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Greetings.
First, let me set the record straight: I do not read this newspaper.
That said, I read of the allegations published by your newspaper
against late night talk show host Art Bell. I then read of the
resultant torrential downpour of hostile e-mails and death threats
against him on his web site. I then located the web page for the
Philippine Daily Inquirer and took a look for myself.
Apparently, Leah Salterio, author of the "Showbiz Tidbits" column,
received an e-mail from one Jennifer Alejandro, "... a former ABS-CBN
news anchor and field reporter ...."
Leah, apparently hurting for something to write about that day,
published excerpts from this letter immediately.
Now ... there's this thing true journalists are supposed to do before
they publish a story ... that thing is called "RESEARCH."
Say it with me, ladies and gentlemen: RESEARCH.
This means (for obviously Leah and Jennifer don't know) that you
INVESTIGATE THE FACTS before you publish your stories. If the
reporters can't do it, the editors should.
That's their JOB.
A simple search on the internet for "Art Bell" and "Filipino" would
reveal at the very least, the page on his web site (URL below) that
denies this ugly allegation.
Since they didn't, please allow me to tell your readers the FACTS that
your reporters and editors didn't feel they needed to know.
In a nutshell, the story is that about three years ago, somebody at a
college in California wrote and posted this racist letter your paper
printed excerpts from as fact to several internet usenet news groups.
The more astute readers of your paper probably noticed that I wrote
THREE YEARS AGO in that last paragraph.
Continuing, this posting was traced to a terminal at the University
of California, San Diego. Unfortunately, the actual author of this
piece has not been found. As it's been nearly THREE YEARS (there's
that magic number again), he or she has probably graduated by now.
On Art Bell's web site (http://www.artbell.com), on the bottom left
side of the screen as I write this, there's a link which reads
"Filipinos click here." Clicking there takes you to this page:
http://www.artbell.com/filipino.html
This link has been there for quite a while.
I could copy and paste this whole page for your readers ... but
providing the URLs should be enough. If they want to know what Leah
didn't bother to tell them, they can check for themselves ... and
readers, I strongly suggest that you do.
As for the "reporters" that wrote (or contributed to) this piece and
the "editor(s)" (note the quotes) that let this drivel slip by,
perhaps a few weeks in the mail room (without pay) might help them
change their research habits.
Did that article even mention that Art Bell's wife, Ramona, is half
Filipino?
No?
Readers, if you want to know the truth, check the links I provided
above. Obviously, Leah doesn't have the basic research skills (i.e.,
she can't type "http://www.artbell.com" into her browser and click
the "Filipinos Click Here" link), so she can't tell you.
I wonder ... just how pervasive is the sloppy reporting and editing in
Leah's column? Perhaps you should wonder the same thing.
One last thing.
Matt Drudge, an investigative reporter (who, incidentally, actually
RESEARCHES his stories), mentioned this story on his web site. He
describes the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a "leading Philippine
newspaper" (really?). You can find the listing here:
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1.htm
Interestingly, he also says the story is a hoax.
Unfortunately for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Art Bell has taken
time off from doing his show. This means his attention (and that of
his lawyers) is focused, one hundred percent, on the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, and Showbiz Tidbits columnist Leah Salterio.
In view of what happened the last time Mr. Bell went to court (he took
a whole year off for that one), your publisher should probably try to
convince Ms. Salterio to write a really good retraction/apology ...
then you should put it on the front page.
If you're lucky, when Mr. Bell's lawyers read Leah's heartfelt
apology, you'll all still have jobs this time next year.
Whether you print this e-mail or not, please make sure that Ms.
Salterio sees it.
Good luck!
G.D. Warner
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