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| (Image Source: ABS-CBN Corporation) |
With 2020 turning out to be one of the biggest dumpster fires in history as humanity tried to navigate through almost 365 days of various crises while confined in lockdowns or quarantines, the hunger of people around the world for news and information that are factual and accurate, timely, relevant, accessible and understandable couldn't be more emphasizes. It is within such context that ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, the news and current affairs programming division of the premiere media and entertainment company in the Philippines ABS-CBN Corporation and its global flagship channel The Filipino Channel (TFC) decided to strategize and redesign programming and delivery of the freshest news stories in and out of the country.
Starting last July 19, TFC News shows in North America (US and Canada), Middle East, Europe and Asia-Pacific are incorporated as segments within "TV Patrol", the world's leading and longest-running Filipino news program. These regional news segments are also available online at news.abs-cbn.com. This programming redesign gives overseas Filipinos and international viewers not only news relevant to their localities, but a more comprehensive global picture that helps them connect the dots on events that directly and indirectly impact their lives. For overseas Filipino communities who have used to watch "Balitang America (BA)", "Balitang Canada", "Balitang Asia-Pacific", "Balitang Middle East" and "Balitang Europe" as highly local and separate news programs for years, they will continue to receive news stories from award-winning news bureaus headed by distinguished and veteran broadcast journalists that they have come to trust for reliable news and information.
"This is essentially an augmentation and expansion of news coverage and footprint presented almost as a one-stop shop for Filipino news," said ABS-CBN Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) Aldrin M. Cerrado. "This initiative is a strategic alliance among three strong Filipino media industry brands: TFC, 'TV Patrol' and ABS-CBN News online. As for the teams, trust and credibility are crucial so we made sure to retain news heads, reporters and correspondents that are highly skilled and experienced, reputable and respected in the communities they serve." These Global Bureaus comprise the following:
• North America (San Francisco, California, USA) - Bureau Chief: TJ Manotoc
* USA - Desk Editor/Producer Henni Espinosa, and correspondents Rommel Conclara (Northern California), Steve Angeles and Albert Bataclan (Southern California), Yong Chavez and Manny Dela Rosa (Hollywood), Don Tagala (New York), Bev Llorente (Nevada and Washington), Fleur Magbanua Mansur (Arizona), Jared Bray (Utah), Cheryl Piccio (Texas), Connie Macatula De Leon (Virginia), Lenn Almadin Thornhill (Georgia), Paul Garilao (Florida), Lalaine Ignao (Hawaii)
* Canada - From Ontario, Christine Santos (Toronto) and Vanessa Merjudio-David (Ottawa); from Alberta, Quay Evano (Calgary) and Marjorie Carmona-Newton (Edmonton); from Manitoba, Rhia Alcantara (Winnipeg); and from British Columbia, Rowena Papasin, Cecile Docto, and Elizabeth Raymundo (Vancouver).
• Europe (London, England) - Bureau Chief: Rose Eclarinal
* France - Bong Agustinez, Cory de Jesus, Maan Alcantara-Rivera, and Marilyn Rayray (Paris)
* UK - Ed Lao
* Ireland - Vanda Brady and Roderick Garcia
* Italy - Jackie de Vega, Jocelyn Ruiz Roxas, Maricel Burgonio, and Mye Mulingtapang
* Germany - Grace Sheela Pickert, Jessica Gross, Orly Delos Santos, and Virgilio Cuizon
* Austria - Hector Pascua
* Belgium - Raquel Crisostomo (Brussels)
* The Netherlands - Jofelle Tesorio
* Norway - Macel Ingles (Oslo)
* Sweden - Vangie Rebot Jorquia (Stockholm)
* Denmark - Rosemary Menta and Rustan Jay Menta (Copenhagen)
* Spain - Sandra Sotelo, Alex Alikpala and Spain Lucas (Madrid)
* Turkey - Weng Timoteo
* Greece - Wilhelmina Mendoza-Buado (Athens)
* Russia - Niel Tero
• Middle East (Kuwait) - Bureau Chief: Maxxy Santiago
* Qatar - Ardee De Leon and Kimina Castro
* UAE - Benjie Canamaso, Milanie Regalado, Rachel Salinel, Randy Lamsen and Rouie Villegas (Dubai), Vivien Napenas and Bryan Villacarlos (Abu Dhabi)
* Saudi Arabia - Sherwin Zuniga and Charles Tabbu (Jeddah), Florante Catanus (Al-khobar), Lyndon Aballe, JP Aleta, and Zhariya Camid (Riyadh)
* Assir Region - Debbie Jane Pangan
* Bahrain - Leslie Garduque
* Kuwait - Robert Bulquiren
* Lebanon - Rhyse Furio
* Oman - Rowen Soldevilla
• Asia-Pacific (Manila, Philippines) - Bureau Chief: Israel Malasa
* New Zealand - Regine Panlilio (Wellington) and Seresa Lapaz (Auckland)
* Australia - Rhea Bragas and Helen Quiñanola (Sydney)
* South Korea - Gennie Kim and Joeffrey Maddatu Calimag
* Taiwan - Marie Yang
The key in the news redesign is the "digital first" approach. As New Jersey-based digital journalism professor and educator Dr. Mu Lin wrote in his MuLinBlog Online J-School training blog, "Web and mobile platforms demand us to adopt a platform-neutral mindset for an all-inclusive production approach -- create the (digital) content first then distribute via appropriate platforms." Cerrado reiterated, "Going 'digital first' doesn't mean being available only on web and mobile platforms; it's true that digital deliveries will be enhanced, but it also means accessibility on the proper or fitting platforms for a specific story. In addition, this also means viewers don't need a gated access to watch TFC News on TV Patrol. The news program will be available on multiple platforms. It just so happens that web and mobile platforms have become the preferred options. Ultimately, news is public service. Access to trustworthy news and information is essential to effective governance, civic engagement and participatory democracy. ABS-CBN is steadfastly committed to doing its part as a responsible media company."
TV Patrol airs on weekdays at 6:30 pm and weekends at 6:00 pm on Kapamilya Channel (SKYcable SD channel 8 and HD channel 167, Cignal/Satlite channel 22), Teleradyo (SKYcable channel 26) and ABS-CBN News Channel (SKYcable SD channel 27 and HD channel 183). It is also streamed live and on-demand on ABS-CBN News Online, ABS-CBN News' official YouTube channel, iWantTFC, the ABS-CBN News app and the ABS-CBN Radio Service app (audio only). TFC News On TV Patrol can also be viewed separately on ABS-CBN News' official YouTube channel. For more on the latest and freshest local and international news, visit news.abs-cbn.com and @ABSCBNNews on social media.
