Daily Guardian: The thinking paper

By Alex P. Vidal

 

“It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.” – Jerry Seinfeld

I ALWAYS refer to the Daily Guardian as the thinking paper although it is always known as the community paper with the best business and economic reporting, with no less than the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), among other independent media institutions in the country, affirming and confirming it.

From the paper’s upper editorial echelon, the marketing department down to the circulation bandwagon, the Daily Guardian thinks before it rolls off the press and circulates; the publication utilizes its full intellectual apparatuses to bring the news to the reading public fresh, accurate, relevant, and informative.

Joseph Pulitzer once succinctly put it, “What a newspaper needs in its news, in its headlines, and on its editorial page is terseness, humor, descriptive power, satire, originality, good literary style, clever condensation, and accuracy, accuracy, accuracy!”

Now on its 20th year of serving the community as a catalyst of change and trailblazer in the media industry in a competitive environment, Daily Guardian has earned the respect and adulation not only of avid readers of daily news in Western Visayas, but also of the business sector where it has carved a niche in terms of credibility and reliability over these years.

During the paper’s infant stage, I was with the two daily papers which are no longer visible in the sidewalks and other major circulation hubs today and have permanently folded up due to spiraling printing costs, among other economic lassitude facing the publication industry these past years.

In a publication business, five years is an inspiration; 10 years is history.

Twenty years is a victory.

I am proud to be part of this intelligent and highly regarded publication over the last years.

I dream to be still part of this thinking regional newspaper when it reaches the golden age. So, guide and help us God.

-o0o-

ON the day I wrote an article explaining why I decided to push through with my April 19 appointment with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene COVID-19 Vaccine Hubfor vaccination with Pfizer and why I decided not to wait for the much preferred Johnson & Johnson, I received an email dated April 14, 2021 from New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo which he also probably sent to other New Yorkers:

Dear Alex, The effort to vaccinate New Yorkers continues in full scale.

While Johnson & Johnson is paused, we are using the Pfizer vaccine in order to meet and maintain scheduled appointments.

It is important to keep in mind as we wait for federal direction that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being carefully scrutinized and reviewed by top experts on an independent federal panel.

Close to 40 percent of New Yorkers have now received at least one dose of the vaccine, which is great progress—and a testament to the dedication of our providers and our partners across the state who have been instrumental in making sure the vaccine distribution is fair and equitable.

We will continue vaccinating as many New Yorkers as possible as quickly as possible.

Like it has been from day one with this virus, our progress is only as safe as our determination to keep building on it.

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:

1. Effective Monday, April 19, the curfew for bars and restaurants will be extended. The current curfew will be extended from 11pm to midnight. The curfew for catered events will also move from midnight to 1am.
2. COVID hospitalizations dropped to 4,091. Of the 208,163 tests reported yesterday, 6,192, or 2.97 percent, were positive. The 7-day average positivity rate was 3.12 percent. There were 887 patients in ICU yesterday, up 18 from the previous day. Of them, 563 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 43 New Yorkers to the virus.
3. As of 11am this morning, 39.1 percent of New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose. Over the past 24 hours, 186,876 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 12,440,535 total doses with 25.9 percent of New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See data by region and county on the State’s Vaccine Tracker: ny.gov/vaccinetracker.
4. Spectators will be allowed at horse and auto races at 20 percent capacity beginning Thursday, April 22. Spectators will be subjected to the State’s strict guidance, which is currently in effect for other professional sports competitions with fans. Attendees must show proof of a recent negative test or completed vaccination series prior to entry and are subjected to the State’s health and safety protocols on face coverings, social distancing and health screening.

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: Lincoln Center will soon have a brand-new front lawn—of sorts.

“The GREEN,” designed by noted set designer Mimi Lien, will transform Lincoln Center’s concrete plaza into an expansive artificial lawn as part of an initiative to revive the arts.

The installation, which runs from May 10 through September, will host pop-up performances, and will also offer books to borrow from the New York Public Library.

Safety protocols in place to ensure all visitors can enjoy “The GREEN” safely.

Ever Upward,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)