TODAY: Trusted channels in the age of new media

Trusted channels in the age of new media
Friday • August 22, 2008
derrick a paulo
deputy news editor
derrick@mediacorp.com.sg

THE only blogger in Singapore’s Cabinet gives the thumbs up for media diversity from the new media, even if it means there could be more "false truths" out there.

It simply makes it more important for the Government to react quickly to rumours, which "can happen anywhere" and in any medium, Foreign Minister George Yeo told Channel NewsAsia in an interview.

Which is why Mr Yeobelieves the traditional media in Singapore must avoid speculative stories and continue in the role they have always played: Providing a direct line of communication between government and the people.

"That importance of Government agencies reacting quickly to rumours that are getting out of control cannot be overestimated," he said. "And how do you do that? Through trusted channels."
One of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s main talking points in his National Day Rally was how the Government would have to adapt to the Web while Singaporeans would have to learn how to be discerning about what they see online.

Last night, however, the call to keep up with the times was also directed at the mainstream media, in Channel NewsAsia’s current affairs show Insight, which was broadcast at 8.30pm.

"The traditional media as I see in Singapore need to get out of their comfort zone. They need to
become a whole lot more bold, a lot more questioning in order to better reflect the range of opinions out there in private life," said blogger Alex Au in the half-hour episode on politics in a digital age.

While Mr Au, whose blog yawningbread.org is known for its critical views of the Government, does not believe that the Internet is making traditional media irrelevant, he said that the additional channel ofinformation may make things more democratic.

Mr Yeo told CNA that the situation in Singapore is not unlike other countries such as China.

"The media field there has become very interesting, very lively, but they still have The People’s Daily, which officials and ordinary Chinese citizens instinctively go back to if they want to know official positions - what is the position coming down from Beijing," he said.

Political scientist Bilveer Singh thinks what is more pertinent, though, is to have a "politically matured populace".
"(Then), once you read the alternative media, you’re in a position to use the grey matter and say, ‘Ok, fine, I know what’s the agenda on the other side; I also know what’s the agenda in the mainstream media’," he said.

Dr Amy Khor, chairman of REACH, the government feedback arm, is one who believes there will be greater political discourse given the new platforms provided by the new media.

Mr Lee’s announcement on Sunday that the outright bans on political videos and posting election material online will be lifted should deepen that political participation.

But the impact this will have on political parties is less clear, believes Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim, who has reserved judgment on the policy shift until she sees the final fine print.
"For the citizens themselves, you can see there are some qualifications put in, for example, PM says the footage has to be factual, it cannot be made up, it cannot be slanted. Now, that itself is open to a lot of interpretation."

Whil e the Government is clear on wanting to keep politics serious, as Mr Lee had said, the advent of the new media and citizen journalism online is "not all serious", Mr Yeo told CNA.

"A lot of it is just human beings establishing contacts, sharing joys and disappointments," said the minister, who related how MediaCorp Radio DJ Hamish Brown dedicated the song ‘Streets of London’ to him after "friending" him on Facebook.
"So, I put on my earphones and listened to it at 9.30am and I was about to give my response on Facebook, but they beat me to it. Hamish asked, ‘how did you find it, were you listening’. I said, ‘Yes, I was, thank you’."