Howie Severino is named one of Metrobank Foundation 2015's Journalists of the Year

Veteran documentarist Howie Severino receives the "Journalist of the Year" award, along with Philippine Daily Inquirer's Nancy Carvajal and Rappler's Marites Vitug, from the Metrobank Foundation at Maetrobang Plaza last Oct. 22.

According to the foundation, the award is given to journalists “whose excellence throughout their careers has contributed to nation-building and sets an example for the profession.”

 

A journalist who quickly adapts to change, Severino started in media as a newspaper reporter, then went on to build a career in television broadcasting in 1994.

 

Shifting to TV, he recalls his fluency in Filipino became an issue. “Although I have been self-conscious for much of my life of my highly imperfect mastery of the Filipino language, I mustered the courage to move from English-language print media to Filipino-language broadcast in the 1990s,” he said in his speech accepting the recognition from Metrobank. 
 

 

Today, Howie is known for his historical documentaries, especially stories on Jose Rizal such as “Little Bad Boy” and “Ang Mahiwagang Ngiti Ni Rizal,” among many others that are shown in schools.

 

In 2009, responding to the rise of the new media during that time, he became the editor-in-chief of GMA News Online. Recently, the website has been named the top-performing news website in the country.

 

In 2014, he stepped down as its EIC as he took the position of Vice President for Professional Development at GMA Network.

 

In his 26 years in newspaper, broadcast, and online, he definitely knows about change.

 

“We do all this in an insanely interesting time when technology is shaking up our profession and giving ordinary citizens the tools to challenge our society’s culture of impunity, perhaps in more effective ways than the traditional media ever did,” he says.

 

Severino adds that for the children of the analog like him, it’s only about time to embrace the paradigm shift and learn new skills set that would make them still relevant in the age of the new media. 

 

‘TV journalism is a team enterprise’

 

A lot has already been said about how television is full of egos. But Severino attests that--at least in his case--it has always been the opposite.

Howie Severino credits his success to his family and production team.

“I have had mostly the opposite experience, from working with outstanding professionals who quietly derived their satisfaction from simply doing good work, even if others got the credit for team success,” quips Severino.

 

He credits all the production crews that he’s worked with in his years of service. “It is not false modesty for me to say that I wouldn’t be standing here tonight if not for the dedication and talent of some of the people in this room – producers, directors, editors, videographers, researchers, production assistants -- and many others who have worked with me through the years, including the late Egay Navarro, my extraordinary cameraman of 20 years.”

 

Severino also says that his journey in media would be nothing if without the guidance and help of his relatives. Specifically, he thanked his wife, father, stepmother, and sister.

 

“This award has raised the bar of expectations for myself for the last half or third or quarter of my career,” he says. “Whatever is left will be spent with even greater dedication and saying grace for my insanely good luck.” ---BMS/GMA Public Affairs