From Yawning Bread
:
Thanks to a reader, I nearly suffered whiplash as I read this story from Channel NewsAsia (CNA) that he/she attached in an email:
24 August 2010, 1716 hours
Channel NewsAsia
S’pore named ‘Top International Meetings City’ for 3rd consecutive year
By Mustafa Shafawi
SINGAPORE : Singapore has clinched the title of ‘Top International Meetings City’ for the third consecutive year, affirming its standing as a leading business events destination, ahead of some 1,700 cities.
The latest 2009 global rankings published by the Union of International Associations (UIA) also showed that Singapore climbed a spot, from third position, to be placed as the second ‘Top International Meetings Country’ behind the United States.
And for the 26th consecutive year, Singapore remains both the top city and country to hold meetings in Asia.
Secretary General of the UIA, Jacques de Mevius, said Singapore is an increasingly strong market leader in international associations meetings.
[truncated]
At first sight, the headline and first sentence (we’re the top city) conflicts with the second sentence (we’re not top, we’re only second), but a closer look will reveal that the first sentence was referring to cities and the second to countries. The headline and first sentence also appears to contradict the third sentence (3rd consecutive year versus 26th consecutive year), but actually does not, if you read carefully.
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Aiyo, “Creating Writing” Singapore Stlye !
Top International Meetings City – why?
Fear Factor – by GN
In Singapore it is illegal to protest unless you have a permit from them and by the way don’t bother applying. Since 1959, no one in Singapore has ever been given a permit to protest or do anything.
Aiyo, Have u caught the ball ? This is “Creating Writing” singapore Style !
If my memory serve me correctly there was one protest allowed by the police. It was organised by NTUC against of all people USA.
If I am not mistaken it was for the Micheal Fay case or something like that
And to think such clowns can actually get a job writing news. My goodness…
There is no newspaper in Singapore. We only have Daily Education Paper.
There is no free to air TV channels in Singapore. We pay $10 per month to view those channels.
There is no subsidized HDB housing. We pay discounted market price.
………etc
Beauty of creative writing….
but I wonder if the journalist who penned this article is feeling the blushes now.
I am sure the company which did this survey have their reputations on the line to report accurately, but the way it translates itself in our MSM is exceptional.
I wonder, do these people learn it school. Are they taught and given OJT’s at ther respective offices. Or do they just want to make believe themself and feel good that they have contributed to a certain ‘status quo’.
My, my one needs strong hides to be this way and conjure up such tricks. Best suited for the marketing industry then professional journalism.
This is terrible reading and comprehension from YB & TOC. There is nothing factually wrong with Shafawi’s article.
Remember how Singapore is a city-state?
“Singapore has clinched the title of ‘Top International Meetings City’ for the third consecutive year”
- Compares us to cities from all continents.
“Singapore climbed a spot, from third position, to be placed as the second ‘Top International Meetings Country’ behind the United States.”
- Compares us to countries from all continents. Worth to note that collectively, USA has more cities than us.
“And for the 26th consecutive year, Singapore remains both the top city and country to hold meetings in Asia.”
- Compares us to cities and country within Asia, a statistic we’ve dominated for 26 years. We’ve only dominated the global statistic in the past 3 years.
YB’s site does feature some actual shoddy reporting with more validity than this. TOC editors & reader, please read carefully before making condescending remarks.
I think Time To Brush Up On English hit the nail on the head. Grammatically, there’s nothing wrong with the article.
Besides, all newspapers in the world do that – the journalists and editors are excellent wordsmiths who know how to turn their words to sensationalise stories and give a false impression, yet still be able to tell the truth
Reports on news portals ought to be factual, precise and yet simple for effective communication to the public. This article obviously does not make the mark of good journalism and more importantly, it shows nothing more than the journalist’s attempt to glorify every single piece of result (or achievement, if you like it) by our city state.
And that makes it right?
Bravo to Time to brush up on English?
To netizens, look before you leap
And the culture of fear goes on…..
@Time to brush up on English? and Tjin
I don’t think anyone is saying that ST or the local media are LYING. And yes, grammatically there is nothing wrong with the article.
However, just because you’re not lying does not automatically mean you are telling the truth. The way the local MSM distorts, skews and slants things can be highly misleading. They don’t need to lie for the harm to be done.
@kixes
True, but it has always been a tactic by any news agency to use such wordplay anyway. This happens internationally and is not unique to Singapore