CNMI paper implies First Amendment Retaliation

The Marianas Variety suggests, without making a specific accusation, that political retribution is behind the CNMI Department of Public Health pulling its advertising.

That would be troubling, if true -- and illegal. For example, in a quick search for First Amendment Retaliation by governments I found cases from Mississippi and Puerto Rico.

If possible, the newspaper's relations with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and his administration have become more strained since his re-election, capped by their reporting the governor's controversial massage by a woman who was in federal custody.

I'm hesitant to say more, because the piece is more editorial opening salvo than news story. Tomorrow is another day.

However (heh), I did rummage through some back issues that were squirreled away and DPH doesn't seem to be the only government agency that is migrating away from the Variety and staying with the Saipan Tribune.

Evidently, the Variety learned this Friday, which makes the bare-bones reporting more understandable. Additionally, the paper claims that "Variety reporters covering the executive branch are also not getting replies to their requests for information and comments."

I had wondered why they were getting 'scooped' on stories that are essentially press release journalism.

Media well done

Points to the Saipan Tribune in reporting the Government Accounting Office report on the federalization of CNMI immigration.

While they apparently went for sensationalism in their original story, their follow-up included a response from the GAO. Seen in that light, Stefan Sebastian's original story was reporting the latest news: i.e. the Administration's response. He continued by seeking a new source. Meanwhile, the Marianas Variety follow=up highlighted the report, mentioned the Administration's position and refuted it with comments from the report. Without taking sides, who's working at reporting here?

Bad timing, because I'm really irritated with the Variety. It's happened before, but their reporting of the alleged poker robbery by the Rota Mayor's son is completely unprofessional. Try this: "The defendant later surrendered the green plastic bag containing the money he got from the poker parlor. The rifle he used in the robbery was found later on the roof of a barracks unit. He said his son was in critical condition on Guam." And I've said this before: why bother having a trial?

Yeah, it's obvious to me he's probably guilty, but a newspaper shouldn't play it this way--if it wants to be taken seriously.

Why? How about this story? When you have no credibility, I don't believe statements like this: "Cabrera and Borja are currently under probation, while Camacho has been previously involved in various drug-related criminal activities." Yeah, right. What does "involved" mean? What's "drug-related"? Charged? Tried? Convicted?

Pop tart

Oh, and I liked the Tribune's headline about Paris Hilton responding to John McCain's Paris Hilton ad. It's right up in my top five this year. Paris Hilton issues tart rebuttal to McCain ad. They copped it from the wire, but I still like it. Unfortunately, McCain may be one of the few who gets the "tart" joke. Who uses that word any more?

The idea is funnier than the ad, but Angelo and I agree, it never hurts traffic if you mention a media darling. He has a link to the video. I don't because it loads very slowly.

GAO Predicts 50% Decline in CNMI Economy as a Result of Federalization

The headline isn't mine; I borrowed it from Special Legal Counsel Howard Willens. It heads his letter in Appendix XII of the Government Accountability Office report on the impact of federal immigration law. The letter is the CNMI response to the draft report, which he predicts would result in that headline.

The Saipan Tribune decided to use the acronymic and more catchy GAO: Local GDP could plunge instead but agreeably used this lead: "Pointing to findings they say will harm the CNMI's economy, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and officials in his administration are blasting a report released yesterday by the Government Accountability Office that details several scenarios on the impact of the pending federal takeover of local immigration rules and includes projections that suggest it could slash the Commonwealth's gross domestic product by 50 percent or more."

The Marianas Variety? They went with GAO downplays Fitial’s economic disaster scenario.

So which is correct? Strangely enough, both papers can justify their headlines. It's just a political decision: what they want to emphasize.

I was thinking about this last night, but a 100+ page report gives me a PDF headache and I needed a good night's sleep. It's the best they could do, I suppose, but there are so many qualifications I've come to a familiar cynical conclusion: pretty worthless.

Save yourself some time and just read the title: "Managing Potential Economic Impact of Applying U.S. Immigration Law Requires Coordinated Federal Decisions and Additional Data".

