Jessica Soho

"“Your lives will be richer if you include people who are not like you. Reach out to more people. Get out of your own circles or silos and echo chambers.”"

"“In spite of everything, survival, after all, is an instinct. It is what we are wired to do. And when you are on the edge of danger or death, when your life is on the line, you need to draw strength from other people. Don’t let even one person lose heart, or all of you will give up.”"

"“Be disruptors for good! The status quo is not okay. The system is broken. We need to keep asking the hard questions. And if dreaming is free, we should also be free to ask questions!”"

""Be like the sunflowers blooming now… follow the sun!"

"I am aware of how the world constantly changes. I know the way things are done so we need to keep up as well. You cannot keep a dinosaur mindset because you want to reach more audiences."

"They say it's not a good time to be a journalist. The attacks on journalism in general are disheartening but I think we need more journalists. We really need to stand our ground. We need to continue our mission to be truth seekers to combat misinformation or fake news."

"“The market is the best place to be if you want to feel the vibe and pulse of a place and its people. The best stories are there too. About politics, the economy, culture, food and the environment if you bother to talk and listen to the sellers, the farmers and fishermen and the middlemen.”"

"Earn your stripes. Show up for work even on bad days, especially on bad days."

"“I’ve always said that journalists like us are not really the most important ones—the story we are covering is. We are actually incidental to the story, except perhaps for those rare times when we ourselves become part of the story.”"

"“When you are already working, I hope you also value your coworkers—from those in smaller roles up to the bosses. And never, ever take advantage of those who are weaker and smaller among us!”"

"“There is no small story. Every story has heart. And that heart is what we bring to the people.”"

"Your story or content should standout and matter in a good way."

"How do you know that your story has made an impact? If it elicits a strong reaction or emotion."

"Guard against sensationalism"

"May I please urge you to use technology for good? I-focus niyo rin ang inyong mga camera sa mga isyu sa komunidad o lipunan. (Focus your cameras also on issues about the community and society.)"

"If I have to live my life all over again, pipiliin ko pa rin maging journalist. (If I have to live my life all over again, i would still choose being a journalist.) Basically, because I love telling stories."

"Sa lahat ng mga assignment, trabaho, at programa na ibinigay sa akin, wala akong masasabi sa sarili ko na hindi ko itinodo. 100% or more. You're not the story. Ang importante 'yung story. (In all the assignment, job and program given to me, there is nothing I could say to myself that I did not give my all. 100% or more. You're not the story. What is important is the story.)"

"Alam ko, medyo gasgas nang salita ang hardwork. ["I know the words 'hard work' sounds like a cliché these days.”] But in my case kasi, iyon lang ang naging formula ko: Work hard and everything will follow. ["But in my case, that was just my formula: Work hard and everything will follow."]"

"We believe in the power of stories."

"Is it all worth it? Sulit ba ang lahat ng aming pagod, hirap at sakripisyo?” Pero ako, if I have to live my life all over again, pipiliin ko pa rin maging journalist.” ['Is it all worth it? All the hard work, the struggles, the sacrifices?' For me, if I had to live my life all over again, I would still choose to be a journalist."]"

"Fact-check, cross-check."

"Effective storytelling is a key lesson"

"Content will always be king or queen. A story should have substance and depth"

"Gospel truth po sa amin ito. Sacred. To always get the other side of the story; to give the other person a fair shake. ‘Pag may inakusahan, kunin din ang kaniyang panig. (If somebody has been accused, you have to get his/her side of the story.)"

"If you have to be hungry or thirsty about anything in life, that’s knowledge, information, experiences, wisdom. And much of that you can get from books, newspapers, online posts, or readings,"

"No bullying. No bashing. Criticize if you have to, but always on issues, not so much on personalities. No name-calling, no body-shaming, no below-the-belt attacks."