Inquirer falls for fake Aquino Time magazine cover

The editors of Philippine Daily Inquirer were apparently duped into using a satirized version of a Time magazine cover in its front page today.  The broadsheet used a  satirical photo originally posted in the Facebook group “Showbiz Government” for its front page story about the inclusion of President Benigno Aquino III in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential persons in the world list. See it here:

noynoy aquino - showbiz government - philippine daily inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer mistakenly uses a parodied Time cover for its front page (Credits: http://www.inquirer.net/?page-one=page-one-april-20-2013)

This year, Time Magazine released seven cover versions for this special issue. Although included in this year’s Time 100, the United States-based magazine did not use Aquino as a cover image. Instead, one of those featured is 23-year old Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence (see below). She last year gained critical acclaim for her leading role in the movie Hunger Games. Note that President Aquino’s name can be seen on the lower right side of this particular cover.

jennifer lawrence - time 100
Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence on the latest cover of Time magazine. See President Aquino’s name on the lower right side.(credits: Time.com)

Some  quick thoughts:

The photo from the Showbiz Government FB page actually contains clues that it’s just a parody. First, The Time Magazine logo is printed in white, not yellow (yellow, as we know, is a color forever associated with the Aquinos). Then, the image of Aquino used is a ridiculous one (although Newsweek did do that to then-Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann back in 2011). And lastly, why exactly will Time magazine use Aquino’s image in the cover for this issue? Is he more influential than say, Barack Obama?

This episode will surely be discussed in journalism and mass communication classes in the months and years ahead. What happened to the good editors there at Inquirer? Can’t they pay a quick visit to Time.com just to verify this cover?

INQUIRER REACTS VIA TWITTER: “Kudos to eagle-eyed tweeps who called our attention to the fake Time Mag cover. It was an oversight on our part. Thanks for the feedback!” (See their original tweet here.)

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Mark Pere Madrona

The Filipino Scribe (TFS) is managed by Mark Pere Madrona, a multi-awarded writer and licensed professional teacher from the Philippines. Mr. Madrona earned his master’s degree in history from the University of the Philippines-Diliman last 2020. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism cum laude from the same university back in 2010. His area of interests includes Philippine journalism, history, and politics as well as social media. Know more about him here: https://www.filipinoscribe.com/about/.

9 thoughts on “Inquirer falls for fake Aquino Time magazine cover

  1. Not surprising Inquirer used fake Time cover of impresario Noynoy, PDI has been heaping Praise Releases of fake achievements all along, especially his so-called Davos coming out party

  2. freedom of press nga . . . wala ng edit-edit . . . mas madalas ngang mapansin na maraming mali sa mga ibinabalita sa karamihan ng mga peryodiko ngayon . . . that may be the so-called freedom of press. . . .

  3. Inquirer editor should resign. There is simply no excuse for it! What will young journalists and students of journalism think of journalism in the country if such incompetence is passed off as mere mistake?

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