December 5, 2010

The administration talking about peace hugs the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.


The headline (Aquino: Let’s just debate. NDF more hopeful for peace under new administration) talks about peace now being in our sights because the administration says so and the communists agree. Aquino +1. NPA +1.

The other Front Page news today:

In exile, Joma Sison yearns for mangoes, mountains - an old communist who only wanted to go see his country again, with seemingly better hopes of arriving at peace with the present administration. NPA +1. Aquino +1.

Surviving Mt. Pinatubo without really trying - a report on a paper with journalists willing to face danger just to give us the latest news. Inquirer +1.

Where love has gone; President Aquino still looking - In spite of being the greatest president that ever lived, his lovelife is what we are all interested about. Such is the sad plight of a bachelor president, so spins this report. Aquino +1.

Eyes of orphan Anita filled with tragedy of lifetime - a feature of a paper and a journalist with a heart. Inquirer +1.

Read-Along inspiring in 25 sites from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi - this report make it seems that the whole country is united for reading to kids, of course simply a marketing promotion of the paper. Inquirer +1.

The scores today shows that the President is as good as the Inquirer, while the NPA is good but not as good, as far as the front page is concerned:
Aquino: 3
Inquirer: 3
NPA: 2

December 4, 2010

A truce with communist rebels hugs the front page of the Phil. Daily Inquirer today.



The headline (18-day Christmas truce. Gov’t, Reds to resume talks after 5 years) seems to prove that the administration is doing something to improve peace and order in the country. Aquino +1.

The other Front page news today:

Largest US-Japan war games kick off Korean waters - a report on what looks like a cold war happening in Korea.

CA denies Ping petition to stop trial, lift arrest - a report where Sec. Delima gets space for her side as usual on the front page, giving Sen. Lacson some negative treatment, with Pres. Aquino able to wash his hands. De Lima +1. Lacson -1. Aquino +1.

Aquino faces blue Christmas, blames media - a supposedly very busy person now seems to have been dating some girls but remains single because the media has been snooping too much make for a cute report for the President. Aquino +1.

‘Morong 43’ hold hunger strike to get Aquino’s attention - a report on the detention of supposed communist rebels which detention the administration say was a mistake (by the previous administration) but has not done anything to correct it, although Sec. of Justice De Lima is given space as being the person who is someone doing something about it. Aquino -1. Arroyo -1. AFP -1. De Lima +1.

TELLING THE STORY TO THE WORLD. From Mt. Pinatubo to Kuwait - more self-praise type of feature that readers must have gotten tired of reading. Inquirer +1.

Finance expert elected 20th president of UP - a report on a supposed "expert' that gets to run the Philippines' premier state university.

It’s official: PH bests India as No. 1 in BPO - a report that cnofuses BPO from call centers, saying we are the world leader in BPO because more Filipinos work in call centers than any other country.

The scores:
Aqiuno: 3 - 1 = 2
De Lima: 2
Inquirer: 1
Lacson: -1
Arroyo: -1

December 3, 2010

Sen. Lacson and the Inquirer's own 25th anniversary celebraton with the President as their main guest, are the main features in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front page today.


The headline (Over my dead body—Lacson. Fugitive solon: I miss the Senate0 surprisingly gave the two competing protagonists in the Lacson case both positive treatment. Lacson +1. De Lima +1.

The other news today:

Aquino lauds Inquirer but fears loss of more hair - The President given exclusive space for his speech as guest in tbe Inquirer anniversary program. Inquirer +1. Aquino +1.

Fun with ‘who’s who’ in politics, showbiz, biz - the paper reports its own big time 25th anniversary celebrations. Inquirer +1.

Another crossfire: Four shot dead in hijacked bus - a report where more civilians are killed in a gun battle between soldiers and criminals. AFP -1.

MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE. Overkill: Newsman shot 12 times, court told - an update on the Ampatuan hearings.

TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD. Untold stories behind the photos - this time, it is the Inquirer's photographers' turn to report their hardships and travails just to give the readers better understanding of the news. Inquirer +1.

Some starry, starry night: 300 sextillion (3 + 23 zeros) - a report on some astronomer estimating the number of stars.

The scores today shows the paper leveled up its own praise of itself:
Inquirer: 3
Aquino: 1
De Lima: 1
Lacson: 1
AFP: -1

December 2, 2010

Sen. Ping Lacson is again on the headlines today, in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page.



The headline (Lacson won’t surrender. Robredo dismisses bounty on fugitive senator) is a report that gave more space to Sen. Lacson than to what is logical. Meanwhile, Sec. Robredo is mentioned in the report but only in a he-says-she-says kind of interview, not enough to give him a score in our monitor. Lacson +1.

The other news today:

‘Dirty Harry’ cracks down on ‘kuliglig’ in Manila - a he-says-she-says type of report on a Mayor trying to implement the law.

iPad has real Christmas rival in Galaxy tablet - an AFP report on, some may say promotion of, a successful tech product.

ANTIPOLLUTION CAMPAIGN. Gov’t plans to limit vehicles on EDSA - Environment Sec. Paje given free space in the front page talking about buses and the environment, also includes a brief mention of QC Mayor Herbert Bautista. Paje +1. Bautista +1.

Corpses ‘beyond recognition’ after Maguindanao massacre - a report on the testimony of a witness who is part of the victims family in the Ampatuan massacre. Note that the paper has now refrained from calling the Ampatuan suspects as former President Arroyo's friends.

TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD. Top business paper not a business paper - a report about themselves that proves they are simply the best. Inquirer +1.

Church questions RH survey: You can’t poll morality - more and more people are supporting the Reproductive Health Bill, says a survey, although no body knows which RH Bill they are talking about. Although some Church officials are given space for their comments, they are given so from the point of view of losing in a battle. Meanwhile, although Aquino has not personally endorsed the bill, the news report came as if he is endorsing it. Catholic Church -1. Aquino +1.

2 House committees OK Aquino’s amnesty plan - all is going well for President Aquino's plan to give amnesty to rebel soldiers, which include Sen. Trillanes. Aquino +1. Trillanes +1.

The scores:
Aquino: 2
Lacson: 1
Paje: 1
Herbert Bautista: 1
Trillanes: 1
Inquirer: 1
Catholic Church: -1

December 1, 2010

The RH Bill again took the centerstage in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.



The headline (Pulse: 69% favor RH bill. Support for measure up 6 percentage points) reports on the supposed support by the people on the RH bill.

Biong freed, maintains innocence - a prisoner that seemed to have turned into a pastor is released, which story gave Sec. De Lima public exposure. De Lima +1.

De Lima says Lacson here, backs P2-M reward for his arrest - a space for Sec. De Lima, against Sen. Lacson believed to be just hiding in the country. De Lima +1. Lacson -1.

Solarz, rights champ, Filpinos’ BFF, dies at 70 - a surprisingly long and detailed account of a US lawmaker remembered in the Philippines, a report which mentioned the excesses of a former First Lady. Imelda Marcos -1.

Palace to review setup of 3-headed media group - a report that reminded us of a good survey rating of the administration despite its supposedly poor communication efforts. Aquino +1.

TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD. Little League’s big scandal: Cost of righting a wrong - the Inquirer reports itself to be standing up for truth. Inquirer +1.

Lotto winner still has to claim P741M - a report saying there is now a lone winner in the biggest lotto pot in Philippine history.

PDI reporter fears for life over Tim Yap tweet - a report on a wrong lotto winner (now fearing for his life) spread via twitter.

Metro Manila is ‘7-11 of disasters’ - a report warning Metro Manila of dangers lurking around her, giving space to Sen. Loren Legarda's anti-climate change and environmental crusade. Legarda +1.

The scores:
De Lima: 2
Aquino: 1
Legarda: 1
Inquirer: 1
Lacson: -1
Imelda Marcos: -1

November 30, 2010

The Korea situation again took the centerstage in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today, amidst a photo of a rally against "contractualization" timed with the commemoration of the birth of a national hero, Andres Bonifacio.



The headline (S. Korea vows retaliation. Now is time to act, not talk–Seoul) is a collation of reports from the AP and Reuters on what is happening in the North and South Koreas.

Other news today:

13 names added on heroes wall - a report on new heroes.

Supremo’s prose reveals brave patriot - a report on Bonifacio whom the Filipinos actually knew little about.

Why celebrate Bonifacio Day? - another report the national hero whose birth is celebrated today.

Studies find Philippines a disaster waiting to happen - a report on climate change, that gave space to President Aquino's pro-environment pronouncements, but reminded the readers of a bit of a recent assesment by a consultancy group on the administration's lack of preparation for disaster. Aquino +1.

TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD. Both sides now: Senate’s ‘Lazarus,’ ‘Demi Moore’ - a retelling of old Inquirer reports featuring Juan Ponce Enrile and Mirriam Defensor Santiago.

UN condemns killing of aid worker in Mindanao - a report on another killing in Mindanao, of a hired help distributing humanitarian goods by the World Food Program and DSWD. While the UN condemns the killing, local officials are not interviewed by the paper to issue similar condemnations.

‘12 Days of Christmas’ items now cost P4.4M - an AP report that used a Christmas song to talk about the US economy.

The score today:
Aquino: 1

November 29, 2010

An impending war is the center of the news today in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page.


The headline (N. Korea readies missiles. China calls for talks as war games begin) is a Reuters report on the escalation of military pronouncements and activities amidst calls by China for an emergency meeting with other countries to resolve the brewing conflict in the Koreas.

The other front page news reports today:

PH ‘obliged’ to aid South Korea - an opinion piece by Senate President Enrile on our international obligation, given front page space by the Inquirer.

Petition against toll hike thrown out - a report on the SC decision, without hint of any opinion, but with a bit mention of the President's infrastructure plan (may not enough to warrant a score in our monitor).

US military taps new robots for battle - a NYT report on questions and issues surrounding the use of advanced remote technology in warfare.

Release of cop in massacre deferred - a Vizconde massacre story exclusively coming from the subject cop, and a reminder of the Vizconde charge of some influence peddling happening in the Supreme Court. SC -1.

TELLING THE FILIPINO STORY TO THE WORLD. Tops in race to get the story first - a report on the their own "grit and passion" with a reminder of the background story on the fall of former President Estrada from power, and some excesses of former President Arroyo. Inquirer +1. Estrada -1. Arroyo -1.

Samsung smartphones feature Inquirer news - a joint promotional report for Samsung ang the Inquirer. Inquirer +1.

Outlets run out of bet slips for Grand Lotto - a story on the now very popular pastime of betting on the lotto mixed with Bishop Cruz's tirades against the government for supposedly transferring the control of PCSO to the office of the President. Aquino -1.

The scores:
Inquirer: 2
Aquino: -1
Arroyo: -1
SC: -1
Estrada: -1