[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 11 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PACIFIC DAILY NEWS AND ITS LONGEST TENURED 
    EMPLOYEES, LEE P. WEBBER, PEPITO C. LADERA AND MAGGIE N. CASTRO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2000

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as we all know from direct experience, 
our relationship, as elected public officials, with the news media is a 
necessary but not always comfortable one. We are quick to turn to the 
news to find out what's going on, but we dread facing the cameras and 
microphones when we ourselves get swept up in newsworthy circumstances. 
Some of us try to avoid media attention. Some of us bravely face it 
head on. Some of us are more media savvy than others. Most of us learn 
from our mistakes. Of course, when we have what we think is good news--
something that places us in a good light--we often find ourselves 
banging on the media's doors for attention.
  The news media, the ``Fourth Estate,'' regards itself as the guardian 
and champion of our First Amendment rights. While the great debate 
rages about responsibility, accountability, fairness and where the line 
lies between the public's right to know and the public's right to 
privacy, I daresay we all still believe, as Thomas Jefferson held, that 
democracy cannot flourish without a free press.
  With this as my preface, I wish to congratulate Guam's Pacific Daily 
News on its 30th anniversary. Known affectionately, and sometimes 
disdainfully, simply as the ``PDN,'' this Gannett-owned newspaper is 
Guam's only general circulation morning daily, publishing seven days a 
week. In my district, which is a small island with a small population, 
where elected officials, media personalities and news reporters are not 
distanced and insulated from the public at large, the PDN has worked 
valiantly to report the news as fairly, as accurately, as fully, and as 
objectively as possible, despite the inescapable network of familial 
and personal relationships that bind us all together as a small island 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, as a young teacher over twenty years ago, I organized 
and led a public protest demonstration against the PDN over its 
English-only publication policy. After several exchanges in the days 
following, some which were rather heated, we arrived at a compromise: 
the Daily News would accept non-English advertisement if accomplish by 
an English translation. In the years since then, the PDN has made 
commendable efforts to truly reflect the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural 
island community which it serves. It has recruited reporters locally 
and supported their continued education and training in journalism. It 
has a long-established summer intern program and promoted reporting and 
writing among high school students by devoting an entire section, 
called ``Vibe,'' for the news and entertainment interests of young 
people. Now, English translations of foreign language ads are optional. 
And finally, the PDN routinely fills management positions from within.
  Thus, I again congratulate retired editor Joe Murphy, whose ``Pipe 
Dreams'' column entertained, antagonized, and inspired many over the 
years; Managing Editor Rindraty Celes Limtiaco, whose career I been 
privileged to watch develop; the section editors and reporters who have 
had to ask me tough questions, have often put me on the spot, and have 
generally treated me fairly. Lastly, I send special congratulations to 
the three PDN employees, who, like the newspaper itself, are 
celebrating 30 years on the job. To Publisher and President Lee P. 
Webber, who started out as PDN's Circulation Manager; to Comptroller 
Pepito C. Ladera, who has kept the paper's books and ledgers; and to 
Senior Account Executive Maggie N. Castro, who could probably run the 
entire operation singlehandedly, I send my best wishes. Yanggin mauleg 
che'cho'-ta, mauleg i ma sanggan-ta. When our work is good, good is 
said of us. Biba, PDN!

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