Cagayan de Oro radioman shot

As Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo asks the judiciary to hasten the adjudication of human rights cases, a mediaman, this time a radio announcer of Cagayan de Oro was shot and seriously wounded by unidentified gunmen in the city on Thursday, March 5.

Radio broadcaster Nilo Labares of the dxCC Radio Mindanao Network was rushed to Maria Reyna Hospital in critical condition.

Cagayan de Oro City Vice Mayor Vicente Emano declared a “shoot to kill” order for the police officers tasked to investigate and apprehend the gunmen.

The shooting incident follows last month’s slaying of Ernesto Rollin, another radioman in Misamis Occidental, the first media person to be killed this year and the 99th since 1986. Rollin of dxSY-AM in Ozamiz City was gunned down at about 5:30 AM in Oroquieta City. His murder was condemned by the Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres.) In a statement, the international group said:

“”We firmly condemn the murder of Rollin, the latest victim of a culture of violence and impunity that has ravaged the media in the Philippines for too long…he motive has not yet been established but the modus operandi indicates it was a contract killing ordered by Rollin’s enemies and carried out by professional hit-men,” —GMATV News (02/24/09) (Photo Credit: Paulo Ruiz) =0=

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Caroline Kennedy & Sarah Palin: a “class” difference in media treatment?

As the day NY Gov. David A. Patterson will pick Sen. Hillary Clinton’s replacement draws near, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the well-connected and wealthy contender for the senate post stands as the most influential.

It’s Caroline Kennedy, who else?

By name recognition alone, the only surviving daughter of Pres. John F. Kennedy carries her impeccable familial history, her friendship with incoming President Barack Obama, and strong connections to those in Capitol Hill. Having lived a sheltered life with little experience in public service, these are Caroline’s major assets. That’s why before she appeared for interview on television last month, her supporters scrambled to project her as qualified. Yes, but how qualified is she in comparison with the other candidates? She has been a successful mom with a law degree from Columbia. She has taken the post of president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, has been a member of the JFK Profile in Courage Award Committee, serves as director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and vice-chairwoman of NYC’s Fund for Public Schools. Are these enough to get her the senate post?

The public seemed unimpressed with Caroline. She didn’t have the glow of the Kennedy the American people expected to see in her. She wasn’t compelling enough to make the public feel she could be the right senate representative for the regular New Yorkers. When interviewed, Caroline appeared less attached to the position she desired; her projected “fund of knowledge” and manner of speech (including that bothersome “you know” habit) seemed worse than what Gov. Sarah Palin was criticized for in her failed bid as a Republican VP candidate in the last election.

Bias, Double Standard & Media Malpractice

If media treatment had been fair between Caroline and Sarah, the former could have been scrutinized and made fun of more than the latter. From questions about her private life as a Kennedy to the comical exploitation of her limitations as a person the jesters in a late-night TV comedy would have wanted them laid in the open. Arrogant humor at Kennedy’s expense—something equal or greater than what Sarah endured with condescending CBS anchor Katie Couric and comedienne Tina Fey who got an award for her Palin impersonations.

Perhaps because of “class” difference and hypocrisy, the mainstream media have been kind to urbane Caroline, but not so to rural Sarah. Like the precious gem from the Camelot jewel box, the New York lady incites awe and nobody talks against her perceived high carats in the political scene. Sarah is quick to notice. Americans have been anxious to see whether the Kennedy heiress will grab the senate position on basic merits or by the magic of the her name.

“I’ve been interested to see how Caroline Kennedy will be handled and if she will be handled with kid gloves or if she will be under such a microscope…It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out.”—-Gov. Sarah Palin (Source: CBS News 01/9/08, Conroy, S); YahooNews (01/09/09, Gromley, M)

With Caroline as a comparison, Sarah was right in raising the questions of media bias and exploitation which misled and undermined public trust. She recalled how she was unfairly vetted, trivialized, vilified, and insulted by the liberal media. At one point, because of her conservative views, even her motherhood was questioned. The warped media insinuated her disabled innocent Trig afflicted with Trisomy 21 (Mongolism) wasn’t her son she steadfastly rescued from abortion. Her eldest daughter’s pregnancy was played out as salacious gossip item in media circuits. The liberal media dug into her privacy with rapacity unparalleled with what they did with other candidates.

Sarah Palin was correct in pointing double standard by news organizations which “respected Barack Obama’s declaration that his family was off-limits for coverage”— The courtesy wasn’t accorded her, yet now generously given to Caroline. It’s hard to imagine that this disdainful journalistic disparity has happened in USA, but it’s true. Anyone can look and judge for oneself what goes on out there. (Photo Credits: byphoto240779; rhilton4u)=0=

RELATED BLOG: “Caroline Kennedy eyes Hillary Clinton’s post as NY senator” Posted by mesiamd at 12/16/2008

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Journalist killings continue

The death toll of journalists being killed in the Philippines continues to rise. On the early hours of December 9, 2008, Muriel Leanilo, a tabloid columnist of “Bagong Balita” was slain by an unidentified gunman who walked away from the site of the crime in Aurora, Boulevard, Quezon City. The motive of the killing wasn’t known.

Following the shooting death of another journalist less than a month ago, Leanilo was rushed at Quirino Memorial Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival. His companion, Christina Valldolid, was seriously hurt. A taxi driver who saw the murder said the assailant walked away after the incident.

