Where does Jessica Soho draw the line between journalism and activism?

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For Jessica Soho, there are certain issues where neutrality has no place.

After Tuesday’s Storytellers’ Academy, the Kapuso journalist was asked by GMA News Online: “Where do you draw the line between journalism and activism?”

“Pagdating siguro sa mga issues like corruption, social injustice, human rights, kahit ‘yung climate change na sinabi ni Atom [Araullo], ako, I think, walang neutral ground doon. Lahat tayo, we should fight for those or we should fight against those issues,” she said.

She stressed that this necessity applies universally, regardless of whether one identifies as a journalist, a non-journalist, or a content creator.

Soho is particularly resolute in opposing corruption and social injustice.

“Bakit ang daming naghihirap? Biro mo, ang yaman na pala yata natin kung hindi ninakawan tayo ng trilyones ng mga kurakot. Nakakaiyak. Kasi ‘pag lumabas tayo sa ating mga bahay, sa ating mga kalsada, kitang-kita niyo naman, ang daming naghihirap. Wala ba silang konsensya? Natakot ba ‘yung konsensya nila? Natakasan ba sila ng kanilang mga konsensya? I think dapat doon tayo mag-focus ngayon,” she said.

Throughout her career, a recurring, heartbreaking theme has been the perpetual struggle between the “big and small.”

“Kawawa ‘yung mga maliliit. And then sila rin ‘yung pinaka-vulnerable ‘pag mahirap ang buhay o kung may peligro,” she said. “‘Yung mga mahihirap naman, ‘yung mga maliliit naman, ‘yung mga nasa laylayan, ‘yung mga nasa margins, ‘yun ang pinaka-vulnerable eh. Ang hugot ko lang, bakit tayo nandito pa rin sa ganitong sitwasyon?”

Despite having reported on these persistent problems for 40 years, Soho expressed sadness and frustration that the issues remain the same and that they are old issues that are constantly being recycled.

“Ang lungkot, parang hindi tayo umusad,” she said.

With these issues, Soho turned her attention to the youth, calling on Gen Z to stand firm and confront the issues passed down from older generations.

“I challenge today’s youth, ‘yung mga Gen Z, kayo na ‘to. Kasi kayo magmamana ng mga problema eh. So kailangan manindigan. Kami kasi hindi namin nalutas, naipasa lang namin sa inyo. So sana kayo malutas niyo na para hindi niyo maipasa sa susunod na henerasyon.”

Soho is celebrating her 40th year in the media industry. Her award-winning news magazine program, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” has been airing for over two decades now.

—Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News