Story on Osama’s death didn’t deserve top space

I HAVE been a follower of the famous, historical daily newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer since the Edsa I days. It has been a source of inspiration and pride for me and many Filipinos. In the way it carries the banner of Filipino journalism, raising its bar with integrity and idealism, the Inquirer is like a beacon in a dark sea guiding the wayfarer to distant shores.

But last May 6, we were a bit dismayed at the Inquirer‘s banner story. (“PH muslims honor Osama,” Inquirer, 5/6/11) It gave me the impression that the newspaper has lowered its standards. This is not meant to bash our brother Filipino Muslims, but there was simply no justification for choosing that report as a banner story. Was there no other story for that day that merited more the most prominent space in the Inquirer?

One of my colleagues saw the headline as nonsensical.  Both of us are of the view that there were other stories more deserving of that space. And we believe the Inquirer used the story not to extol the intention of our brothers to glorify the slain Osama bin Laden but to … (please supply the words because, I’m sorry, I can’t find enough justification for the story’s choice as a banner story, having in mind people, human beings leaping out of the burning World Trade Center and the thousands of other people who died in the 9/11 attack. Forgive me, but I can’t see any reason for the Inquirer to give that report such prominence.)

I still believe the Philippine Daily Inquirer can do better. It has to re-adopt its high standards and ideals—for the sake of Philippine journalism and the Filipino people, and for posterity.

—PJ JURILLA, jurilla@gmail.com