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YOU ARE MY HERO, TV! KEEP IT UP!

“Our conscience is clear, so come hit us with your ISA, OSA, Sedition Act and proxy prosecution, if you must….”
And what about the possibility of 'libel action' where it hurts most your pocket and don’t forget about the Copyright act. Now take a look at some exclusive enhanced video images of police “kicking” brutality at:
http://powerpresent.blogspot.com/2006/08/more-pics-police-brutality-in-video.html

This story was printed from TODAYonline

Blurring lines for a clearer picture

Mainstream media, online citizen journalists need not lock horns; collaborate to show fuller diversity of views

Monday • August 28, 2006

Wayne Soon

ONE school of thought argues that alternative media — citizen journalism and online commentary — will grow to become an important competitor to traditional mainstream media. Another school, however, argues that alternative media will continue to be perceived as idle Internet chatter.

But why should it be necessary to see the relationship between the two mediums and other stakeholders in society as a zero-sum game?

There is much potential for mutually advantageous growth.

In his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong discussed the challenges of the local mainstream and alternative media in this digital age.

The alternative media has seen the growth of blogs and websites dedicated to informed commentary and reportage on Singapore society, philosophy, economics and politics. To name a few, there are Yawning Bread, Singapore Angle, The Intelligent Singaporean, Commentary Singapore and A Singapore Economist.

As our populace becomes more educated, informed and technologically enabled, more citizens will take to the Internet and possibly foster the growth of such sites.

Unlike in countries such as the United States — where, interestingly, studies show that the existence of a plurality of mainstream media actually limits the appeal of alternative media — Singapore's alternative media by default possesses a certain niche appeal that could fuel its growth. This is because the licensing laws here for newspapers and broadcasters pose high entry barriers for new participants.

In the June 2004 Pew Internet Survey of adult Americans, 78 per cent and 38 per cent respectively considered mainstream television and newspapers as their main source of election campaign news. Only about 15 per cent relied primarily on the Internet — and of these, just 30 per cent visited alternative news websites.

Singaporeans, for now, do not seem all that different. An Institute of Policy Studies survey indicated that 75 per cent of voters felt the mainstream media was important in shaping their decision in the last General Election, while 33 per cent cited the alternative Internet-based media.

As long as the mainstream media remains professional, credible and willing to engage a spectrum of voices in its reports and letters pages, it is likely readership will continue to grow even as Singapore becomes more diverse and open to other forms of media. Its enormous resources — of manpower, news sources and finances — makes it the agenda setter in much discourse.

Even so, both alternative and mainstream media face challenges. Will the mainstream media lose more of its audience to alternative media because it cannot fully reflect the growing diversity of views, some of them beyond traditionally-accepted boundary markers?

Or will the alternative media lose its passionate "rational" voice and cease to be relevant to an increasingly sceptical audience?

To meet these challenges, the mainstream and alternative media should engage each other. Cooperation need not entail compromising each side's inherent strengths — it can leverage on their distinct appeals.

The mainstream media, for example, could invite more writers from the alternative media to contribute articles and collaborate on reporting opportunities in event-specific projects — such as a National Day Special or a Singapore Theatre Festival Special.

Features on "What it means to be a Singaporean", for instance, could appear simultaneously in newspapers and on blogs, providing a multi-platform for serious reflection to bring the nation forward.

Members of the alternative media, in turn, could invite mainstream journalists to contribute articles or commentary, in their personal capacities, to their websites.

This will give the alternative media and the Internet public other views they may not glean without a professional journalist's experiences.

For such cooperation to occur, would the different out-of-bounds (OB) markers for the mainstream and alternative media be a hindrance?

The tighter OB markers for the mainstream media are underlined by the licensing laws and the Government's insistence that it serve a "nation-building" role, first and foremost.

Yes, there are potential pitfalls for any writer — especially the amateur one — trying to straddle the two. Still, is it not better for both forms of media to engage than for each to try to forge its own destiny — leading to a lose-lose situation for the media and society?

Cooperation might even foster much-needed understanding of the other's strengths and help to reshape the OB markers as our society matures.

The state stands to benefit from such cooperation between mainstream and alternative media. As Singapore society grows even more diverse, it might be difficult for either media to give a wide-enough platform for the reflection of views.

A combined platform will help residents to clarify their thoughts and questions and encourage an active, informed citizenry. It will also give the state more avenues and opportunities to engage with a wider spectrum of Singaporeans.

And with more than 100,000 Singaporeans overseas today — a number set to grow — a stronger online mainstream-cum-alternative media could be a powerful connection to keep them rooted to Singapore.

To facilitate cooperation, is there room for the state to take a "lighter touch" with both forms of media, or even to encourage the collaboration?

It will be challenging for all parties to engage constructively in news reporting and commentaries.

But will it be so difficult if the underlying aim is to take Singapore forward and foster a mature citizenry that can grapple effectively with the diversity of information in the digital age?

The writer is a Singaporean at Carleton College in Minnesota, United States