Cold-blooded slaughter has been a common occurrence in the Philippines. The administration of Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo appears helpless in stopping the crimes which earn bad reputation for the country. Apologists of the government can’t say that the unsatisfactory national human rights and freedom records are “perceptions” only. There is an obvious lack of justice. Unhalted murders suggest political instability which may worsen in time. (Photo Credit: Campino Castillejo)=0=

RELATED BLOGS: “Another gruesome journalist’s slay” Posted by mesiamd at 11/17/2008; “RP’s 2008 Press Freedom Rank: 142nd out of 173 nations,” Posted by mesiamd at 10/26/2008; “Deteriorating Human Rights Record: another journalist shot dead in Camarines Sur,” posted by mesiamd at 08/16/08.)

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Media bias &/or conflict of interest?

Gwen Ifill of PBS (Channel 13) has drawn sharp criticisms from concervatives for accepting the job of a moderator during the vice presidential debate of Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin slated on Friday, October 2, 2008. The veteran black anchorwoman didn’t reveal ahead of time that she has a pro-Obama book entitled “‘The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama” coming out in January 2008 in time for the next presidential inauguration.

This raises the question of media bias, objectivity, and conflict of interest that are at the root of the weakening media credibility. In this age of political partisanship, the American public believes the selection of reliable debate moderators must be done with care.

If Obama wins the election, Ifill will have high financial stakes on the sale of her book. With no shortage of people capable to preside in the debate, Iffil, the contending political parties, and the American public will be better served if she withdraws. It will clear doubts surrounding her suitability as the moderator. =0=

Terrorism, economic meltdown and other problems facing Americans and the world

There is a lulling effect of media’s downplay of other important problems affecting Americans. As an example, in a Gallup poll taken in March 2008, only 2% worry about terrorism—as though it’s a problem of the past.

This is partly an effect of liberal media’s dismissal that those who are bothered by terrorism are essentially “war mongerers” and “alarmists.” Many media people are averse to paying the high cost of security to a point of misleading the public. They ignore that enemies determined to harm us take their time and they wait. There are those who believe diplomacy is often effective and terrorists and Al Qaeda can be appeased in the name of friendship.

The hard reality is terrorism only needs one occasion to succeed. And terrorists are determined and clever. They pulled through in 911 at the World Trade Center (WTC) and in the cowardly killings in Spain, Bali, Kenya, Pakistan, UK, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Philippines, and in other parts of the world. Being friendly with terrorists is therefore a risky business.

The problem issues that citizens (with changing and short attention spans) have grown. But would you believe, only 2% of Americans as of March 2008 Gallup Poll thinks terrorism is a problem?

The new economic woes in Wall Street divert the nation’s attention away from other equally significant problems. The world reacts the same way—finger-pointing on who is to blame after foolishly ignoring the danger signs of the economic meltdown before they blew in the people’s faces.

Reckless buying of houses that they couldn’t afford wasn’t a problem until the mortgage crisis took its toll. Many who were stuck to what they erroneously believed were gripped with panic. Denial, complacency and short memory proved to be dangerous to the security of these individuals, the nation, and the world.

The Most Important Problem(s) Facing America, March 2008

Economic Problems…………………….35%
Iraq War……………………………………21%
Health Care & Costs……………………8%
Fuel, Gas Costs………………………….8%
Immigration & Illegal Aliens……………6%
Jobs & Unemployment…………………..5%
Gov’t Corruption & Incompetence…..5%
Moral Decline………………………………4%
Education……………………………………4%
Inflation & Cost of Living………………..4%
Poverty & Hunger………………………….3%
National Security…………………………..2%
Terrorism…………………………………….2%

Source: Gallup Poll, March 2008/Fleeced (Morris, D; McGann E; Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 2008, pp. 46-47.) Photo Credit: Mario Zuccal. =0=

America is as plural and diverse as ever

It’s really exciting to see reactions on issues about the US presidential election in real time. The power of the media has somehow provided an avenue of understanding (or misunderstanding,) but as I pointed out, the partisanship makes it hard for ordinary Americans to make their choices. The public is now compelled to winnow the chaffs from the grains as the political fight comes closer to the election. Hoping that the saturation of information will reach the inattentive, I think by and large, a good number of Americans will decide based on their guts.

From my perspective, I can say majority of the media outfits favor the Democrats—there are more liberals than conservatives in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Washington Post, LA Times, Baltimore Sun, Atlanta Herald, Miami Herald, Houston Chronicle, Denver Post, New Orleans-Picayune, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Minneapolis Star, San Francisco Chronicle,……They complement the secular progressives in the MSNBC, CNN, and CBS. And almost all comedians in American late-night TV are liberals as much as movie-director Michael Moore and his stars in Hollywood.

Academics in many learning institutions, like the traditional UP professors, are generally known as liberals too, many left-leaning and socialistic; majority is anti-establishment. Whether they do that because many of them do not find a lucrative niche in society (as much as the flashy entrepreneurs in business and government) is subject to debate. In spite of the preponderance of Democratic support, they still have to win the electorate to their side.

On the rightist and conservative front, I notice Fox News leans towards the Republicans in spite of their claim of being “fair and balanced.” Talk radios which have gained popularity in recent years, have broadcasters like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’ Reilly, Laura Schlessinger, Michael Savage, and few more lending support to conservatives.

Partisan programming could be the result of the repeal of the FCC Fairness Doctrine which required that stations give free air time for answers to controversial opinions. Now, it gives more burden on busy citizens to be informed lest they only listen to what they want to hear. There’s a price to pay for missing the views of the opposite side.

The American heartland is as plural and diverse as the birds of the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. One cannot be all the way supportive of one party without missing the goodies of the other. Put it in another way, one can’t brush aside a party without seeing the folly of the other. That’s why Ron Paul, an eccentric hardworking American who didn’t get the presidential nomination in the Republican ticket also wages his own political battle on the side. So let’s look what happens on the day of election. (Photo Credits: Pierre Marcel; Mark Berry; photobyrich)=0=

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