- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
<TBODY>
[TD="class: msgtxt"] http://www.scribd.com/doc/65272258/ST-It-s-True-ST-Reporters-Are-Straining-at-the-Leash
It's true, ST reporters are straining at the leash (It's true, we are bitches!)
Creative tension between the generations keeps the paper relevant
Published on Sep 17, 2011
By Chua Mui Hoong, Review Editor
ARE Straits Times reporters straining at the leash, only to be yanked back by their pro-government fuddy-duddy editors?
Those who read the leaked WikiLeaks cable concerning Straits Times reporters might come away with that impression.
The cable reported conversations two ST journalists had with United States officials on the state of the Singapore media in 2008 and 2009. The theme: 'There is a growing disconnect between ST's reporters and its editors, with the reporters wanting to do more investigative and critical stories than the editors will allow.'
A quick Google search will locate the report. I'm not repeating the names here. As a journalist who believes the lifeblood of the trade is information, and who enjoys a good old jaw with all kinds of folk on all manner of issues under the sun, I want to uphold this sacred principle: Never reveal your source. I learnt this not in journalism but in primary school. Never tell Anna that Barbara said she's fat. Or you end up with no friends.
The reporters have not denied the conversations took place, but have said their reported comments did not accurately reflect what they said, or their views. Online, some netizens have used the episode as yet another opportunity to excoriate The Straits Times. The report was also picked up by wire agencies.
I think the only reason why the report attracted such attention is that it was interpreted as confirmation of what many suspected: that the Singapore Government puts pressure on the Singapore media to influence its coverage. But if anyone had asked us, we would have said so openly. Of course the Singapore Government tries to influence coverage in the national newspaper - just as the US government tries to manipulate not just newspapers in America and the rest of the world, but even Hollywood. (US eat shit, you also want to eat shit?)
Edited 9/17/2011 12:23 pm by rainnix[/TD]
</TBODY>