May 12, 2010

Everyone is now expecting an Aquino administration. The question is will the Inquirer front page be as negative to an Aquino as to an Arroyo administration? Will he be covered properly or will he receive the same treatment that Arroyo got from the media? I guess early on, Aquino will have some kind of a honeymoon period. However, soon, I expect Aquino will also get a hard time with the press. So from monitoring just the Presidentiables, let us monitor who the front page is giving a negative or a positive treatment starting today...


The main news (Fast count stuns nation, Faster than you can say ‘Garci’) is purely positive to the COMELEC and SMARTMATIC). This simply means that all the bad press they got before the elections is just that, bad press! The same news with reference to 'Garci' is slightly negative to President Arroyo. COMELEC = 1

The other news are as follows:

PPCRV: Binay takes 14 of 17 regions but Roxas still sees ‘hairline win’ - a bit negative to Roxas but overly positive to Binay, gave also sligtly positive treatment to Bong Revilla. Binay = 1

Aquino: Kris, Shalani not in Cabinet but Teodoro may be invited - positive to Aquino, and definitely negative to Arroyo. This piece of news though is disturbing as it seems that the would-be Aquino administration is set out to hang Arroyo rather than seek the truth. This move will defnitely consolidate opposition against Aquino which perhaps Arroyo has been preparing to do for quite some time. Aquino also mentioned he will form a commission if Charter Change will be accepted by the people. This means Aquino prefers to get the easy way of getting to popular opinion rather than what is needed. Aquino = 1, Arroyo = -1

Comelec stops tallies for Congress tabulation - seems neutral to everyone

‘Villar conceding proves Comelec credible’ - this news is quite positive for the COMELEC and surprisingly to Villar. COMELEC = 1, Villar = 1

Arroyo, Pacman, Imelda win; Jocjoc, Ermita, Montano losing - this one is quite neutral

For Estrada, 2010 fight not over yet - this news is positive to Estrada. Estrada = 1

Believe it or not: Bangit believable - this news is surprisingly positive to Bangit and by extension to President Arroyo. Arroyo = 1

COMMENTARY. Take a bow, Filipino voters - this commentary while slightly positive to both Arroyo and Aquino is in fact positive for the COMELEC. COMELEC = 1

Also judging by the photo featured today on the front page, I say Sen. Aquino is given a good positive image, so 1 more point goes to Aquino. Aquino = 1

So, in summary I give the following scores for todays issue:
COMELEC: 3
Aquino: 2
Binay: 1
Villar: 1
Estrada: 1
Arroyo: 1 - 1 = 0

Obviously, the COMELEC is the winner in today's front page!