Straits Times: Why we covered Aware saga the way we did
May 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Straits Times, 30 May 2009
ST link
By Han Fook Kwang, Editor
I HAD been reluctant to write this piece defending The Straits Times’ coverage of the Aware saga. Some of my colleagues had wanted the paper to put out its side of the story in the face of criticisms over how we covered the saga. But I wasn’t keen to make the paper the focus of this long-running debate, for I’ve always felt that newspapers shouldn’t be active players in the stories they cover. Our job is to report accurately and fairly what is happening and to make sense of it for our readers so they can draw their own conclusions. However, critics have assailed us over these very issues, and I have little choice now but to set out the facts concerning our coverage after two MPs spoke about it in Parliament this week.
On Tuesday, Nominated Member of Parliament Thio Li-ann said that reporting on the saga had been biased and lacked a diversity of views. She did not name The Straits Times but everyone listening to her would have concluded that she was referring to this newspaper.
Were we biased and one-sided in our coverage? This is best answered by detailing how we covered the story.
Coming up: Review of censorship rules
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
THE Government will appoint an independent committee soon to update policies on censorship of the media and the arts.
The review will result in citizens getting more choices without compromising racial harmony, social cohesion and family values, said the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) yesterday.
It announced the reconvening of the Censorship Review Committee (CRC) in its addendum to the President’s Address in Parliament on Monday.
Bloggers, moderators can help ease public fears in crises
April 19, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
SINGAPORE: The Internet has made possible the rapid spread of fear in a crisis, said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.
But he said bloggers and website moderators can help ease public concerns should a terrorist attack occur.
Radio deejays, too, have a role to play as they are the public’s first source of information, comfort and advice in uncertain times.
New media regulated with ‘light touch’
April 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
But total deregulation unlikely any time soon, says Acting Minister
By Serene Luo
BLOGS, the Internet and other new media such as social networking sites are already regulated ‘with a light touch’, and this will continue, despite some vocal calls for total deregulation.
Speaking for the first time on the issues before him in his new job, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew said it was unlikely that total deregulation would take place any time soon.
Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui, who took over from Dr Lee Boon Yang last week, said that there is a wide spectrum of people to be considered when developing policies and regulations. He noted that though ‘there is a certain segment more vocal than others who would like us to completely deregulate, looking at examples around the world, we are not so sure that it’s the right thing to do at this point in time’.
