press freedom

(With thanks to The Straits Times)
Oct 30, 2009
Press freedom: Ranking criteria perplexing

I REFER to Wednesday's report, 'Repressive? Our people know better'.
I am more perplexed than amazed by Singapore's low ranking in press freedom in surveys conducted by institutions like Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House.
What irks me most is the fact that Singapore is ranked below some countries where people are oppressed and live under tyranny. Just because newspapers are sued for their persistently false and scurrilous reports, our rating in press freedom is adversely affected. If this is the case, such findings leave much to be desired.
Newspapers cannot and will not attract readership in a situation where they do not have a free hand in reporting news without fear or favour. In some countries where newspapers are government-owned, people turn to the Internet for alternative information.
They dare not write to the press, even when they encounter unfair treatment from government agencies, because they know their letters will not see the light of day. Worse, they may be subjected to reprisals.
Here newspapers have no qualms about publishing letters or reports on government policies which are considered unfavourable or unfair. Corporate communications departments in ministries invariably pay heed to such feedback and take appropriate action.
Singaporeans have given their thumbs-up for our newspapers' responsible and objective news coverage. Their increase in circulation and readership is attributed to readers' trust and loyalty.
This should be an accurate assessment of press freedom.

Jeffrey Law

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(With thanks to TODAY)
Press freedom index: S'pore 133rd
05:55 AM Oct 21, 2009

SINGAPORE - After falling three places last year, Singapore has rebounded up the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. It moved up from 144th spot to 133rd, just shy of Thailand (130rd) and Malaysia (131st).
Five countries - Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden - jointly topped the table, while North Korea and Eritrea rounded off the bottom at 174th and 175th.
Assistant Professor Eugene Tan of the Singapore Management University noted that Singapore was still in the bottom 20 percentile but "I don't think most people will be bothered ... does this ranking matter in the end? I don't think so. What really matters is whether Singaporeans take their media outlets seriously".
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Information, Communications and the Arts, said the improved ranking "underlines that our press remains credible especially in the face of challenges like the new media".
The report does not give reasons for Singapore's rise in the index, but Mr Zaqy thinks it could be because of the media diversity here, with mainstream media going online and "a variety of newspapers like Today". "The competition creates pressure for media agencies to provide better-quality work."
The annual index by the Paris-based group is based on questionnaires completed by journalists and media experts worldwide. The United States rose from 40th to 20th, which was attributed to more relaxed attitudes toward the media under President Barack Obama.