Friday, August 31, 2007 Seares: That Gwen invitation By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
GOV. Gwen Garcia has been meeting with news managers and columnists at Capitol cocktails.
A p.r. initiative useful to journalists too. News bits flowing with red wine aren't "off the record" or "for background only" (which can't be attributed to the source).
Weeks ago, Capitol's Rorejon Sepulveda asked me to join the first guests. I told him: Cocktail or dinner is tough for editors, brunch or coffee perhaps?
Four Sun.Star columnists attended Capitol's first socials: Bong W., Johnny M., Bobby N. and Frank M., all with early deadlines.
They went on their own. No clearance or prior restraint, except maybe from wife or girlfriend.
No one in Sun.Star oversees personal invitations. They aren't news events that are assigned, with editors controlling movement of journalists.
Missed facts
Just these, because some people missed basic facts:
l No invitation was snubbed, not Rorejon's (from which I begged off), not Capitol p.r. guy Sam Costanilla's (which I accepted conditionally: "if I can get away from the office").
l No Sun.Star plot to shun the socials. Four columnists were at the first party. And two editors, Anol Mongaya and Letty Orendain, were at the second.
That Tuesday night, Isolde A., managing editor for news, couldn't report for work and a big story was breaking (Bohol-Cebu robbers' arrest). After seeing what was up, I asked Capitol reporter Jeanette M. to send Sam my regrets.
Getting a big story right and closing the paper on track are more compelling anytime.
Who do we think we are? Plain journalists, Ma’m, maybe ill at ease in socials with royalty and power but comfortable and sure about the focus on our job.
