previously anchored the afternoon daily newscast “Balita Pilipinas Ngayon” alongside Mark Salazar where they reported on the day’s news from the different regions in the Philippines.
Both Araullo and Pulido have shown their eloquence beyond news reporting. A documentarist at heart, Araullo also banners the bi-monthly documentary show “The Atom Araullo Specials” and is one of the hosts of the top-notch documentary program “I-Witness.” Pulido, on the other hand, has extended her craft in journalism to investigative reporting via the internationally-acclaimed public affairs program “Reporter’s Notebook,” which she hosts together with Jun Veneracion.
They continue to gain honors from various award-giving bodies. At the 2020 New York Festivals Television and Film Awards, Araullo’s “Babies4Sale.PH” documentary for “The Atom Araullo Specials” won a Silver World Medal in the Best Investigative Report category.
The same episode previously emerged as national winner in the Best Documentary Programme (one-off) category at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and received a “highly commended” plaque from the Association for International Broadcasting (AIBs) Awards in 2019. Just recently, The Atom Araullo Specials’ “Nang Tumigil ang Mundo’” was named as the Best TV Special at the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards.
Meanwhile, Pulido’s stories for Reporter’s Notebook gave the Philippines numerous recognitions. Her in-depth report “Backdoor” about Filipinos who illegally entered Malaysia, won the Silver Screen Award at the 2006 U.S. International Film & Video Festival. In 2008, her story “Batang Kalakal” took home the Gold World Medal for Best Human Interest Story at the New York Festivals Television and Film Awards. This was followed by another gold medal in 2017 for her Reporter’s Notebook episode “Pasan-Pasang Pangarap.” This year, Reporter’s Notebook was recognized as Best Public Service Program at the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards for her story “Mga Sugat ni Miguel”.
As seasoned journalists, Araullo and Pulido are expected to show an accurate and deep understanding of the stories they present and help the audience make sense of the news–its importance, implications, and context.
“We want to continue the excellent contextual news reporting that State of the Nation became known for under the irreplaceable Jessica Soho. At the same time, we want to bring important national stories even closer to everyday Filipinos who are ultimately most affected by these events,” Araullo said.
As a veteran news reporter and documentarist, Pulido added: “I’ve been in the streets, rain or shine, at peace or in war time, COVID or no COVID, covering the news for more than two decades. I won’t be just reading the news for State of the Nation, I will be covering the news we will be delivering on that day. We hope to deliver the news with more context, not just the whos and the whens.”
“State of the Nation” was originally anchored by Jessica Soho, who will continue to host the award-winning program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” airing on GMA as well as other special programs of GMA News and Public Affairs.
