Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Cruel media

Manila TimesMarch 14, 2006 banner story as shown above is perfectly grammatical but the veterans of this journalism game know that it's an old senseless, sexist, tasteless “joke” among headline writers at the expense of the subject—no less than former social welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman. The Manila Times story is about a certain Jaime Fuentes, supposedly a former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines, who claims he witnessed Soliman meeting with the leaders of the CPP and the “Black and White Movement,” supposedly a “center-right” coalition of anti-Arroyo forces. Cruel media? It’s your call. But if I’m the editor, I would rather say “hooded ex-NPA tags Soliman.” Or something like that.

(By the way, you may want to see my notes on Brokeback Mountain and V for Vendetta at Without Borders: Films and Books).

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, it was a catchy headline....

It might be offensive to some, and Gloria Arroyo might even use that as an ammo against the media (irresponsible). Does this make her right, calling media as irresponsible?

Anonymous said...

catchy headline?

for a tabloid, maybe.

Anonymous said...

It got your attention, didn't it?

Dave Llorito said...

arbet: catchy headline, yes. but considering that manila times is an arroyo supporter... you know what i mean.

Dave Llorito said...

anp: you are right. that kind of headlines really are for tabloids. but manila times, my former employer, do claims its not one.

Dave Llorito said...

arbet: yes, really got my attention. so the double meaning really was intentional.

Anonymous said...

Dave, the Manila Times has always been crummy. Crummier however is Time's Nelly Sindayen actually being "invited to cover a coup plot". We should get together and come up with a psycholigical study of media chartacters blah blah blah! You got any invitations lately for a blogging "coverage" of the latest coup plots? Heck! it's hot and humid !!!