Jonathan Koh / Photos by Damien Chng.
While most blogs thrive in the Internet’s unbridled nature, credible blogging is an art that needs to be mastered, so says the speakers at a blogging seminar held last week.
30 MAY, 2009 — BLOGGERS got a chance to sharpen their swords at a blogging seminar last Saturday, which aimed to equip them with practical tools to improve their writing or reporting skills and grow their readership.
Jointly organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), The Online Citizen and the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), the workshop was titled: “Blogging: You’ve got the power (Now learn the craft)”.
Around 60 participants turned up for this full-day workshop, which was held at the Copthorne Orchid Hotel.
Dr Cherian George, Assistant Professor, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, said that the workshop aimed to impart skills and “time-tested techniques” to bloggers which media professionals such as journalists have been trained in. This will in turn help bloggers to maximise their audience outreach, hold the attention of an impatient audience, to convince the unpersuaded, and to make a credible contribution to public discussion.
“The idea is not to push bloggers into the mainstream. It’s their alternativeness that makes them valuable,” Dr George said.
Adding value – by pushing and provoking
The day started with a talk-show style sharing by Mr Choo Zheng Xi, co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Online Citizen, and Mr Alex Au, activist, and founder of Yawning Bread. They explored issues on anonymity and remaining pseudonymous amongst others. The session was chaired by Dr Cherian George.
(Picture: From the left — Alex Au, Cherian George, and Choo Zheng Xi)
Mr Au believes that, as an activist, he has “to do everything possible to bolster credibility”. In his opinion, penning his name to his writings adds credibility. He also does not “see the point of being anonymous” because, he said jokingly, he is able to be invited to “places like this [workshop]”.
Time and resource constraints play a part in the bloggers’ decisions on which issues to pursue. Mr Choo said that TOC’s raison d’être is to contribute to a media scene where “not enough quality political discussion is going on” and relies on its huge team of volunteers to do the job.
Mr Au added that he would only write when he felt that he could “add value” from stating facts that others do not have or by adding a new and better perspective.
Mr Au also said that blogging, despite its seemingly detached nature, is capable of influencing real life change: “sometimes it is important to provoke – especially in Singapore, because journalism in Singapore does not provoke enough.” He recounted an incident of how he heard from a source that Yawning Bread had angered officials from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for running a story not covered by the mainstream media.
He had attended a press conference held by Chinese workers highlighting their grievances on being underpaid, and the MOM’s reluctance to help. The following day, he noticed the mainstream media did not cover the event because it has a policy on “writing balanced articles” which requires the MOM’s response which had not been forthcoming in this issue.
As such, Mr Au ran the story.
Survival training and influence building
The next part of the workshop consisted of a primer on how to avoid breaking laws whilst blogging. The lucid and humorous presentation was done by Dr Kevin Tan (picture, left), Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore (NUS) faculty of Law.
Trying to give an overview of this area of law in an hour and a half, he said, was like “driving a Ferrari to the market”. Dr Tan stepped on the accelerator nonetheless and gave an overview of what constituted defamation, contempt of court, sedition as well as the defences to such actions.
Next up was Associate Prof Cynthia Owens, Communications and New Media Department, NUS, who urged the participants to learn to write for their readers. “Avoid misleading headlines”, she said. “Give something useful to your audience”.
Assoc Prof Owens urged writers to “keep your pact with your audience”. Other good writing tips included: getting to the point, writing concisely, and being able to back up your claims with reliable sources and appropriately attributing such information.
The workshop wasn’t devoid of controversy. Malaysian media activist Mr Sean Ang shared tips on how Malaysian bloggers were using the power of the internet to “whack” the government.
His “ninja strategy” which included techniques to “amplify an issue by 1000”, occupying “anonymous names and identity”, and “hijack metadata and keywords”, did not sit well with some in the largely-Singaporean audience. One participant remarked that such tactics amounted to distorting the truth. Mr Ang replied: “No, that’s strategy.”
The audience was much more appreciative of Mr Ang’s tips on how bloggers can increase traffic on their websites by building online communities of friends. One example he gave was for bloggers to interact with other bloggers. “You need to go and make friends with other bloggers, say ‘Hello how are you doing?’”.
