Category Archives: Social Media

Media, Social Media

News Media, Fact Checkers Outsmarted By 20-Year-Old Filipino Student!

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – First, the news media were scrambling to interview the 20-year-old Filipino student who said he was accepted and offered scholarships to 30 U.S. and UK schools. Then the news and social media began bullying the kid for what they thought were lies.

Now, the news media are saying “mea culpa” because apparently, some of the schools mentioned by the student confirmed that they, indeed, have accepted him, with some offering scholarships.

So, it now appears that Julian Martir outsmarted the smart news media.

And how about the leading fact checkers Rappler and Vera Files? Nada. Quiet. (Were they afraid their fact-checking would be proven wrong?)

Moral of the story:

  1. 1. If it’s too good to be true, it could be true!
  2. 2. Fact-check, fact-check, fact- check
  3. 3. Think before you click
  4. 4. Leave the boy alone
Education, Media, Social Media

Julian Martir: News Media Conned?

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BACOLOD CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Bacolod Bureau) -Did he or didn’t he?

A student from the ‘City of Smiles’ has received scholarships from 30 prestigious schools across the United Kingdom and the United States.

Julian Martir, a 20-year-old graduate of Negros Occidental High School (NOHS), comes from a family of six with four siblings. His father works as a tricycle driver, while his mother is a vendor.

This amazing story was picked up by the mainstream news media and has created a buzz that continues to trend on social media.

At issue here is whether or not Martir’s claims were true.

An Adobo Chronicles investigation team found out that many, including the news media, were duped into believing in the authenticity of the story.

Proof of the pudding: One of the “acceptance letters” posted online by Martir was from UCONN. No, not from the University of Connecticut. University of the Conned.