Presidential Election to use TV and online campaigning

[streetcry]

Presidential Election to use TV and online campaigning
Posted: 08 July 2011 1631 hrs
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</td><td class="bodytext" width="96%">Presidential Election campaigning</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="subheader" valign="top" width="4%">•</td> <td class="bodytext" width="96%">
</td><td class="bodytext" width="96%">Presidential hopefuls Tony Tan and Tan Kin Lian submit papers</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> </tbody></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#CCCCCC" valign="top">

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SINGAPORE: Television will be a major medium of the Presidential Election campaign, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) outlining guidelines for the election.

In a release on campaigning for the Presidential Election on Friday, it said because of the TV medium's wide reach at the national level, the medium will allow voters to assess the candidates in a manner in keeping with the decorum and dignity of the office of President.

MediaCorp will facilitate the TV campaigning for the candidates by providing them TV airtime to address the electorate, with each candidate having two blocks of 10 minutes of TV airtime, free of charge, to make his statements.

MediaCorp will record and broadcast the candidate making these statements in the form of a "presidential candidate broadcast" (PCB).

The first PCB will be televised the day after Nomination Day, while the second PCB will be televised on the eve of Polling Day.

The PMO added that an exemption will be granted to allow for the second telecast as election advertising is generally not allowed on the eve of Polling Day.

In addition, MediaCorp will produce and broadcast a TV profile on each candidate, featuring his personal and professional background, and a joint TV interview with all the candidates to allow voters to directly compare the candidates' suitability for the office.

The statement issued on Friday also said that candidates may carry out campaigning through the Internet or new media.

It also made clear that the making, exhibiting or distributing of a film (including through the new media) of candidates or the election are subject to the restrictions in the Films Act.

However, an exemption will be granted during the election period to allow any individual to exhibit and distribute live recordings of lawful election activities on the Internet, so long as the film does not distort or dramatise the election activity, and the film is not materially altered.

It added that compared to the 1993 Presidential Election, voters now have wider access to information about the candidates through the print media, more extensive TV coverage and the new media.

Candidates may, however, want to introduce themselves in-person to Singaporeans. Each candidate will therefore be allowed to hold one rally, should he wish to do so, at designated locations.

The PMO also reminded the public that the position of the President is politically non-partisan.

As such, the printing and display of banners and posters, as well as printing and mailing of campaign materials that will be carried out according to the Presidential Elections Act, should not feature political party names or symbols.

The Act also limits campaign expenses to 30 cents per registered voter or S$600,000, whichever is the greater.

According to the Political Donations Act, donors must be Singapore citizens who are 21 years old and above, or a Singapore-controlled company which carries on business wholly or mainly in Singapore.

The statement also highlighted a cooling-off period, where all campaigning must stop, will be observed on the eve of Polling Day.

In outlining the guiding principles for the Presidential Election, the PMO said it is not the President's role to support or oppose the government of the day or to advance his own agenda or policies.

According to the statement, the form of a Presidential Election campaign should differ fundamentally from that of a General Election campaign given the different roles that the elected President and the elected government perform.

The process of getting elected to the office of President should be dignified and above the political fray and the focus of the Presidential Election should therefore be on the suitability and integrity of the candidates to discharge these functions and bring credit to Singapore internationally.

The rules and regulations for the conduct of the Presidential Election should therefore foster a campaign that maintains the dignity of the office and focuses on the key attributes of suitability and integrity of the candidates for the office of President.

- CNA/sf/al

 

[Lestat]

There's nothing dignified about the process of getting elected. It's a dirty war out there, every man for himself.

If they really want to bring it online, be prepared for a severe backlash.

 

[MightyMouse]

There's nothing dignified about the process of getting elected. It's a dirty war out there, every man for himself.

If they really want to bring it online, be prepared for a severe backlash.

The design of these election guidelines is meant to favour the candidate with the support of the MSM. The Internet represents a vocal but nonetheless small proportion of the electorate. As it is, TT is not really placing much emphasis on this segment and conceding that most of the Netizens will support the other two candidates.

"Candidates may, however, want to introduce themselves in-person to Singaporeans. Each candidate will therefore be allowed to hold one rally, should he wish to do so, at designated locations."

The limit on the number of rallies that can be held is a significant measure to reduce the amount of media coverage on the other two candidates by MSM. With TT supported by MSM, they will run all kinds of reports and updates that will glorify his achievements, standing and stature. Also, PAP has never been strong in rallies and it is going to be an uphill battle for them to hold multiple rallies that will generate buzz and energy for TT's campaign. Furthermore, it will reveal how hollow PM's claim that TT will unify as they will find it hard to get rally speakers belonging to the non PAP/Government side of the political spectrum.

As for the other 2 candidates, the holding of rallies would have compelled the media to provide coverage both in MSM as well as online. The rallies will allow them to have a platform to articulate their views and provide most bang for the buck with respect to the limited budget available for the campaign. Assuming the candidates spend 15,000 per rally, that will generate the minimum of at least 1 page of coverage in each of the major dailies if not more. That is valuable media space that would not otherwise be made available. Going around shaking hands and kissing babies will not be news worthy nor effective in winning over the votes of swing voters. Having multiple rallies to articulate views and to adjust the marketing pitch in response to the feedback would have been a tremendous boost to both TKL and TCB.

Finally, I still maintain that TKL would not be disqualified as it would be significantly better to have him in a 3-corner fight to split the votes of the anti-PAP voters. TT would do much better compared to a straight fight with TCB.