Cover CNN's ‘The Final Word’ with Rico Hizon
CNN's ‘The Final Word’ with Rico Hizon
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Writer, broadcast journalist and senior news anchor Rico Hizon shares his thoughts on fake news and what it means to be a journalist today
With over 35 years of experience and multiple awards, Hizon is a stalwart champion of truth and one of the Philippines’ most prominent broadcast journalists. He has worked tirelessly for two of the largest global networks—CNBC Business News in Hong Kong and Singapore and BBC World News in Singapore and London—and was awarded the 26th Asian Television Awards Best News Program for The Final Word and Best News Anchor. But it hasn’t always been like this. He had his fair share of challenges before he got to where he is today.
“Not everyone can be a journalist, and I struggled in the trenches for several years. I could become a reporter instantaneously, but it didn’t happen that way. I entered journalism as a production assistant for a TV programme called Uncle Bob’s Lucky Seven Club way back in 1988. There were no openings in the newsroom at the time, so I started making coffee and printing scripts—a runner doing all the grunt work. But I felt this was one way to get into the newsroom. Six to nine months later, I applied and joined the GMA newsroom,” shares Hizon.
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Above Rico Hizon on CNN's The Final Word
Rico Hizon on CNN's The Final Word
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Hizon wanted to be like the reporters he would see on TV. “Watching the six and 10 o’clock news with my late mother shaped my life and career as a journalist. I would always be watching the news beside her. In grade five or six, I told myself, ‘One of these days, I want to be a reporter’,” says Hizon. But he never thought he’d become a news anchor. He joined many public speaking competitions and oratorical contests out of sheer interest. But that honed him.
At a young age, Hizon could already comfortably and confidently stand in front of a crowd and speak his mind, whether scripted or impromptu. By the time he reached college, Hizon was asked by his parents to take a business course—something to fall back on if his passion didn’t work out. While he agreed, he admits that the teachings he had learnt have been a great boon to him in the news industry. “Anyone can be a journalist. But to have a background in business and finance was a major asset,” Hizon shares.
Above CNN's The Final Word with Rico Hizon
CNN's The Final Word with Rico Hizon
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Fighting the war against misinformation is a never-ending job. As a journalist, Hizon always makes sure he sees both sides of the coin. By setting his biases aside, he always reports the news with credibility. “We always report the positives and the negatives, from both political spectrums... That’s the problem with our kababayans right now. When they see something that’s ‘news’, they share it without even reading the content. So it’s hard to fight fake news,” Hizon tells Tatler.
When the pandemic hit in March 2020, Hizon felt like taking a break from everything. But duty called and he was back reporting crucial information that the world desperately needed during a time of great uncertainty and distress.
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With social media dominating the landscape, keeping up and staying relevant is something that every journalist has to deal with. For Hizon, it’s all about learning. “I’m trying to learn from my producers. My producers are young because they’re 24 or 25, so I try to learn from them about technology. But I also teach them the best practices I’ve learned in my 25 years overseas. So there’s some give and take there,” Hizon says.
His advice for those who want to follow in his footsteps? Be different and be a sponge—absorbing knowledge.
“Many, many people have interviewed these celebrities. So, it would be best to keep looking for a new angle to a story. Don’t just ask about their new movie or project. Think outside the box. Get their opinions on matters that trend or even seem trivial. They may answer your question or not, but at least you got their attention. When you’re at press cons, be aggressive. You don’t want to just be part of the furniture. You need to get your name remembered and be respected for the questions you ask and the pieces you write. It’s also important to keep on reading. Read everything and anything—from the first page to the back, from sports and business to lifestyle and even the obituary. You have to know everything,” he says.
When he’s not in the newsroom reporting the latest scoop or in the field gathering information, Hizon likes to fill up his collection of Funko Pops and action figures. A child at heart, he learnt to never let go of his hobbies—no matter how old he got. “I have a condo that my wife doesn’t like visiting because it’s full of my toys. But whenever I go there, I really feel at peace,” Hizon shares.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
