News5 is making changes, sort of.
As reported yesterday by MediaNewser.com, three of TV5’s ‘Aksyon’ newscasts will have just one anchor each. The anchors for each newscast are:
- Cheryl Cosim (Aksyon sa Umaga)
- Raffy Tulfo (Aksyon sa Tanghali)
- Ed Lingao (Aksyon Tonite)
This was in reaction to the recent departures of several News5 talent (e.g. Martin Andanar and Cherie Mercado), some of whom were hired by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. As for ‘Aksyon Prime’, they will retain a two-anchor setup with Erwin Tulfo and Luchi Cruz-Valdes.
The one-anchor setup actually got underway with ‘Aksyon sa Tanghali’, when TV5 chose not to give Raffy Tulfo a replacement partner starting July 18. However, the possibility of just one anchor on the newscasts was not realized until Cheryl Cosim hinted recently on Instagram of her last remaining days as co-anchor of ‘Aksyon Tonite’.
‘Aksyon sa Umaga’, the other newscast that Cheryl anchors nowadays, will be most affected by the new setup. The show will lose co-hosts Grace Lee, France Noguera, Renz Ongkiko, Jeff Caparas, and Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, and viewers could feel concerned about the impracticality of one anchor handling a long 90-minute newscast.
Despite the decision, criticism continued to haunt News5, especially their decision to retain Raffy Tulfo for ‘Aksyon sa Tanghali’. As noted previously in Part I of News5 Needs a Revamp, ‘Aksyon sa Tanghali’ was mostly sensationalized and similar to Raffy’s radio show ‘Wanted sa Radyo’, thanks in large part to the ‘Itimbre Mo Kay Tulfo’ segment.
Many also criticized News5’s decision to drop Atty. Mel Sta. Maria from ‘Aksyon sa Umaga’. Considering that both Cheryl and Atty. Mel were praised for giving new life and credibility back into the newscast, this was a decision that will undoubtedly question News5’s commitment to improve its news programs.
The truth is, Luchi Cruz-Valdes should have done a lot more. Using just one anchor for three of the ‘Aksyon’ newscasts will not change how viewers negatively perceive News5, especially when the presence of the Tulfo brothers were brought up to the discussion.
That said, it is obvious that a full-scale revamp is still a necessity for News5. Unless they promote more deserving reporters to anchor status, hire fresh graduates from journalism and mass communications courses, and change their approach to news reporting to a more ‘global’ approach, News5’s negative reputation will continue to haunt them in the years to come.
From the Tube 
One hour and thirty minutes is too long for one anchor, they’ll likely shorten it to maybe one hour or even forty-five minutes. But with this move, it can be a stepping stone and they can build off Aksyon Sa Umaga with Cheryl (who’s one of the best and credible veteran journalist they still have).
But again with this move, it will likely restore credibility for Aksyon Sa Umaga and I hope that it will veer away from sensationalized news and focus on national issues.
But Raffy Tulfo,really?Let’s just see on August 1.
Aksyon sa Umaga could start at 6 and then air for an hour. They should reduce the Disney Kids block ASAP. As for Raffy, he needs to be replaced. Maybe a full-time anchor role for Maricel Halili is in order; she had been capable in the past as a fill-in anchor.
Indeed. If any News5 reporters who have experiences as substitutes or pinch-hitters in the ‘Aksyon’ newscasts, they should be given new exposures and experiences.
Truth is, a majority of the News5 reporters have been with the network since the MVP takeover, so they need a new experience as anchors to gain new ground. As for some of the heavily criticized anchors, TV5 must find a way to reassign them somewhere else, since it’s unlikely to force them to file resignation papers considering their loyalty and long service.
Maybe this is part of their continuous costcutting and restructuring measures given by the management. Alam na natin na medyo pumangit na ang programming grid ng TV5, since nawala na ang halos lahat ng entertainment shows.
Exactly. After all those years overpaying for their sports and entertainment shows, TV5 seems to be starting over.
Media Newser just reported that DJ Sta. Ana, one of the top executives of News5, will be leaving the station for a job in Aboitiz.
^ and by the way, he is Karen Davila’s husband
More trouble on the News5 camp. Departures aplenty.
As per MediaNewser, Cherie Mercado has resigned on her post from DOTr. Let’s see if she would return to broadcasting or retire permanently.
As for News5, they released a new teaser hinting that there would be something that would be premiering on June 15.
Here’s the link:
Let’s find out. As for Cherie, family first muna.