The scenarios are based on 'all things remaining equal', i.e. ignoring the increasing minimum wage, high-flying energy prices and the CNMI's low-flying economy. Those factors have too much influence on the outcome to be set aside.

The Commonwealth letter and GAO response to it in Appendix XII are entertaining and informative if you've got the time. Otherwise, read both papers and the first page of the report. Glutton for punishment? Here's the link.

Guam tomorrow?

The Marianas Variety says National Geographic names Guam one of the 'last colonies'. Sure enough, June's Last Colonies article doesn't say much, but Guam's on the list.

In fact, the author refers to 'the committee that deals with the issue', he can't even tell us it's the Special Committee on Decolonization, also known as the Fourth Committee. Here's a pretty up-to-date blog.

The Committee wants wants "non-self-governing" territories to settle their status by 2010. Not likely since the controlling countries, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, view the Fourth Committee as a relic of the Cold War. The name doesn't help in nixing that impression.

I've never understood why the U.S. doesn't just finally deal with the issue. Guam deserves a vote, whatever the outcome.

Labor papers

Whose bright idea was the Department of Labor website?

Let's ask another way: Who is most likely to be computer illiterate, to not have internet or even a computer? My guess would be the jobless and those making minimum wage. In practice, people needing work are least likely to 'surf DOL' and look at job announcements.

But all they have to do is drop by the Department of Labor. Sure, they can fire up the Hummer and cruise on down, or maybe stop at the Library instead to save gas. These Laborites have been working for the government too long.

Oh, and once you get there you've got to register before you see any announcements. Also, "Job seekers must be approved by the CNMI Department of Labor before their Résumés will be displayed."

It's meant to control the make-believe job postings, the Your Help Not Wanted ads, to catch illegal workers. I can see that, better enforcement has been overdue for a loooong time. How does it help when you're denying access to the very job-hunters you're protecting? Keep your system and require its use, you probably have to justify the grant that funded it anyway. It's a good control, but job announcements should be advertised publicly in newspapers or on the air.

Unclean hands

I have a hidden agenda, of course, having boarded this train of thought when I went looking for an old advertisement in the Saipan Tribune. I suddenly noticed many days when there weren't any ads. The thought had been like a pesky mosquito buzzing around in the back of my head and I finally nailed it. I'd chuckled when the 'job announcements' dwindled from a few pages to a few lines. All that easy, steady revenue gone, it must drive the publishers bonkers, thought I.

But wait, today I saw that the display ads have dwindled too. That's what's been bothering me. Two Tan Holdings companies, the government's Wise Women Project and Carmen Safeway hold Sunday's Tribune together. That's all she er, wrote and it won't pay the bills. I went through back issues of the Tribune and the Marianas Variety (Only a couple because I usually read it online). Uh, oh. Unless fat Friday issues and government notices can float the boats, they're leaking money.

Happily, that means a bigger news hole, paradise for a news junkie like me who prefers paper cuts and ink-smudged fingers to squinting at a screen. It's a fleeting pleasure because I know it can't last. Cutting pages (four at a time) would help a little, though not enough and it's noticeable when you get lower than 28 or possibly 24.

Which brings us to the classified ads. Not only would my rationalization give the newspapers more revenue, it's actually a good idea. I might have thought of it before, but it seems I'm as disconnected from the real world as those folks at Labor.

The subject would make a great editorial, except people would think it a tad too self-serving.

PS: Today's Saipan Tribune was full of ads. Hard to categorize because I only glanced: alien workers snapped up all of my copies in less than an hour because of that Don't hold your breath headline about green cards.

Trial and error

I'm wondering if Patrick Calvo can get a fair trial.

On Monday, Calvo was "charged for sexually abusing a minor", according to the Marianas Variety. Oops, new reporter, but the Editor really should have changed 'for' to 'with'.

This after a weekend-long manhunt, complete with SWAT team.

He surrendered to police at 7:30 Monday morning. That sounds more like a man who doesn't want to spend the weekend in jail than a desperate criminal on the run.

Just out of curiosity, what time was the arrest warrant issued on Friday? Does the way this was handled seem unusual?

Granted, he's a public figure as President of the Rotary Club and as a candidate for Washington Delegate, but it appears he's already been tried in the press, with the possible exception of KSPN2.

