Philippine Star

Philippine Star
Name	Philippine Star
Type	Daily newspaper
Format	Broadsheet
Founded	1986
Founder	Max Solivén, Betty Go-Belmonte
Owner	PhilSTAR Media Group
Headquarters	Manila
Language	English

Philippine Star is a major English-language daily broadsheet published in Manila, Philippines, founded in 1986 during the post-People Power Revolution period. It operates alongside competitors such as Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessMirror, The Manila Times, and SunStar, serving metropolitan and national readerships with coverage of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Rodrigo Duterte, Benigno Aquino III, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and other political figures. The paper has engaged with issues involving institutions like the Senate of the Philippines, House of Representatives of the Philippines, Supreme Court of the Philippines, and events such as the EDSA Revolution and national elections.

History

The paper was launched in the aftermath of the People Power Revolution by founders including Max Solivén and Betty Go-Belmonte, contemporaneous with publications such as Philippine Daily Express and Malaya. Its early years covered administrations from Corazon Aquino through Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, reporting on crises like the Oakwood Mutiny and the impeachment of Joseph Estrada. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the paper adapted to competition from ABS-CBN, GMA Network, and digital outlets including Rappler, Inquirer.net, and international agencies such as Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The title expanded coverage to include national disasters like Typhoon Haiyan and policy debates in bodies such as the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and management structures have linked the paper to media conglomerates and influential families comparable to the ties linking Philippine Daily Inquirer with the Prieto family and GMA Network with the Duavit family. Corporate governance has intersected with entities like BusinessWorld and the Philippine News Agency in advertising and distribution agreements. Executives and board members have engaged with institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and regulatory bodies like the National Telecommunications Commission. Strategic decisions reflected responses to market forces from rivals including Manila Bulletin and online platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

Editorial Stance and Content

Editorial positions have been expressed on administrations including Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Rodrigo Duterte, Benigno Aquino III, and policy debates over treaties like the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and laws such as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. Opinion pages have featured columnists who discussed matters involving personalities like Leni Robredo, Manny Pacquiao, Leila de Lima, Jose Maria Sison, and international topics involving United States, China–Philippines relations, ASEAN, and United Nations. Content spans reporting on business figures such as Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, and Manny Villar, cultural coverage tied to institutions like the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and sports reporting on events like the FIBA World Cup and athletes such as Hidilyn Diaz and Manny Pacquiao.

Publication and Distribution

Printed as a broadsheet, the paper circulates in Metro Manila and regions including Cebu City, Davao City, Iloilo City, and Cagayan de Oro, competing for market share with publications such as SunStar Cebu and Davao-based newspapers. It distributes through networks tied to logistics firms and vendors, while digital editions and social media channels interface with platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter/X. The publication schedule aligns with advertising cycles involving agencies and brands represented in outlets including ABS-CBN Corporation and GMA Network, and it has adapted to mobile readership trends observed in analytics from Google and research by institutions such as the University of the Philippines.

Notable Journalists and Contributors

Over time the newsroom has included reporters, columnists, and editors with prominence comparable to figures at Philippine Daily Inquirer and broadcasters at ABS-CBN News and GMA News. Contributors have written on legal affairs involving personalities such as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Antonio Carpio, on security issues tied to events like the Marawi siege and the Zamboanga City crisis, and on economic topics involving institutions such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and corporations like San Miguel Corporation. Cultural critics referenced artists associated with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and performers linked to the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Controversies and Criticism

The paper has faced criticism similar to disputes affecting outlets like Rappler and ABS-CBN over perceived editorial bias in coverage of politicians including Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and over reporting on events such as the Philippine drug war and the Martial Law (Philippines). Debates involved disputes over sourcing and corrections in the context of rivalries with The Philippine Daily Inquirer and legal issues referencing bodies like the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Court of Appeals of the Philippines. Critics from academia at the University of the Philippines Diliman and civil society groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have engaged with the paper’s reporting on human rights and governance topics.

Category:Newspapers published in the Philippines