Aspiring Journalists Join GMA's Storytellers' Academy

By: Graceline Marcelo , October 27, 2025

In an era where fake news spreads faster than facts, GMA Public Affairs launched the Storytellers' Academy, a groundbreaking initiative to nurture the next generation of credible and responsible storytellers. 

The first batch of participants gathered at Gateway Mall 2 in Quezon City on September 23, 2025, led by broadcast journalist Jessica Soho herself. 

The program attracted thousands of applicants from across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, including journalists, content creators, and students. Applicants completed a questionnaire on GMA Public Affairs' Facebook page, where selected participants were later announced and contacted via email for registration. 

Among those chosen were two representatives from STI College Dasmariñas: Joana Camila Silva, a 3^rd year Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BACOMM) student, was the only one from her class selected; and Gian Valencia, an STI alumna and BACOMM graduate, Batch 2025. 

Soho, who has carried the voices of everyday Filipinos since her first story as a rookie reporter in 1985, stood before the participants not just as a veteran journalist but as living proof that storytelling is a powerful tool to serve others. 

Through landmark shows like i-Witness and Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, she has shown that the stories we choose to tell can shape perspectives, move hearts, and change lives. Her message to the young storytellers was clear: journalism is not just a profession, but a responsibility. 

Guest speaker Atom Araullo reinforced this truth, reminding the participants that everyone has the ability to tell a story. In an age where vloggers and citizen journalists are reshaping the media landscape, he emphasized the weight of that power and the responsibility that comes with it. 

“Kailangan natin hindi kalimutan na 'yung pagkukwento ay isang proseso ng pagpili—pagpili kung kaninong kwento ang gustong ibahagi o pakinggan,” Araullo said. 
 

 

Soho's words for the youth carried equal weight. “Kung hindi kayo titindig, hindi malulutas ang problema. Hindi mababago ang kapalaran,” she said. 

As a conveyor of information and public servant, a journalist must remain honest, just, and always side with the truth. 

“Kailangang kailangan namin kayo. Kayo ang kinabukasan. Umaasa kami na kayo talaga ang pagbabago,” she added. 

“Working in media has always been a dream, and it would be a huge honor to be part of such a program,” Silva shared. “This workshop reminded me why I chose this path. I want to be one of those clear, truthful voices our country needs,” she ended. 

 

Workshops and real-world experiences like this are not just supplements to classroom learning but essential tools in shaping future professionals. 

The Storytellers' Academy was a call to arms for the next generation of journalists, a reminder that in a world drowning in noise, clear, truthful voices matter more than ever. Its impact will ripple through careers and communities for years to come.