Size matters, and random observations

I loved the Marianas Variety's survey of Marianas gas prices: Rota $5.30, Tinian $5.00, Saipan $4.80 and Guam $4.57 per gallon. The differences are about what you'd expect given the islands' size and other factors. For good measure, we get a peek at $6.00 gasoline in the Federated States of Micronesia.

So we're all getting 'hosed' equally. The closing paragraph was entertaining, though not very amusing:

"Robert Koppen of South Pacific Petroleum Company, which runs Circle K gas stations, declined to comment, saying oil companies don't normally discuss gas price issues."

Fish stories

An anonymous poster had a cow because of my ruminations about the Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune perhaps, er, leaning one way or another on the proposed Marine Monument. Follow the links and see how they handle the same story. No comment here; I want to be fair and balanced. You decide. (Gee, I always wanted to write that. Does Fox have the copy write?)

Site sighting

This is just a quick jab at my pal Ed Stevens for writing "re-zero your sites" in his Friday column. Tch, coming from an experienced writer and self-proclaimed gun nut. I wouldn't even mention it, but he once mocked my affection for The Elements of Style.

Round three to the Governor

The House of Representatives may oppose Gov. Benigno R. Fitial's 'emergency' takeover of the Commonwealth Ports Authority, but it's been outfoxed. The Governor has extended the state of emergency and there's nothing they can do. He's forced the board to resign, but no replacements have been appointed.

Monumental error

I wouldn't have run that Saipan Tribune story on the proposed Marine Monument. Study: Marine monument will infuse $333M to NMI

What's so earth-shattering that you have to use a few spoon-fed excerpts instead of waiting a week? That's sloppy journalism at best. Maybe the Tribune is staking out an editorial position in its news, that wouldn't be new. The quote from Century Travel's Dave Sablan might give us a hint.

And the Marianas Variety? Since they've come out against it editorially, they've adopted John Gourley's tactic of branding it the Pew Memorial. Yeah, let's talk about the Pew family instead of the proposal. I suppose that's one reason not to give them the 'exclusive' sneak peek.

I expect the response, probably from Mr. Gourley, to be about the article and not its content.

Make no mistake, the opposition is not limited to “some local government officials and lawmakers”, as Business Editor Stefan Sebastian would have it. I've had more than one person tell me 'I'm against it' and change the subject. They probably think I'll take off on them being uninformed, or ignorant, when I'm just asking for their views.

It's time for the supporters to look at this as a marathon, not a sprint. Extending the metaphor, elbowing in the turns is counterproductive. If it happens, it will be a matter of years, not months, of convincing, not criticizing.

Oh, I've always liked the idea. I look forward to reading the study.

Yer headline too

'Infuse' should be used in a headline... well, never, probably (and you infuse 'with' or 'into', not 'to'). On the same page, the Tribune descends into the seedy world of text messaging with 'Unidentified dead woman found in '79 was Miura's missing GF'. GF? WTF? On page five (? {I'm looking at the online edition now}) they have MVB eying a sinking ship. Arrr, matey.

But their headlines are often unintentionally entertaining, though too often in the passive voice. As in, Federal officials to descend on NMI. Nice image, are they bringing torches?

I regularly restrain my outbursts, but I've been looking for an excuse to mention the story chirping that “Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio is by far the only one to submit his letter of intent to run as GOP candidate...” And if you've got to run press releases (they do), at least read them so we don't end up with “The Garapan Fishing Base Complex—boat launching ramp and the pier facility—will be closed off to all users and the general public starting June 27 through July 7, 2008, for the annual Liberation Day Parade.”

There's lots, but those are my current favorites. The Variety generally does better, though I wonder who slept through “Majority of government offices in the CNMI are located in buildings built before or shortly after World War II." I'd link it but the Variety search engine can't seem to find Monday's article Feds revising building code for insular areas

In the interest of justice

My buddy Bruce Jorgensen copies me in on his vitriolic emails. This one was addressed to the Marianas Variety, Saipan Tribune and Pacific Daily News. Since I haven't seen it in their Letters to the Editor....

