Post by stellarboy on May 1, 2012 14:18:35 GMT 8
CNN trains spotlight on the Philippines
27-Apr-12, 2:11 PM | Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo, InterAksyon.com
CNN, the Atlanta-based international news network, is shining a spotlight on the Philippines in a series of news stories, features, and videos for its regular "Eye On" programming.
The cable TV news giant began its "Eye On the Philippines" series on its website on April 26 by posting a brief history of the country in photos, basic facts and figures in graphs, a feature on the newly-opened Mind Museum at Fort Bonifacio and a general acceptance of the evolution theory by the largely Catholic population, the search for the next boxing superstar to follow in the heels of Manny Pacquiao, and an opinion piece from New York-based journalist Sheila Coronel on fighing corruption under the Aquino administration.
CNN viewers are also being encouraged to send in iReports on the country. “We’d like you to share the sights and sounds that you think capture the true flavor of the country. Send us your photos, or put yourself on video and tell the world what the Philippines is really like,” urged the network on its web site.
According to CNN, its series on the Philippines will run until May 14. The network can be seen in more than 280 million households around the world.
Currently in town as part of the network’s in-depth look into the Philippines is Anna Coren, a top news anchor and special correspondent for CNN International based in Hong Kong.
In a press statement sent to InterAksyon, CNN said: "From April 30 to May 4 'Eye On The Philippines' features live daily reports with Anna Coren from Manila, Batangas and Lake Taal and in-depth reportage from Kyung Lah, providing insight into the tropical country’s people, politics, business and culture. The special week of coverage culminates with a half-hour program featuring highlights from the week, airing May 4 to May 6."
Coren previously anchored the network’s “Eye on Mongolia” and “Eye on Thailand.” She is no stranger to the Philippines, having reported on the tourist bus hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand in August 2010.
CNN added that Coren will be interviewing President Benigno S. Aquino III for Talk Asia. He will be discussing “the opportunities and challenges currently facing the Philippines, as well as some of the experiences that have shaped him on a personal level.”
Also on Talk Asia, CNN Correspondent Andrew Stevens will be talking with the brothers Jaime Augusto and Fernando Zobel de Ayala about growing up in their illustrious family, Ayala Corp., and their business philosophy.
Other features in the series will focus on prima ballerina Lisa Macuja and Ballet Manila, the call center industry, anti-piracy training, as well as in-depth reports on child labor and poverty.
Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., who earlier announced the special CNN coverage said: “The country is hosting the [Asian Development Bank] meeting, and we’re determined to make the most of it. It is an opportunity to dramatize that the Philippines has turned the corner in more ways than one. So the CNN will cast an eye on the Philippines during the ADB meeting and will focus on the achievements of the Filipinos, and include tourism spots.”
He enjoined the public, that while the international participants to the ADB meet are in Manila, “let us beam our best smiles, lend a helping hand to our visitors who might be in need of help and make their visit worthwhile and memorable. Remember, it is the Filipino himself who is the best attraction to the world.”
According to the ADB, about 4,000 foreign and local delegates are expected to take part in its 45th annual meeting from May 2-5 at the Philippine International Convention Center, in Pasay City.
A series of ads produced by the Department of Tourism showcasing the country’s tourism spots and people having fun there will also be aired during the week-long official TV coverage by the international news network.
In January, the agency launched the official brand awareness campaign for the country anchored on the slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”
The DOT ads on CNN, however, are not part of the agency’s official international ad campaign rollout which will actually start in June, sources said. The same sources added that it was CNN which “sought out the Philippines” for its “Eye on” series; there was no proposal from the DOT to the network.
With the country’s sagging manufacturing and export-oriented industries and a relatively stagnant agriculture sector, the Aquino administration is pinning some of its hopes on the tourism sector to generate more revenues for the economy.
It’s eyeing to attract at least 10 million visitors by 2016. This year, the DOT has targeted 4.2 million tourist arrivals. But with the “record-breaking” turnout of 411,064 visitors in January, President Aquino predicted that the country would likely hit 5 million tourist arrivals this year.
The anticipated general positive content of the CNN series will be a breather of sorts for the Aquino administration which has been on the receiving end of local media’s severe criticism.
Under intense scrutiny, the administration has been found to be wanting in actual economic gains, with most of its Cabinet officials putting on hold vital projects due to serious concerns on corrupt practices in their departments.
The lack of infrastructure investments by the government resulted in the country’s feeble economic growth of 3.7 percent in 2011, a substantial drop from the stunning 7.6 percent growth in 2010. Remittances from overseas Filipino workers and a relatively robust consumer spending cushioned the economy.
President Aquino has bristled against media’s criticism of his supposedly underperforming administration and recently criticized them for playing up negative news about the country.
www.interaksyon.com/article/30456/cnn-trains-spotlight-on-the-philippines
Go to CNN's special website for the series on cnn.com/eyeon