From the World Cup to his biggest inspiration: 6 things we learned about Atom Araullo
There's more to Atom Araullo than the documentaries and hard-hitting reports he's known for.
At PhilSTAR L!fe and PumaPodcast's Speak Easy event held at Sa'min Bar in San Juan City, the award-winning journalist reflected on today's changing information landscape, where artificial intelligence and content creators are reshaping how people consume news.
Along the way, he also shared personal stories that offered a glimpse of the man behind the byline. Here are six things we learned about him.
He’s a football fan
The World Cup recently concluded with Spain taking home the title. Among those who stayed up to follow the matches was Araullo. But while many fans were focused on the action on the pitch, the journalist also found himself keeping an eye on another game unfolding online: separating fact from AI-fabricated content.
"Nanonood ako ng World Cup, di ba? So, lagi akong puyat. Ang dami-dami mga quotes sa social media na sinabi ni Messi to, sinabi ni Ronaldo to, parang sinabi ni Mourinho. Nung una, ang reaction ko, 'Oh my God, sinabi niya yun? Sinabi ni Ronaldo yun?' Ganyan. Pero after a while, sabi ko, 'Lahat to, fake lang to ah!' Hindi lang siya manufactured, AI [pa] siya," he said.
He encouraged people to be more discerning online, emphasizing the need to verify claims before believing or sharing them.
"[Kapag] may lumabas na quote, kung walang video, check niyo kung rinereport ng iba. Kung may video, i-check nyo pa rin kung ni-rereport ng iba kasi pwedeng AI-generated na rin siya," he said.
"Kailangan talaga bumalik pa rin eh sa mga trusted sources. I think we just have to have that extra layer of care before we share something. Especially if the claims aren't credible," he added.
He enjoys reading—even if he’s not a bookworm
Outside of delivering the news, Araullo—who wrote the book A View from the Ground—enjoys reading, even if he admits he's far from being a bookworm.
"I like reading, but I go at the pace of like two or three books a year. And that's nowhere near where I want to be," he told the crowd.
When he does read, he prefers titles outside journalism. He enjoys short stories, essays, and works of literary journalism rather than books about the profession itself.
One title that has stayed with him is Ten Days That Shook the World, a firsthand account of the Bolshevik Revolution by journalist John Reed.
"It's about the Bolshevik Revolution and a journalist who was stuck there and who had to cover everything. So parang it's kind of like a snapshot of what this profession might look like when you're in the thick of history as it is unfolding. Nabasa ko 'yun nung college ako. It left an impression," he shared.
As for documentaries, he joked that he doesn't watch many because he does it for a living. But if there's one he recommends, it's the Korean documentary My Love, Don't Cross That River.
"If you find [a] copy, hahagulgol kayo," he said.
He hopes to tell Alex Eala’s story
Fresh off a string of historic performances, Alex Eala has captured the attention of Filipinos and sparked renewed interest in tennis. Among those hoping to learn more about the young tennis star is Araullo, who said he'd love the opportunity to tell her story.
While he didn't point to a specific angle, he said he wants to spotlight stories that give Filipinos something to be proud of.
"It would be great to do a story on Alex Eala," he said, noting that uplifting stories can offer a welcome break from the often heavy news cycle.
"Sometimes the cycle can be quite sad. So we need inspiration where we can find it," he added.
His family is one of his biggest inspirations
Beyond his looks, Araullo has earned admiration for his integrity and thoughtful storytelling. But behind the award-winning journalist are the people who shaped the person he is today. When asked who inspires him the most, he said, "The corny answer is my folks. My parents. It's a safe answer but it's also the truest."
He described his parents as humble people who have always kept him grounded. His mother was a doctor who later became a full-time activist, while his father is an engineer who eventually took over the family's dry-docking business despite once aspiring to become an architect.
Their approval, he said, still carries the most weight. "They keep you grounded, and when they give you praise, it's the best thing in the world. I just hope to make them proud."
Another major influence is his older sister, whom he described as the "coolest person on earth." Araullo revealed that watching a Stephen Hawking documentary in high school first sparked his curiosity about science, but it was seeing his sister pursue physics in college that ultimately convinced him to take the same path.
"She took up physics. I thought she was the coolest person on earth. So I thought, 'Physics yung napili niya. Might as well take physics as well,'" Araullo said.
He went on to study Applied Physics at the University of the Philippines Diliman with hopes of becoming a scientist. In a 2021 interview with Howie Severino, his direction changed after becoming active in student organizations, which awakened his interest in national issues and eventually journalism.
He has favorite content creators, too
Just like the rest of us, Araullo spends time scrolling on social media, watching creators who focus on niche subjects like ecology, social science, and human interest stories.
"I have my favorite content creators as well," he shared. "These are the same things that we do. Pero, I'm willing to admit that they are even more effective in their storytelling."
For Araullo, the rise of digital creators isn't something traditional media should fight. Instead, he sees it as a shared shift in how public information is handled—meaning the job of fighting misinformation no longer rests on journalists alone.
"Parang, kala nyo kami lang ang responsable, actually, kayo na rin," he added.
To him, journalism isn’t a title—it’s a method
Addressing the broader shift in media—including data like the Reuters Institute showing a dip in news trust in the Philippines—Araullo emphasized that journalism isn't defined by where you work, how big your audience is, or having a official newsroom press badge. It’s defined by the discipline of verification, transparency, and accountability.
"If you're a content creator, how do you build that trust without the backing of an institution? You have to tell people how you know what you know, what you don't know, and you have to be accountable," he said. "Tingin ko pag naipapakita mo ‘yun, people will start trusting you.”
He jokingly said he is sloqly realizing he is "getting old" because many young journalists and content creators today excell in the digital space.
"[They] are so good at what they do... They can multitask, shoot, do a piece on cam, edit on the fly," he said.
He offered a final reminder for the digital natives and aspiring storytellers who might feel intimidated by professional setups: focus on truth and essence.
"We're obsessed with polish... but it's less about sheen and more about the vibe. Kailangan makapture mo kung ano yung essence," he said, adding that credibility has never been about having the perfect setup. It's about doing the work, and doing it responsibly.
