Media
Former journalist in Singapore reveals her encounters with media censorship in Mediacorp
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A former journalist in Singapore shared her reporting experience on Twitter, revealing some of her encounters with media censorship that happened in Mediacorp, the national public broadcaster.
“Only writing about things I’ve heard and experienced. First, at the old building in Caldecott, there was a censorship room. The door plate literally said ‘censorship’,” she wrote in a Twitter thread – which has since been deleted – on Wednesday (15 July).
According to her, journalists in Singapore who intend to do a vox pop – short interviews with members of the public – outside of Parliament would need to obtain permission from the Government in advance.
“I remember submitting info like my name, ID number, nationality and race with those from my crew,” said the former journalist.
She was also informed by a producer friend, who just got her Permanent Residence (PR) in Singapore, that journalists who are not Singapore citizens, including PR are not allowed to do coverage on the General Election (GE).
Other instances were when her TV script – which covered about Singapore’s athletes had to do crowdfunding themselves for the Olympics due to lack of Government support – was “ruthlessly edited” without her knowledge.
“Above was taken out only to be replaced w[ith] paragraphs of available gov[ernment] scholarships (mostly academic scholarships…),” she added.
Expressing her curiosity on the series of MRT incidents occurred in Singapore between 2017 and 2018 – including the train collision at Joo Koon MRT station on November 2017 which she claimed was called a “bump” by the state-media – she asked a former reporter at Mediacorp on why no media was looking into it.
But the response that she received was, “This is Singapore”.
The former journalist went on to share about the coverage on smart factories in Singapore which she was assigned to by her superior, claiming that the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) had given four “options” and asked her to “let them know” the companies that she chose to cover beforehand.
“I got an email from MTI asking me if I’m interested in covering smart factories, which I ignored bc[because] I was working on other stories. My boss, usually terse on email, politely agreed. MTI gave me four ‘options’ – told me to choose two (or one) companies and LET THEM know,” the former journalist added.
The same thing happened when she called the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) to inquire about the ratio of Chinese and Malay officers in the Government.
“Idk[I don’t know] exactly what story I was working on but I got curious about the ratio of Chinese vs Malay gov [government] officers so I called the relevant gov comms. Got a call asking what my ‘agenda’ is,” she noted.
Although there are journalists in Singapore who are committed to “legit reporting”, the former journalist opined that it will still be difficult when high-level editors are being appointed from different ministries.
It is “not surprising” to find an editor-in-chief (EIC) at Mediacorp who listed out his “extensive Government relations experience” in the LinkedIn bio, she said.
One netizen – who happens to be a journalist – commented in the thread, saying that there are former officers of the Internal Security Department (ISD) who were appointed to be editors at the Straits Times’ (ST) political desk.
The netizen hinted that the editors would occasionally ask his colleagues “would this make the Government look silly?” on ostensibly non-political stories, which left them wondered if the editors had resigned from the ISD.
Referring to the comment, the former journalist said “To those who [are] not familiar w[ith] ISD (Internal Security Department) in Singapore. Think spy agency”.
Citing the ST’s article titled “HDB officer fined $2,000 for breaching Official Secrets Act by giving confidential info to ST journalist” which was published on 20 December 2017, she stated that the ST journalist’s phone was taken by the authorities without a warrant.
The former journalist was told by her friends – who are Singapore’s journalists – that a Government official went to have a meeting at ST office and display screenshots of the journalist’s private conversation with the HDB officer. She regarded it as a “very disturbing” story to hear.
“Yes, this is why NYT[New York Times] didn’t relocate their digital team to Singapore. It’s a business-friendly place, not for media,” she asserted.
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Media
Mediacorp to merge TODAY digital newsroom with Channel News Asia
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Mediacorp, a state-owned media company under Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings, has announced on Wednesday (28 Aug) that the TODAY digital newsroom will merge with Channel News Asia (CNA) on 1 October 2024.
This merger, which will effectively transform TODAY into a digital weekend magazine under CNA, is presented as an effort to consolidate resources and expand CNA’s reach both within Singapore and internationally.
As part of the merger, TODAY will shift its focus to producing long-form analytical features on current issues, in-depth news reports, human interest stories, and opinion pieces under its Big Read brand, which will be published every weekend. This content is intended to supplement CNA’s existing daily digital offerings, with the goal of increasing CNA’s digital traffic and deepening audience engagement, particularly on weekends.
Starting 1 October, the TODAY app and website will no longer be updated, with all new content being channeled through CNA’s platforms. However, TODAY will maintain its social media pages, which will redirect followers to CNA’s digital sites.
Walter Fernandez, Mediacorp’s Editor-in-Chief, framed the merger as a response to global trends, including increased news fatigue and active news avoidance, trends exacerbated by changes in social media algorithms that de-emphasize news content. Fernandez also cited a significant overlap between the digital audiences of TODAY and CNA as a key factor in the decision to merge the two newsrooms.
The merger will not result in job losses, according to Fernandez, as all TODAY staff will be offered roles within CNA. These roles will involve either working on the new weekend magazine or integrating into other teams within CNA, depending on their expertise.
While Mediacorp presents the merger as a strategic response to the evolving media landscape, critics might view this consolidation as part of a broader trend of centralizing media under state influence in Singapore, particularly given Mediacorp’s ownership by Temasek Holdings and the fact that SPH Media Trust, which runs The Straits Times and other vernacular publications such as Lianhe Zaobao, is funded by the Singapore government through a grant of S$900 million.
