Singapore media must practise responsible press freedom: SM
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SINGAPORE : Singapore needs a media model in which the players practise press freedom in a responsible way, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said.
He made this point at the fifth anniversary of MediaCorp's TODAY newspaper.
He added should a national crisis occur, the local media should not go for sensational reporting but exercise judgment and cover events sensitively.
Editors must always be mindful of the power wielded by their pens, or nowadays keyboards, says Mr Goh.
That is because they have a greater responsibility to society than merely publishing a sensational story or turning in a bigger profit for shareholders.
Said Mr Goh, "Reputable international news organisations also face this consideration every day. Although their conditions may be different, foreign editors have also exercised restraint and censorship when necessary."
Mr Goh cited the incident of the beheading of an American contractor in Iraq a year ago.
Several US news agencies were confronted with the dilemma of whether to capture viewership by broadcasting the unedited video of the man's ordeal or censor it and risk being outdone by a competitor.
Mr Goh noted most networks decided to report the news without broadcasting the gruesome video.
Similarly, BBC had covered the July 7 London blasts in a responsible manner.
Back home, when the JI members were arrested in Singapore in 2002, editors here realised they must not inadvertently portray the arrests as being targetted against a particular community.
Another example of strong government-media partnership was the media coverage of the SARS epidemic.
Said Mr Goh, "Do not get me wrong. I do not favour a subservient press. An unthinking press is not good for Singapore. But press freedom must be practised with a larger sense of responsibility and the ability to understand what is in or not in our national interests."
"Editors need to understand what their larger responsibilities entail and to demand them of their journalists. Editors and journalists must have high personal integrity and sound judgment -- people who understand Singapore's uniqueness as a country, our multi-racial and multi-religious make-up, vulnerabilities and national goals.
"By this, I mean that our editors and journalists must be men and women who know what works for Singapore and how to advance our society's collective interests."
He added, "Capturing readership is an important goal but to do so through sensational coverage is not the right way. The media is free to put across a range of worthy different viewpoints to encourage constructive social and political discourse. It should not parrot the government's position. It would lose its credibility if it tries to be the government's propagandist. A discredited media would not serve our national interests."
Turning to TODAY's performance, Mr Goh said he was heartened that as a business, it had overcome the severe challenge of infancy.
It now boasts a readership of more than half a million and more importantly, it turned in a profit for the first time last year after four years of losses.
In his speech, MediaCorp Chairman Ho Kwon Ping touched on MediaCorp Group's role as a multi-faceted mirror reflecting many of the issues top most on Singaporeans' minds.
Said Mr Ho, "Our mission is not to push the boundaries of aesthetic, cultural, or political expression, nor is it to promote our own points or view or agendas. That is for other change agents to do in an increasingly mature civil society. But to the extent that our mission is to provide a mirror for our own people to see themselves and their future, we will occasionally reflect views which may not even be our own, but may still upset some people."
On TODAY, Mr Ho noted that it is now clearly a viable business.
And with TODAY sharing the spotlight with MediaCorp's television, radio and magazine businesses, MediaCorp is now the only company in Singapore with the complete range of media platforms. - CNA /ct -
singapore media must tell the TRUTH.
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Yes, they must. However, some big shots can't handle the truth.Originally posted by dragg:singapore media must tell the TRUTH. -
therefore the truth is hidden...the lesser u read newspaper = the 'smarter' u will be. my logic, cos the newspaper only bombard u with the nice picture it portrays like economy is gd, everything is going well, u should spend more blahblahblahOriginally posted by iveco:Yes, they must. However, some big shots can't handle the truth. -
Economy now very bad, only govt runned biz are doing wellOriginally posted by chunyong:therefore the truth is hidden...the lesser u read newspaper = the 'smarter' u will be. my logic, cos the newspaper only bombard u with the nice picture it portrays like economy is gd, everything is going well, u should spend more blahblahblah -
it is slightly better now.
in the past the papers i feel are full of propagandas. -
Not very still...Originally posted by dragg:it is slightly better now.
in the past the papers i feel are full of propagandas.
Many are not making $$ -
i know but see wat the newspaper says....hahahaa...rosy picture as always.Originally posted by sbst275:Economy now very bad, only govt runned biz are doing well -
they keep saying lots of jobs were created.
everyday at the library i see so many people queuing to read the classified ads. -
Neither I believe govt biz doing well, because NTUC now relies on making promotion to make $$Originally posted by chunyong:i know but see wat the newspaper says....hahahaa...rosy picture as always.
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Well, govt that day say ppl treat service sector as place for p-t job, they themselves also does thisOriginally posted by dragg:they keep saying lots of jobs were created.
everyday at the library i see so many people queuing to read the classified ads. -
pay peanuts, shift work, split shift, odd hours, work on weekends etcOriginally posted by sbst275:Well, govt that day say ppl treat service sector as place for p-t job, they themselves also does this
yet they expect people not to shun the job.
$501 and above have to pay cpf.
stupid policy. -
If we were to say shift work, can't help it, many Ind in SG runs on thisOriginally posted by dragg:pay peanuts, shift work, split shift, odd hours, work on weekends etc
yet they expect people not to shun the job.
$501 and above have to pay cpf.
stupid policy.
But what they say at diff times irritates us -
they are always blaming us for not taking the jobs.
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Now say ppl treat sv sector job with p-t, they do it themselves on their supermarket... Haiz...Originally posted by dragg:they are always blaming us for not taking the jobs. -
Anyway, even the Learning Fest, is like wayang
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its all wayang, dats y i dun buy newspaper at all....but 2007 June i will buy, cos i need to look for jobs...
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Newspaper will still be a influenceOriginally posted by chunyong:its all wayang, dats y i dun buy newspaper at all....but 2007 June i will buy, cos i need to look for jobs...
That Learning Fest, that bagging the goods, actually no need skills one...
Chilled products packed with chilled products, toileteries go together, meat with meat, veg with veg... Need to learn one meh?
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Yucks, I dislike reading 'Today'!
So many ads!
Content no good!
Too much grammatical errors! -
aiyah, wayang....national scale wayang leh....dun pray pray.Originally posted by sbst275:Newspaper will still be a influence
That Learning Fest, that bagging the goods, actually no need skills one...
Chilled products packed with chilled products, toileteries go together, meat with meat, veg with veg... Need to learn one meh? -
I think is their staff, 1 2kg oil also need 1 bagOriginally posted by chunyong:aiyah, wayang....national scale wayang leh....dun pray pray. -
i wonder if his comment is directed at ST online forum?
since it started there are more complaints. -
read today's straits times insight S9.
interesting topic. -
ST online forum's letters are mostly about press freedom.
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Well, some are not practical complainsOriginally posted by dragg:ST online forum's letters are mostly about press freedom.