Credibility of SG Local Media?

May 19, 2009 15:59

This comes into question given the recent reporting of PinkDot.sg.

Writing this in response to Sorrie_Bluez comment below as well as numerous other people's rants about inaccurate reporting in local media:



When the online articles first came out, ST had initially estimated 500 people and wrote about PinkDot in a negative way & called the event a protest. Then within a few minutes, netizens witness revisions to the article with the final one a more neutral tone with attendance estimated at 1,000. TodayOnline reported the event in a rather positive manner with the numbers stated at 2,500 but later revised that number down to 1,000. I guess this is so all media in Singapore would not contradict each other. This is in spite of Associated Press and other overseas media reporting the numbers at 2,500.

See the following pics for the changes in the article:




The aerial photographs of the event clearly show numbers that exceed 1,000. Also compare that to the AIDS Candlelight memorial the next day at the SMU Law & Accountancy premises stating 300 had attended which really had just one lecture hall full of people.

Logic clearly points to the numbers not making any sense.

Having been in Malaysia the past 4 years and heard how the mainstream press is slapped for carrying coverage of opposition, it seems with this that Singapore follows the same manner of having a rather strong hold on what is covered and disseminated to those living in Singapore.

As I was sharing with another friend, what results is a gradual distrust of mainstream media and with most people turning to social media for their first source of news.

Here's a survey on attitudes post 8 March election in Malaysia conducted by a leading university.




I wonder what the results will be of a similar survey in Singapore.

pink dot, straits times

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