TODAY, launched in 2000 as a free newspaper and a rival to Streats, another English-language freesheet published by Singapore Press Holdings, quickly rose to prominence as the second-most widely read daily in Singapore. In 2002, TODAY launched a weekend version, WeekendTODAY, which was distributed to homes as a free newspaper and also sold at newsstands for 50 cents.
In 2004, Singapore Telecommunications pulled out of the newspaper venture by selling its 28.51 percent stake in the company for S$13.66 million, following SMRT Corp.’s sale of its 14.56 percent stake for S$3.5 million.
In April 2017, TODAY discontinued its weekend edition, publishing only on weekdays. Later that year, in September, it ceased print publication of its weekday edition, continuing solely as a digital publication.
Despite its achievements, including international recognition for its short-form video content and coverage of youth issues, TODAY has faced significant challenges, such as the controversial suspension of Mr Brown’s column in 2006 after he criticized the government.
The merger also raises questions about the future of media plurality in Singapore, where Mediacorp already holds a dominant position.
Chief Commercial Officer Jacqui Lim sought to reassure advertisers, promising competitive alternatives across Mediacorp’s network, which includes CNA, 8 World, Berita, and Seithi. Lim emphasized that the merger aligns with Mediacorp’s audience-first approach, aiming to provide innovative and effective media solutions.
The post Mediacorp to merge TODAY digital newsroom with Channel News Asia appeared first on Gutzy Asia.
Media
Tan Suee Chieh: Sacrificing NTUC Income’s values for short-term gains undermines its foundation
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SINGAPORE: In a latest argument against selling Singapore’s corporate NTUC Income to German insurer Allianz, Mr Tan Suee Chieh, former CEO of NTUC Income, has reiterated his objections to the justifications provided by NTUC Enterprise and Income. He argued that these justifications are unconvincing.
Mr Tan emphasised his support for seeking an institution that aligns with Singapore’s strategic interests to purchase the shares, rather than Allianz, which he believed prioritizes shareholder returns over the social mission of NTUC Income.
He highlighted that while innovation and adaptation are crucial, it is essential to do so in a manner that preserves the social mission and adheres to the cooperative principles that have guided Income since its inception.
“Sacrificing these values for short- term gains or aligning with entities that do not share our ethos would not only constrain our future but also undermine the very foundation upon which Income was built. ”
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday (28 August), Mr Tan reiterated his criticism of NTUC Enterprise for failing to honour previous commitments made during capital injections. These commitments included maintaining the permanence of issued shares, safeguarding Income’s social mission, and ensuring that Income retained a majority shareholding.
One of Tan’s primary concerns is the potential extraction of surplus capital from Income post-sale.
He questioned whether Allianz, given its focus on return on investment (ROI), will extract surplus capital from Income, which could ironically contradict the sale’s justification centered on the need for more capital.
Tan noted that the participating life business segment, which is long tail and capital-intensive, might be phased out if it does not align with Allianz’s ROI objectives.
He argued that the participating life business, while requiring substantial capital, is less mission-critical compared to other segments where Income has a significant market share.
He suggested that Income should pivot towards these mission-critical areas and focus on delivering social impact.
Mr Tan: NTUC Income Should Reinvent Itself to Leverage Existing Strengths for Greater Social Impact
Besides market share in life insurance as 10%, Mr Tan further highlighted Income’s significant market shares in other important sectors, including:
27.5% in motor insurance
22% in health insurance (Income Shield)
21% in travel insurance
17% in personal accident insurance
Mr Tan argued that instead of selling to a foreign insurer, Income should “reinvent itself,” and use its enviable existing strengths to deliver social impact and outstanding value to Singaporeans.
Mr Tan further pointed out that the company’s track record in retail insurance in Asia is not exceptional.
He questioned whether Allianz’s expertise is truly indispensable in the regional context and highlights its profit-driven goals, which may not align with Income’s social mission.
While NTUC Enterprise Chairman Lim Boon Heng asserted that there is a shared purpose between Allianz and Income in serving people well, Mr Tan pointed to a seemingly contradictory statement from Allianz CEO Oliver Bate.
Bate, during the company’s second-quarter earnings briefing in Frankfurt on 8 August, affirmed that Allianz expects a “double-digit return on investment (ROI) over time” from its acquisition of Income Insurance.
Tan also draws attention to the success of other cooperatives and social enterprises globally, which have thrived without needing to expand regionally or be acquired by listed companies.
He also expressed support for finding an institution aligned with Singapore’s strategic interests to purchase the shares, rather than Allianz, which he sees as prioritizing shareholder returns over social mission.
Mr Tan Decries NTUC’s Shift Towards Shareholder Returns, Calls for Better Use of Income’s Strengths
Mr Tan found it deeply ironic and troubling that NTUC, an institution traditionally associated with cooperative principles and social missions, is now leading a shift towards aligning with a multinational company focused on maximizing shareholder returns.
“While it is true that the funds raised from this sale could potentially be redirected by NTUC Enterprise to support other social good initiatives, this is not the right way to leverage Income.”
“Sacrificing the cooperative’s core mission undermines the very essence of what Income stands for.”
Mr Tan also expressed his strong support for a diversity of business models and a pluralism of choices.
“Such diversity is not just a matter of principle; it is essential for building a more resilient and inclusive Singaporean society, where institutions like Income continue to play a pivotal role in serving all Singaporeans, especially the workers that NTUC represents.”
The post Tan Suee Chieh: Sacrificing NTUC Income’s values for short-term gains undermines its foundation appeared first on Gutzy Asia.
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