Category Archives: The Media

Politics, The Media

WHITE HOUSE GIVES THE ADOBO CHRONICLES UNCONDITIONAL PRESS ACCREDITATION

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President Obama at a White House press briefing (file photo)
President Obama at a White House press briefing (file photo)

Washington, D.C. – While the rest of the Fourth Estate are up in arms over what they call the Obama administration’s attempt to stifle their First Amendment rights, The Adobo Chronicles today was granted full, unconditional access to all White House meetings, press briefings, private audiences with the President and a 24-access to all rooms except the Presidential bedroom.

This unprecedented accreditation comes on the heels of complaints by American media over the Obama administration’s not-so-covert efforts to trace, identify and punish confidential sources of news media reports, including whistleblowers.  Very recently, photojournalists were restricted on which White House events they can shoot. The White House, however, said it will provide the news media with copies of official photographs taken by the administration’s own photographers.  News media associations described this new policy as “The White House distributing press releases for newsrooms to publish or disseminate.”

Since its founding in June of this year, The  Adobo Chronicles has been gaining worldwide popularity, with its website recording an average of 1 Million hits per month, and counting. International publications like The International Business Times and The Latin Times have recently relied on The Adobo Chronicles as a credible source for their own stories, especially with regards to beauty pageants and the aftermath of the Haiyan typhoon in the Philippines.  Also, it was The Adobo Chronicles that broke the stories about CNN’s Anderson Cooper’s appointment as new ambassador to the Philippines and the state of California’s proposal to totally ban lechon (Filipino roasted pig), roasted duck and boiled crab.

At the last White House press briefing, President Obama welcomed The Adobo Chronicles, describing it as the media’s “new beacon of light.”

Business, Politics, The Media

TEA PARTY PROPOSES LEGISLATION TO OUTLAW POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

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imageWashington D.C. – The Washington Redskins.  Sushi chef Halloween costume. A Michigan-based punk band named Crucifucks. And now, Katy Perry’s American Music Awards performance. The Tea Party has had it. It thinks political correctness in the U.S. has gone over the top.

At an emergency meeting this morning, the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party proposed a legislation that would permanently outlaw any form of political correctness in this country. “We need to banish ‘PC’ from the face of the earth,” a Tea Party statement said, adding that ” political correctness is bad for business and is inconsistent with the American mantra of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Can anyone ever have free speech?”

The last straw for the Tea Party legislators came last night after the televised opening number by Katy Perry at the American Music Awards. She performed the song “Unconditionally” dressed in traditional Geisha dress — except for the slits– surrounded by similarly -clad dancers waving  giant fans and twirling paper umbrellas.

Twitterworld was immediately bombarded with cries of “racism” and “utter insensitivity.” Not all comments were negative, though. One Japanese twitterer said, “I am not offended.  In fact I am honored! Katy loves Japan and the Japanese people love her.”

The proposed legislation is scheduled to be filed when Congress reconvenes after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This gives everyone one last chance to post or tweet offensive turkey jokes.

International, Politics, The Media

ANDERSON COOPER APPOINTED U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES

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imageWashington, D.C. – President Barack Obama has nominated CNN’s Anderson Cooper to be the next U.S. ambassador to the Philippines.  The White House announcement on the nomination came on the heels of Cooper’s live reporting on the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan which has devastated many cities and towns in Central Philippines.  He is the host of the popular CNN news program, AC 360. His reports from Tacloban, the worst-hit among the cities in the province of Leyte, gained both praise and criticism.

Many Filipinos, including expatriates from all over the world, have praised Cooper’s early coverage of the devastation in Tacloban and the Philippine government’s rescue and relief efforts which he described as lacking in coordination and clear strategy. On the other hand, Cooper earned the ire of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino who asked for “greater accuracy” in reporting on his government’s relief efforts and to focus on the strong spirit of the Filipino people in facing this calamity. Cooper responded on his news program that accuracy has been his hallmark as a journalist and that his reporting had always pointed to the enormous strength and fighting spirit of the Filipino people.

A Filipino news anchor, Korina Sanchez, speaking from her air-conditioned broadcast studio in Manila, also criticized Cooper for his reporting on the government’s less than stellar response to the needs of Haiyan survivors.  Sanchez said Cooper did not know what he was talking about.  Cooper then challenged Sanchez to do her own reporting at “ground zero” in Tacloban. Sanchez is the wife of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas who is supposed to lead government relief and rescue operations.

In nominating Cooper, Obama said that the CNN journalist is fully qualified for the job and brings with him extensive knowledge and experience with political, social and other issues plaguing foreign governments, including the Philippines.  Obama said that Cooper has also proven himself to be fearless, independent, and sensitive to the interest and needs of both the U.S. and its long-time ally the Philippines.

There seems to be bipartisan support in the Senate for Cooper’s nomination. That in itself is a rarity in America.