Press dare not report truths from forum

last SG · 2005-11-27T23:20:56+00:00

Ai ya, not that the press dare not -- it is not a matter of dare. It is a matter of will not. Our press freedom ranking is 147th, 1 spot above Iraq (by Repor...

robertteh SG

The forum pages of Straits Times carry only letters of readers which are edited or heavily edited. Many factually objective letters have been turned away.

The only source of truths are now found in public forums like www.sgforums.com or www.findsingapore.net/forum but these are avoided like plague because the press does not have the authority's permission to go ahead and publish the active citizens' views.

What do you think. Will the press publish the forumers' views ? I think they need the government permission to do so.

robertteh SG

For example, is the press authorised to publish forumers’ views on the nicol highway’s scapegoats.

chunyong SG

cover up...u dunno how big and thick the carpet is one... Laughing

AF2005 SG

generally all press will first have to verify or first level investigation into contents and writer for genuine, real meaning and truefulness of posts. That includes previous history of posts by the writer.

They will publish it if it mean something for the public to know.

chunyong SG

dat doesn't seem to apply to local press, especially the last sentence....we aren't stupid to believe dat.

robertteh SG

When a system is authoritarianism, minds are made up first and reasons given all the time to justify policies or actions e.g. in disallowing press freedom as a policy, editors will say that he has a certain guideline that he will verify and check source facts etc but all these are secondary while the primary problem he will ignore : existing forum letters are edited or heavily edited to lend support to authoritarian system of running the country.

chunyong SG

yeah, but many of them still live in their 'bubble' world...agree ? sad but true

LazerLordz SG

I get more info on the Nguyen case from newspapers outside Singapore.Doesn't that explain a whole lot? Rolling Eyes

AF2005 SG

Its the system here. thats why they try to plug internet loophole with so many changes in the law. Post as much as you can now, before they take drastic measures on clamping down political internet posts when the election annouce.

fudgester SG

What's our press freedom ranking again? 140?

I know that both the press and our leaders are trying to play down its significance, but to me it does tell a lot about the state of our press.

I certainly do not want to read about alien abductions or human cyborgs, but I do want to read about the thoughts and opinions of others.

AF2005 SG

This nguyen case, all same info and asking the same thing. Read one the rest the same. Its like all gang up and put pressure on singapore to exempt him from death because he australian. If he exempted, singapore will be a paradise for australian drug couriers.

i agree, we need more news freedom. we can decide on our own what is right and wrong.

LazerLordz SG

But the fundamentals of balanced coverage is not here, whatever grand speeches our leaders can make.It all sounds like cookie-cutter press releases time and time again.Our eyes see much clearer.

TooFree SG

Agree. Wink I find that this is a more rational approach to do stuffs verified, checked then published. This is especially when the mass media carry weights to sway public opinions.

Both sgForum and findsingapore.net/forum tho' carry 'Singapore' name in it, it is no doubt a private forum set up by private company. Anyone can use the services without divulging one's full particulars. Hence,

1. Can the truth be found here?
2. Can the source be verified?

Truth? Ha ha ha...

AF2005 SG

On the general, Coverage is not balanced here especially if it concern politics or thoughts. Its definitely one sided at the discretion of media whatever the reasons. Its like, afraid that the population might know too much and starts to wonder why, so policies that are not really working on ground level is being interpreted as successful to the mass.
One thing i noticed is whenever a mistake is made, its quickly doused off and move on very quickly hoping that it will be forgotten.

AF2005 SG

oh, here is the place where we can publish sometime or anything regardless of good or bad or frustration and hope some will agree and if not thrash it here just to pass the time. What do people expect out of online internet forums? Its just discussion in coffeeshop online style and moving from topic to topic.

mistyblue SG

truth?

the Bear SG

truth?

i dunno.. i don't even trust news anymore... they are so easily hoodwinked into reporting crap or stuff people want them to see... which may be far from the truth...

check this out => Pallywood

see how reputable news people can be tricked into reporting terrible lies..

mistyblue SG

cute xmas bear...

ShutterBug SG

As far as ST is concerned, this forum is No Man's Land to them!

Every little word they print, has to be APPROVED.

soloasylum SG

ai ya... the editor got a job to keep mah... if it never happen in the past with this gamen either will it happen in future with the same gamen.... Very Happy anyway we still got the internet forum to talk talk for now.... if you really want freedom to curse, swear or sue anybody, the go stay US... $5000 fine only mah.. then learn the joo chiat rich man say "it's nothing"...with the press