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To: Getsy Selerio, Editor-in-Chief and Keah Salterio, Showbiz Tidbits
As a regular and long time listener of Art Bell and his radio program,
Coast to Coast AM, I felt I must write to correct an unfortunate error
presented in a story printed in The Philippine Inquirer and posted at
your online site at inq7.net.
I have just finished reading Keah Salterio's piece, "US talk radio host
insults Filipinos on the Internet". I am shocked and dismayed that Keah
Salterio and The Philippine Inquirer/inq7.net apparently never bothered
to check into the forwarded email, supposedly from American radio talk
show host Art Bell, sent to Keah Salterio by a friend based in Singapore,
Jennifer Alejandro, before a copy of it was printed in the Inquirer and
posted on your site. The article did not say that the forwarded email
was "allegedly" written and sent by Art Bell, but rather presented it as
established "fact".
This is the height of irresponsible and inflammatory journalism. Worse,
it perpetuates a vicious lie and known Internet hoax. Jennifer Alejandro
is identified as "a former ABS-CBN news anchor and field reporter who now
works with Channel News Asia". Ms. Alejandro is quoted as having said in
a note to Keah Salterio, sent with the forwarded email allegedly written
by Art Bell, "Please pass this on to every Filipino you know."
I direct your attention to--- http://www.artbell.com/filipino.html for
full and complete information on this horrible hoax that continues to
circulate (for over 2 1/2 years) directed at Filipinos worldwide in an
attempt to enrage them against Art Bell. The true author of this hoax is
a cowardly bigot who is attempting to hurt all Filipinos and Art Bell.
Two of the cardinal rules of good and responsible journalism are Check
The Facts and Check Your Sources. To be considered a professional
journalist calls for nothing less! To have published and posted this
email as fact calls into question the professionalism of The Philippine
Inquirer/inq7.net in general and Keah Salterio, and Jennifer Alejandro in
particular. I trust that after a review of the facts in this matter, a
retraction and apology will be posted on the inq7.net site and published
in The Philippine Inquirer as soon as possible.
I have many lovely memories of my own visit to the Philippines--Luzon
and Manila, and Mindanao--in 1979. I will always fondly remember the
Filipino people for their kindness, generosity and friendliness.
Salamat, Cynthia Cloppas Glendale, California, USA
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