He also gave useful suggestions on boosting site traffic through actively participating in discussions with sites with opposing views.
Ms November Tan (picture), founder of the popular environmental blog Midnight Monkey Monitor, encouraged participants to see blogging as a new means for social activism. “You need to know your objectives,” Ms Tan said. “You can only rate your success if you know what your own goals are.”
Drawing from her experience in helping to develop the online environmental community, she noted that meeting up in real life was extremely important to keep the digital community involved.
It’s never too late to pick up blogging
His Excellency Ong Keng Yong, director of the Institute of Policy Studies, and former Asean Secretary-General, gave the Shangri-La Dialogue a miss so he could learn more about blogging.
He said, “I personally feel enriched by the time spent here. I have learnt quite a lot.” He also believes that “it is not true that advocacy is dangerous…as long as it is balanced and focused”.
H.E. Ong also gave the closing address for the seminar.
Ms Teo Soh Lung, 61, told The Online Citizen that she has “learnt a lot”, and added that the workshop “is good for old people to see what young people do”.
Another participant, Mr HoYi Jian, 23, who writes for the Kent Ridge Common, a group blog on Singapore issues run by NUS students and alumni, feels that he managed to get “a lot out of the law bit” as well as the “refresher in journalism” by Assoc Prof Owens.
While the event attracted a number of university students, Dr George expressed his disappointment that the workshop didn’t receive a response from secondary school and junior college students.
“I know from my conversations with teachers that teenagers desperately need the guidance that all the speakers were offering: how to use the power of blogging with a certain humility and forethought instead of giving in to the temptation of impulsive publication,” Dr George said, “which can hurt themselves and others.”
Mr Peter Lim, 70, former Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Press Holdings (English and Malay), turned up for the seminar “to learn more about blogging and to listen to young people”. However, he would not consider starting a blog. If inspired enough, he says, he would contribute articles – which can add value to some blogs.
“Like The Online Citizen for example,” he said, with a glint in his eyes.
——
Additonal reporting by Alastair Su, Chetan Rogbeer & Darren Boon.
—–
Visit TOC Facebook page for more photos of the event:
Mr Peter Lim, 70, former Editor-in-Chief of SPH said if inspired he would write articles for, “Like The Online Citizen for example,” he said, with a glint in his eyes.
Gee what with the Bilge and now this guy, TOC will be juz as credible and boring as ST.
Sigh
Readers will judge the value of TOC for themselves.
A person can have a change of heart and contribute something useful, even at the age of 70.
Lets not be accused of having closed minds.
was wayang party there?
From reading the numerous posts on various topics in TOC, readers may get the impression that quite a number of the pple putting in regular posts have very closed minds. One may come to a conclusion, corectly or not, that all these pple do is vent their frustration regardless of the topic. A place for tantrum throwing.
the most angry makes the loudest noise.
even if noise is not a problem, the bigger problem is that rant doesn’t solve problems…
People in singapore, especially, use nicks due to OBVIOUS reasons.
Please tackle the root cause.
Tackling anything else would not be solving the problem but in fact Avoiding the Reality, like living in Denial.
The problem is clear and simple to understand. But can we handle the Truth?
Why need to use real names when Identities can be revealed via technology, if need be ?
“readers may get the impression that quite a number of the pple putting in regular posts have very closed minds.”
why not look it from another angle that we are here to open our minds. probably your way of opening of our minds has already been inculcated into us since the day our country went independent. don’t you agree ? Press freedom index on the scale of 147th place out of 167 or whatever to open our minds ? you must be a retard not to have detected it – perhaps due kopi overdose ?
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11715
“One may come to a conclusion, corectly or not, that all these pple do is vent their frustration regardless of the topic. A place for tantrum throwing.”
call it robust discussion. there are two sides to a coin. firemen like you need to search for fire to put off. and what is your wise conclusion ?
6) hello hello Apek
Your reply add credit to what I have to say.
“4) 5? on June 2nd, 2009 1.31 pm
even if noise is not a problem, the bigger problem is that rant doesn’t solve problems…”
If this is the case, why not do away with all the restrictions and let people rant loudly on whatever grievances they may have at any place in our country and we shall see whether it will solve any problems.
