Coolness

Malou Mangahas joins GMA Network

Page one of her resume makes it seem like she was a geek in her younger days. She was accelerated from Grade 6 to first year high school, and four years later, graduated valedictorian. At UP, aside from graduating cum laude, she was named Most Outstanding Journalism graduate. She later moved on to Harvard as a Nieman Foundation for Journalism fellow.

But the girl who, at one time, seriously considered being a nun is not your typical geek. At the end of her three-page resume lies a piece of information that reveals she's of different grain: she was detained for over three months in Bicutan for alleged subversion. The charges were dropped in 1987. Then seven years later, at 34, she was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos for her body of work in investigative journalism.

Mangahas was also Editor in Chief of The Manila Times, the youngest journalist to hold that position in a national newspaper in the Philippines. She also co-founded the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Those are just a few of the remarkable facts about Malou Mangahas, one of the country's most respected and award-winning journalists.

The latest news about her is that she has just joined GMA Network Inc. as Vice President for Research and Content development. As such, she holds the editor-in-chief post for GMA News's website, www.gmanews.tv .

"GMA News and Public Affairs is honored to welcome in its management team, Malou Mangahas, one of the most respected journalists in the country," announced Marissa L. Flores, GMA Network's Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs.

Aside from handling the editorial direction of the network's website, Malou also leads the Research Team of GMA's News and Public Affairs. The data the team supply are used by the department's various programs.

In addition to these, Malou helps GMA News in sustaining its training program, especially for its editorial personnel.

These days, despite her hectic schedule, Malou still finds time to join Debate's editorial meetings and tapings. "For fun, because working with the young people there is fun," she says.

That's a lot for someone who was at first reluctant to join the network full time: she was mostly worried about whether she will have time to water her plants. But she decided to take on the challenge because it will allow her to discover and enjoy new platforms.

Malou initially joined GMA News and Public Affairs as the executive producer of the program 'Debate with Mare At Pare.' The network also engaged her services as training consultant for GMA News. "It did not take us long to realize we wanted Malou for a permanent, regular position in the News and Public Affairs group," explains Flores.

"Malou brings to the newsroom her excellent skills in investigative journalism and wealth of experience in news-gathering and newsroom management," Flores says.

"GMA News and Public Affairs has always believed that the richness of content, adherence to the highest ethical standards and journalism at its best will sustain our leadership in the industry. And having Malou in our team further boosts our campaign to meet these ideals" Flores says.

- posted by jaemark @ 6/14/2006 05:42:00 PM