Comments on: Political blogs more sophisticated but obstacles remain

By: HUM

HUM — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:00:30 +0000

the forgetful guy , did his stunt caused damage to work… part… at the last e?
what is he up to now? what has he done to alternativity? i wonder. where is news on him?

By: Money can buy many things

Money can buy many things — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:27:01 +0000

forgot to ask,
did any of you realise there is something common in many of these attendees?
like their past?

By: HUM

HUM — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:07:44 +0000

So, this seminar was held at Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and chaired by an ambassador and selected bloggers were asked to take part. There is no video of what went on and discussed there although there is this article.

So, my question to TOC is WHAT was meant to be ACHIEVED in that seminar ?

What are the good things achieved for the People with respect to Freedom of Speech and Expression and freedom to discuss politics?

By: Ramesh G. Babu

Ramesh G. Babu — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:03:45 +0000

26) seebeng on March 6th, 2009 11.35 am
The title is clearly one of “Recent Developments in Singapore’s Political Blogosphere”. How to have a seminar excluding known sites managed by political parties?
========================

So, this seminar assumes to be the voice for the blogosphere?
If they so say…..

I have observed TOC for sometime. Its speakers and writers are more neutral than political websites. They have been given a lot of media attention. I still cannot understand why.

Maybe its not an alternative political party website. Is its role trying to show more freedom in views? Would its work lead to a better IBA report?

It seems like it prefer to go the way of think think organization kinda of path.

Is this why none of TOC people have declared they have become politicians?

Can you spare this comment?

By: Can human character be tested?

Can human character be tested? — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:54:28 +0000

17) papsamleong on March 5th, 2009 10.19 pm

Actually, after reading this article, it changed my mind.
I don’t feel so good.

TW political commentator was asked, can human character be tested ?
I shall not disclose the answer.

By: seebeng

seebeng — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:35:42 +0000

The title is clearly one of “Recent Developments in Singapore’s Political Blogosphere”. How to have a seminar excluding known sites managed by political parties? If potential regulators of cyberspace are fit to attend, together with known former ISD operatives, why not invite political parties that maintain websites providing information and news?

The IPS sample is nothing new. It was a rehash of an old sample done in 2005 to skew the results in favour of our 147th ranked MSM.

Ong Keng Yong, former press secretary to Goh Chok Tong who is heading IPS chaired the seminar to ensure that the blogosphere is well contained and regulated by the PAP that is notorious for intolerant of any dissent.

By: orchard road 1 dollar only 1 dollar auntie fan

orchard road 1 dollar only 1 dollar auntie fan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:22:42 +0000

I would be interested to know the motivation for TOC to participate in such a discussion held by them.

What is the purpose of this discussion?
What is the real intended objective ?

interesting to note this guy called James Gomez also attended.

Is TOC an idea that came from some organization of thinking?

get my drift?

By: smallvice585

smallvice585 — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:04:59 +0000

Actually, James Gomez made several interesting points with regards to this IPS Seminar.

1. The potential regulators of New Media are among the participants. The. Strategic Planning and Development and Policy and Operations divisions of MHAs and the Public Communications Division of MICA were present.

2. There was an attempt to suggest that anonymously run sites’ content may not be authentic or reliable.

3. Even sites that were not run anonymously were admonished for not being fully “professional”.

4. In the IPS sample, there is a clear attempt to avoid analysing or including political sites or sites of activists.

5. The term “online civic participation” is actively promoted while trying to simultaneously negate terms like “activism” and “online civil disobedience’.

By: smallvice585

smallvice585 — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:57:26 +0000

It would be better if blogs like TOC fall under specific laws. Being gray gives rise to legal flexibility that would be needed for political discourse in Singapore.

By: seebeng

seebeng — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:50:44 +0000

The title of the seminar is “Getting Their Hands Dirty: Recent Developments in Singapore’s Political Blogosphere”. And yet representatives from political parties, especially the active ones in cyberspace are missing.

The head of IPS, Ong Keng Yong was a former press secretary to Goh Chok Tong. Apart from a few, the assembled crowd, through invitation only, is made up of individuals acceptable to the establishment. What is worse, there were participants who are known former ISD operatives, civil servants and PAP sycophants.

The title of the seminar should have been “Ideas for PAP to manage and control political blogosphere”.

By: Harminder Singh

Harminder Singh — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:33:52 +0000

Something that should have been mentioned (maybe it was, but I didn’t read in the article): how the laws on media ownership potentially restrict blogs like TOC from obtaining accreditation for their bloggers as journalists to attend govt news conferences, interview the public & politicians, etc…

If TOC or other similar blogs hire bloggers as professionals (i.e. pay a regular salary etc like the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, etc.), the question that would arise is: a) doesn’t that make them a “media outlet”?
b) if so, shouldn’t they be liable to the same laws as SPH & MediaCorp?
c) if not, what law/s do they fall under? (cos legislation is needed in case of negligence, etc.)

Apologies if this issue has been addressed here before..

By: Seelan Palay

Seelan Palay — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:57:52 +0000

Interesting event. I was invited but I could not make it.

By: Roderic Sng Yeow C

Roderic Sng Yeow C — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:39:58 +0000

when i asked why no video footage, was it not allowed, my comments did not appear.

maybe just unlucky i guess. connection bo ho.

By: Roderic Sng Yeow C

Roderic Sng Yeow C — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:32:57 +0000

I feel that there is no need to worry about regulating the blogs.
what i mean is , readers who post on blogs SHOULD know that the blog website CAN access quite a few connection info about the comment poster.

get my drift?

I trust that these info is not for sale. ;)

By: papsamleong

papsamleong — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:19:51 +0000

4) Tan Shin Kor on March 5th, 2009 1.52 pm Will TOC be converted given the rosy life?
oops. may be censored

Good point there! To be co-opted comes to mind.
One can only hope that people like Andrew are not the million dollar a year can be bought type.
That’s life. The question will always be how much.
Too far fetched?
Hey! Welcome to the world!

By: Faber

Faber — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:07:45 +0000

11/ prestious????? u must be mad. watver gave u the idea some govt-funded thinktank toeing PAP politics is ‘prestigious’. duh.

By: bobby orange

bobby orange — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:32:17 +0000

1. I found a lot of info on Ong , the ambassador. so, its touching that an ambassador is keen on online thingies. thanks ong!

2. why no video coverage? not allowed?

By: GOH

GOH — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:28:02 +0000

I had a nightmare:

. they all became friends eventual.

-the end-

By: Our skin isn’t as thick as it should be : Civic Advocator : shout & b heard

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:48:01 +0000

[...] Tan Simin presented their paper on trends observed in the blogosphere. As reported in the TOC, the researchers identified the following [...]

By: sarek_home

sarek_home — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:44:00 +0000

11) Dr Daniel Lim on March 5th, 2009 4.22 pm

….. structured in such secretive back door way.

…….I realize, anonymous bloggers may not wish to appear, but I just like to ask the good Dr Tan, did IPS even bother ………

ST reported the forum, so there was really nothing “secretive back door way”.

Do you know that some anonymous bloggers got email interviews from MSM and academic like Mr Tan all the time?