SunStar Manila

The SunStar Manila is a daily online newspaper published in Metro Manila, the Philippines. Founded in 1999,[1] the newspaper is owned by the Cebu City-based SunStar group of community newspapers.

SunStar Manila
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatOnline
Owner(s)SunStar Publishing, Inc.
EditorAriel B. Catubig
Founded1999
Political alignmentIndependent
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersUnit 701, Tycoon Centre, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Websitewww.sunstar.com.ph/manila

Initially a print publication, the SunStar Manila was partially funded by the acquisition of businessman William Gatchalian, also known as the "plastics king" for his dominance of the Philippine plastic industry, of a minority stake in the newspaper: his second attempt at investing in a newspaper after owning a minority share in the SunStar Cebu in the 1980s, which he sold off in 1986. He was invited to invest in the Manila edition as the family of former Transportation Secretary Jesus B. Garcia, which owns the SunStar Cebu and its sister publications, was unable to bankroll a Manila—and therefore truly national—edition on its own. The acquisition was controversial at the time given Gatchalian's closeness to then-President Joseph Estrada as a member of his so-called "midnight cabinet", leading to fears that the newspaper would be used to sway public opinion. This charge was denied by Hector Villanueva, then editor-in-chief of the SunStar Cebu.[2] This was evidenced by the newspaper being one of only a handful of publications printing articles written by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) highlighting the extent of the Estrada family's business holdings,[3] a decision criticized by critics of the PCIJ.[4]

Despite the paper's initial success,[2] with its 2002 daily circulation of 87,000 copies being larger than even more established newspapers such as The Manila Times,[5] the SunStar Manila was not profitable,[3] and publication of the print edition was ultimately ceased in favor of maintaining an online-only edition some time thereafter.

See also

References
  1. Brainard, Cecilia Manguerra; Litton, Edmundo F. (1999). Journey of 100 Years: Reflections on the Centennial of Philippine Independence. Santa Monica, California: Philippine American Women Writers & Artists. p. 211. ISBN 0963228102.
  2. Chua, Yvonne T. (1999). "From Plastics to Paper". Media: The Investigative Reporting Magazine. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. V (3). Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  3. Agustin, Victor C. (July 26, 2000). "Unfit to print". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  4. "PCIJ vs. PCIJ Part II". Bagwis: The Official Internet Newsletter of Bantay-Media. Bantay-Media. September 15, 2000. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  5. Yearbook of Philippine Statistics. Manila: National Statistics Office. 2002. p. 914.
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