Atom Araullo on projects outside journalism: ‘Why say no? It’s a platform’

Atom Araullo isn’t just the award-winning journalist we’ve come to know and trust. He is a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador, has starred in a feature film, and landed on many magazine covers.

In an episode of “The Howie Severino Podcast,” Atom addressed other people’s concerns on why he did projects outside journalism.

“It’s fair when people say or when people ask ‘Is he really serious [because] he’s doing other things?’” Atom said.

“I mean I’m not gonna wash my hands and say that I had no choice. Of course, I can say no but at the back of my mind, ‘Why say no? Like it’s a way, it’s a platform, right?’ I dabbled into films, I am an advocate for the UNHCR, which is kind of unconventional to be part of an organization like that as a working journalist.”

He added that he didn’t set out to become a role model for journalists and felt uncomfortable when students asked him to speak at events, saying that sometimes he doubted even himself.

“It took me a long time to kind of just embrace who I am. I can’t say that I fully embraced who I am also but if part of the job comes with a certain level of celebrity, I mean I can’t complain, right? I get a lot of doors open because of that. And I get opportunities that other people don’t get,” Atom said.

“So parang sino ba naman ako para magsabi na kabawasan ’yun? (So who am I to say that that is a disadvantage)?”

He said at times, he’d get hateful comments from others, saying he’s just a pretty face.

“So I just try to do my best in my actual work output and I pour my heart and soul into it, I try to put as much effort into it,” Atom said. “And just let the people appreciate it for what it is.”

He added, “I will continue to do unconventional things. Wala, e. Ganun ako, e (it’s nothing, it’s just how I am). I like the fact that I’m doing many, many things that interest me.”

At the end of the day, whatever people said about him, Atom said being a journalist was still the “best description” of what he did.

“So bottom line, you can be whatever you want, wherever you want and this goes for journalists or just content creators in general. But just make sure that your content, your output can stand on its own and make sure that you’re on the right side,” he said. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News