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.