Web2.0 both sides of the Causeway
How do mainstream media embrace Web 2.0 in this part of the world?
In Malaysia, mercenary bloggers are said to have taken the initiative to 'engage' the media's tech-idiot head-honchos into it. The last I heard was that there is hitherto no change in status quo. 'The talk is still on', but the champagne we bet on is fast losing chill.
It's a slightly different case in Singapore, you know, the 'little red dot' that caused the delicate hymen-tear between two prime ministers -- one former and the other incumbent -- who obviously hold virtues each of their own kind.
Last week, Singapore Press Holdings, the oligarchy of modern press, ventured into the Web2.0 space with the launch of STOMP into cyberspace, followed by an official launch scheduled for today.
For those uninitiated with neo-speak, STOMP (www.stomp.com.sg) stands for Straits Times Online Mobile Print.
The Web2.0 media that occupy the site comprise blogs, webcasts, virtual chat rooms and forums, with categories ranging from Singapore news to tech stories, reports ITJourno Asia.
Contributors STOMP engaged -- no mercenaries, we are Singaporeans please -- are seven Singapore-based alpha bloggers, from Xiaxue to Dawn Yang and the first topic is about the Ang Moh (Caucasian) Uncle and he he he... the Singapore Girl.
UPDATES FROM ITJOURNO ASIA: It's a relief for the Singapore blogging community. Ever since the fallout between bloggers and journalists after two Singaporeans were found guilty on sedition charges last year, the perception has been that local mainstream media is out to get them, but Han Fook Kwang, the editor for Straits Times, said in the STOMP launch press conference today that "it is time to accept blogs and be part of this new phenomenon".
For the interactive space, STOMP encourages readers to SMS or MMS questions and comments to the site and a lucky contributor stands to win an Opel Astra with a contest that ends in July, 2006.
There is a tech blog at STOMP, titled ST Digital Club, which is redirected to SingTel's Moblog site where tech stories and event photos are currently contributed by the anonymous techbrat and techchick.
Same start, different finish
It is noted that SPH has STOMP all planned up around the same time our Malaysian mercenaries started their pitch. A quick check of its domain details at www.nic.com indicates that stomp.com.sg was registered in February this year. It just took four months to be up-and-running.
The Malaysian initiative, leave it to the mercenaries and the tech-idiot media head-honchos, may be a still-born.
Admittedly, I am acting arsenically cynical here. Perhaps, just perhaps, the delay is intended, so that a RM1 million per week penalty can be claimed against the media house ala Gerbang Perdana.
Now, you may want to ask me who our mercenary 'No Action, Talk Only' bloggers actually are.
I am not involved in this project pitch though I was talked into it initially.
'Elegant Silence'. You will get the answer through the relevant parties, not me.
Read this before you post a comment in this blog!