21 May 2008

For Publication

Dear Editor:

Given that there is no CNMI institution singularly more responsible than the CNMI Judiciary for the CNMI's demise among investors over the past two decades, it is curious to read the groveling drivel by which several CNMI Bar Association members publicly intimate that the best and brightest have served as CNMI jurists and those presently serving should not be subjected to salary diminution as the general CNMI citizenry starves.

After all, it was the CNMI Judiciary, was it not, which in lieu of promptly disposing of baseless and greedily-motivated Article XII land claims originating in the 1980's, opted instead to needlessly create the CNMI Supreme Court to divest jurisdiction over those claims from the U.S. District Court's then-existing Appellate Division, and to thereafter perpetuate those legally baseless claims for years until final disposition by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals?

Which, of course, is in turn why investors from Japan and elsewhere correctly deemed the CNMI an investors' nightmare as this nonesense persisted, by CNMI Judicial ineptness, into the mid-1990's or so.

Followed, soon after, by the departure of Japanese luminaries JAL, Tokyo Marine, and others. See, e.g., Nikko Hotel.

It was the CNMI Judiciary, was it not, which thereafter, in tandem with their legislative counterparts, orchestrated the enactment of legislation compelling the CNMI Retirement Fund to loan to the CNMI Judiciary the $10 million or so used to construct the CNMI Judiciary's temple-to-itself, grandiously labeled the "Guma In Husticia", in the shadow of the nearby, decrepit, high school so desperately needing repair to educate the CNMI's most valuable gift, its youth?

And it was the CNMI Judiciary, was it not, which thereafter, in tandem with their legislative counterparts, orchestrated the unlawful enactment of legislation by which the CNMI Judiciary designed to keep for itself the many hundreds of thousands of dollars in Hillblom Estate interest income, as this CNMI Judiciary simultaneously was entrusted with the duty to protect estate assets for the claimants, until this law was successfully challenged and declared unconstitutional in the U.S. Court? This challenge, of course, emanating not from a single member of the CNMI Bar Association but, instead, by a non-member.

Fast-forward to present, and let this CNMI Judiciary disclose to the econimically suffering CNMI public, if it will, just how much of the $10 million loan from the Fund has been repaid? Why might the word "zero" come to mind? Interest payments?

Or, just why must CNMI judges/justi8ces be furnished with publicly-funded vehicles and gasoline when they are paid to be at work in the Guma In Hustician and, while there, to work at work? Why does the word "gluttonly" come to mind?

As for the CNMI Judiciary's relationship with the seemingly-soon-to-be-bankrupt CNMI Retirement Fund---well, gee golly Gomer, how many retired judges/justices are receiving how much in the way of hefty six-figure annual payments from the Fund whose assets were seemingly bilked to build the Guma In Husticia in which these judges/justices hung out?

And now we've got the specter of the Chief Justice urging the Legislator not to cut CNMI judges'/justices' salaries?

Hmmm, let's ponder: perhaps instead it might suffice to simply slash 50% of their salaries for reprogramming in payment to the CNMI Retirement Fund?

Investors want stability in tandem with functioning public institutions possessing integrity and competence. In the CNMI Judiciary they've gone wanting over the course of the 1980's and 1990's with the result now in the 21st Century readily apparent by way of the CNMI's economic collapse the result of failed investor-competence causing wholesale investor-flight.

Meanwhile that tail-between-the-legs-boonie dog---the three legged one, with one eye, deformed ear, and recently castrated??? He's the CNMI Bar Association's mascot.

Goes by the name "Lucky".

Luckily yours,
Bruce L. Jorgensen aka Chillili aka Mr. Sunshine

c/o Angeles City Wellness Center

Demapan: Don’t cut judicial salaries
SUPREME Court Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan is urging the Legislature not to “politicize” judicial salaries in reaction to the CNMI’s economic pro read more...

Press Release reporting

I chuckled when Governor Benigno R. Fitial's press release on the signing of PL 110-229 (S.2739), the CNMI immigration bill, was published as an opinion piece in the Saipan Tribune. The end of an era indeed.