“6) KopitiamApek on June 2nd, 2009 2.25 pm 6) hello hello Apek”
Same here, your response further reinforces my opinion on the type of scary “mind-opening” work that is still happening.
Hope TOC, IPS and AMIC can organise more of such talks.
Is it dangerous to attend such seminar? Wouldnt MHA mark down your particular and use it against you should the need arise?
The Attempt to influence the public to show their real names is commendable – I like to know who is behind a nick sometimes as well.
However, please allow me to comment that singapore being a small and tight community. When we go to work, do we really want your colleagues and competitors to know your political opinions? Do we really are so unafraid to tell the world what we feel? Do we really want our employers, boss to know your political opinion and affiliations? If our stand is made clearly known on record in WEBSITES for all to see, would this affect in ANY WAY our rice bowl if there is difference in affiliation, opinion etc? No? Absolutely no? who dare to say this?
Nevertheless, its useful to discuss such topics and it is a good effort by TOC and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy’s IPS to have regular discussions to exchange views and knowledge gathered about Netizens and people’s opinions on public policies.
Just a little recommendation : invite WP representatives to share their ideas as well. Why not?
Koh Jia Hwee
“The Attempt to influence the public to show their real names is commendable – I like to know who is behind a nick sometimes as well.”
Have you ever wondered why when it comes to polices being implemented. It is always a collective effort not individuals (no individual identities) and do you think it is necessary to demand the same on the identities of key influencers.
While we may be at the receiving end of not-so-good policies, we cannot fall back on individual accountability of those policy makers yet we need to disclose our identity if our noisy greivances are to have any credibility.
Good stuff. Thanks.
I like Dr Kevin Tan’s encapsulation of the laws into the one and half hour.
More please.
13) Koh Jia Hwee
///The Attempt to influence the public to show their real names is commendable – I like to know who is behind a nick sometimes as well.///
Me too. I get wacked for my views often by pple who has use a dfferent name for each nasty reply to my posts, by from the writing style, one may deduce they are from the same person.
The roll of speakers were actually rather impressive: Cherian George, Alex Au, November Tan, Kevin Tan… but the participating numbers – 60 – seems to be a bit on the low end.
Well, I thought this was a respectable showing given that singaporeans appear to be Less Interested in Unemployment issues than Blogging in cyberspace based on the even lower turnout of 20 last month.
“While the event attracted a number of university students, Dr George expressed his disappointment that the workshop didn’t receive a response from secondary school and junior college students. ”
Um, maybe because secondary school students generally need their parents to agree to let them come, and most secondary school students’ parents think blogging is frivolous….?
“Me too. I get wacked for my views often by pple who has use a dfferent name for each nasty reply to my posts, by from the writing style, one may deduce they are from the same person.”
Really ? If you have stronger & superior viewpoints, they will withstand the whacking – your supporting audience will give you more marks and your views will stay in their mind for a long time to come and may come in handy for future use.
In the meantime, continue by bringing your kopitiam wisdom here so that our minds can stay open.
You seem to have pretty good deductions, now tell me when the economy will recover – many experts in the market have been giving conflicting viewpoints and our forecasts have been revised quite a no. of times also.
“While we may be at the receiving end of not-so-good policies, we cannot fall back on individual accountability of those policy makers yet we need to disclose our identity if our noisy greivances are to have any credibility.”
Agree with the 1st part.
But I think its the content that is more important than the author/commentor’s name. Famous writers do not use their real names. Agree?
As said, for the next 10 years, at least, I do not see the people will adopt the use of their real names simply because this is not necessary nor is it practical nor safe for singaporeans.
Why worry about identities when it is known that via ISP and physical mac address or ip address information can be found about the reader? Is this understanding not correct? Also, I understand that Blogs, websites , forums can easily come with softwares that capture all sorts of surfing habits of readers. Can even analyse the writing style and sense who that reader under another nick is.
So, it is possible but not now nor in the next 10 years At Least. There needs to be serious fundamental changes before people dare to reveal their names.
