GMA execs represent Philippines anew in NYF Grand Jury
GMA is set to represent the Philippines in the global scene once more as GMA Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, First Vice President for Public Affairs Nessa Valdellon, and top GMA News anchor Jessica Soho were again named to the 2021 New York Festivals (NYF) TV and Film Awards Grand Jury.
With years of industry experience, Flores brings both leadership and creativity to the role as head of GMA’S News and Public Affairs Group, in the process propelling it to become the country’s most awarded and most credible broadcast news organization.
In 2020, amid the challenges brought by the pandemic, the GMA group continued to provide the public with the much-needed news and information on air and online while sparking hope and inspiration through various innovative shows and projects. GMA News led all Philippine media organizations in video viewership across all digital platforms for last year, while digital powerhouse GMA Public Affairs recorded a total of 80 million followers across popular platforms. GMA Public Affairs also reached 10 million subscribers on Youtube in April 2020, making GMA the first Philippine media organization to receive two Diamond Creator Awards from the streaming site.
On top of being a Grand Jury member, Flores will also be part of the NYF’S Advisory Board.
Valdellon, on the other hand, is behind some of the country’s most ground-breaking and compelling public affairs programs and specials. In 2011, she led the launch of GMA News TV, which recently rebranded to GTV. Valdellon also produced the pioneering mobile journalism newscast Stand for Truth.
Under her watch, GMA Public Affairs was able to launch a fresh programming lineup in 2020. These included the “New Normal: The Survivor Guide” strip which was geared toward helping viewers navigate the so-called New Normal; the timely documentary
Lockdown: Food Diaries, The Atom Araullo Specials: Nang Tumigil ang Mundo, and various public affairs shows that featured stories about Covid-19.
Soho, meanwhile, is the first Filipino news anchor to be shortlisted at the NYF TV and Film Awards last 2018 and later winning the Bronze Medal in the Best News Anchor category for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.
Widely regarded as the most-awarded broadcast journalist in the country, Soho is a two-time recipient of the highly prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and a Hall of Famer at the Reader’s Digest
Trusted Brand Awards, winning the Most Trusted News Presenter plum for eight consecutive years. She currently hosts the top-rating public affairs program
Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho.
Joining Flores, Valdellon and Soho in the NYF Grand Jury are award-winning directors, producers, writers, actors and other creative media professionals from across the globe. Together, they are tasked to determine this year’s winners from entries coming from over 50 countries. All NYF judges are prohibited from judging entries from their own companies.