I first ran across the 'letter to the Editor' when I stopped by Unheard No More. I couldn't resist commenting that “I don't get it. Who is the press statement aimed at? The issues are settled and he's still arguing against the legislation." *

Oh. Question answered; it was for local consumption. The 'run against Washington' thing.

Please release me

You see, I'd expected to see it run, word-for-word, as a news story. That's the pattern with the Saipan Tribune. The Marianas Variety and the Pacific Daily News did do what you'd expect: they quoted from it extensively and added background.

I understand what the Tribune is doing. First, of course, is the need for fewer reporters. That's even more important now that profits aren't padded with pages of imaginary job announcements. (It's interesting, and a little scary, to see how few real job offers are being advertised now that openings for guest workers aren't included.)

I don't even mind for Public Service Announcements and that sort of thing—though it's boring to see identical stories in both local papers (and, yes, I'm aware of the Pacific Times. They make the old Commonwealth Examiner look like the pre-Gannett Detroit Free Press.

Persons of (self) interest

On the other hand... persons or organizations they agree with are often allowed to use the news-hole as a soapbox. Reporting, done properly, is supposed to temper exaggerations and add information the writer doesn't necessarily want included. You know, all of that noble Fourth Estate stuff.

The Tribune is part of Tan Holdings, of course. There's nothing wrong with that and it's well-known locally so there's some built-in skepticism. Still, the practice troubles me, particularly because the Tribune dominates in Saipan and CNMI stories on the internet. “Outside' readers are missing that datum. Do a search and you'll see what I mean.

Some stories in the Variety just never show up in the Tribune, but I don't really think reporters are told what to write.

Read between the deadlines

It doesn't have to be that overt. Any employee knows who writes their check. That would easily explain the few biased stories I've read with a by-line. It's easier, and easier on reporters' credibility, to just run press releases.

It's personal preference, of course, but I think Assistant Editor Mark Rabago is the best reporter working on Saipan right now. I've ragged on malaprops in Agnes Donato stories a few times, but she's improved tremendously. It's not about the reporters to me.

The spice of life

But that's a system I don't trust, which is why I hope the Variety survives our current troubles. It's a different voice, valuable even when I disagree with some antediluvian views. And have no doubt, the Tribune is meant to destroy the Variety. That's competition, but Willie Tan once told me he was going to start his own newspaper to “put (Publisher Abed) Younis out of business.”

The conversation was about poker machines, and a Variety story that claimed the limited number of machines allowed then were allocated to government officials or their families. I was teasing a current and a former Department head about the piece.

Internet buzz?

That's all swimming around in my head when I read the Tribune. I usually buy both papers so I can read the ads. On the internet the Tribune is a good source, plus the Variety is unwillingly and hesitantly entering the internet age. Links, sometimes stories, disappear and the server is easily overwhelmed. They don't seem to 'ping' the aggregators when they publish.

Bad planning, in my view. Very few small communities have 2 ½ newspapers. Big-city U.S. papers are cutting staff and shutting down. Cutting-edge companies are looking for internet revenue to make up for falling sales, one has even quit publishing on paper.

I mentioned this to Variety Editor Zaldy Dandan and he said they were published for a local audience, adding that some of the Tribune's bells-and-whistles were too expensive. I hope he's right.

*I agree with some of his arguments, just shake my head at others. But they're moot, so there's no sense in wasting our time on that is there?

Just another talking point

I was amazed to see something from Talking Points Memo in the Marianas Variety. Okay, it's about the Marianas and Jack Abramoff. For good measure it takes a shot at the Saipan Tribune, but I thought they got their news from Townhall. TPM is at the other end of the spectrum.

This is just more unraveling of the Abramoff web. Now it's former Representative and Senate candidate Bob Schaffer with his hand in the cookie jar.

I've followed TPM for quite awhile now. They're very good at digging and bulldog tenacious. And they're very irritating.

I can feel their glee as they kick rocks so I can watch the millipedes and bloodworms scurry for cover. Juiceee information.

Then they editorialize.

Don't believe me? Check out the following video. I can't argue with the facts. It's the spin, the hyperbole, that makes me cringe and want to shout 'you were doing so well, why do you have to go overboard?'

That's just me. What do you think?