Many comments in this Blog are constructive. But honestly, there need not be Any effect. We can lament why for a tiny population, there can be so many who never voted before or even more who did not vote in the last election. Lament. Lament. Lament. no use.
There is 1 consolation – no one can stop time. People come and go. Change is the only constant. Time is Relative.
I paid $500 to attend a one-day course on Social Media marketing techniques — website content development, blogging, Facebook etc. Very interesting and very informative.
On the other hand, I paid $20 to attend the TOC blogging seminar. Good speakers, lots of content, good food too. Good value for money, for sure.
I look forward to more of such TOC seminars, especially those with how-to content on blogging and all the rest – ninja/guerrilla tactics/techniques to provoke interest on the Net on key topics. This is a good skill to develop, considering that there are millions of websites, blogs on the Net, all clamouring for attention, with very few succeeding.
“As said, for the next 10 years, at least, I do not see the people will adopt the use of their real names simply because this is not necessary nor is it practical nor safe for singaporeans.”
You have said it yourself. Sad to say that after all these years in this country, simply because this is not necessary nor is it practical nor safe for singaporeans. With your name clearly stated (I assume it is your real name) and with such statement coming from you, it may enlighten our Apek.
“Why worry about identities when it is known that via ISP and physical mac address or ip address information can be found about the reader? Is this understanding not correct?”
True but in this sad country, why make things easier for them. They have to ask themselves what they are trying to prove with this and that control especially when it is not some grand crime that we are committing.
“So, it is possible but not now nor in the next 10 years At Least. There needs to be serious fundamental changes before people dare to reveal their names.”
Mr. Koh (you deserve my respect), you have indeed revealed the sad truth.
To #22,
Actually, i have been wondering,
what happens if 66.5 % vote for change?
Then by logic, change will come whatever change they want. Technically speaking. By this logic, there is no obstacle as anything is changeable. One tough cookie is the mindset. A man who thinks and believes he is a hum will become a hum. So far, by the above logic, what is CARVED IN STONE? Even mindset can change in a twinkling of an eye. If only the human mind allows it.
Feel free to correct me.
20) To Apek
///Really ? If you have stronger & superior viewpoints, they will withstand the whacking – ///
are you saying that a different viewpoint from yours is thus weaker and inferior?
///your supporting audience will give you more marks and your views will stay in their mind for a long time to come and may come in handy for future use. ///
are the the representattive voice for “your supporting audience?
/// your kopitiam wisdom ////
is your continued personal jibes necessary?
/// now tell me when the economy will recover – ///
why the suddenly interest in my weaker and inferior views? Share with us your stronger & superior viewpoints so that we all can learn
lastly, we may want to consider having a fixed nick rather than hiding behind so many nicks,
thank you.
20) To Apek
sorry typo….
///your supporting audience will give you more marks and your views will stay in their mind for a long time to come and may come in handy for future use. ///
are you the representattive voice for “your supporting audience?
lastly, you may want to consider having a fixed nick rather than hiding behind so many nicks,
thank you again
“why the suddenly interest in my weaker and inferior views? Share with us your stronger & superior viewpoints so that we all can learn.”
well, after all this, you are still asking for it. have you not learned from the whacking. let the audience judge.
“is your continued personal jibes necessary.”
nothing personal. I do not even know you other than kopitiam apek. now, which kopitiam do you usually patronise ?
“lastly, you may want to consider having a fixed nick rather than hiding behind so many nicks,”
here I am only guided by TOC rules. if they feel that I am not suitable here, I simply need to get lost. only morons feel the need to be guided by your suggestions. you makes rules, you have to follow & respect your rules also. go back and tell your kakis.
Kevin Tan was my prof in uni. he’s a very smart guy who taught constitutional law very law! amazing toc got him!
i meant, taught constitutional law very well. (though i think he co wrote a book with thio li annie). lol.
#27
Dear Mr.hiding-behind-so-manynicks
Your personal jibes and tantrum throwing continues. I will respond to a more rational matured reply, when you provide one.
Why didnt students participate? Were they prevented from doing so?Why?
How come change of venue??
Well, you have replied, didn’t you.
As for responding to a more “rational matured reply” (your definition ?), please do. We do need people like you around to provide variety. Else, it will be too one sided.