An Inside Look into How Straits Times Operates

ObviousMan SG

I dont think the PM will reply to the letter. For what reason does he want to act oil to the fire? Pranay Gupte is not suing SPH for that matter. I also do not think anyone will sue him, since it will no doubt be a source of publicity in itself. That Singapore newspapers are political-based may be apparent to many, but not to all.

There are many in Singapore who were brain-washed from young to act according to what the govt dictates. Also, many of the older generation are pro-PAP supporters. I do not blame them since they lived in a totally different period. Unfortunately, they are also the group that is most likely to be adversely affected by govt policy changes. I am young and can fend for myself, but it makes my blood boil to see how simple people can be deceived by sweet talk.

The article is solid as it gives an internal view at how the ST operates. It confirms what many people suspect but had no proof --- which results in the situation where their suspicions become only opinions. This letter at least provides firm ground for opinions to become facts.

ObviousMan SG

Yeah, whether it is information overload or underload, the best defense is to think for oneself and not be bound to some defined bias.

Have a laugh:
The legend of obviousman: http://www.udel.edu/communication/COMM418/begleite/humor/nonsequitur.htm

Help Singaporeans wake up --- Be Cynical!

sgdiehard SG

More people than we know are aware that Singapore newspapers speak only what the government wants them to speak, but many of these people agree with the government.
Many people benefits from the present government, many people accept the present government when they compare the other governments in the region, many people make do with the present government until they can see a more viable alternative....."brain-washed"???
Older generation are pro-PAP because they want status quo and they don't want to take risk. These older people saw how the government closed down newspapers and fired journalists even before you were born. They don't need to see more proof.
There are people who think differently from you!! If you simply write these people off as "brain-washed" or "simple", you will never understand them and will never get them to see your view.

lution SG

we all know how the media can be used to brain-wash brainless-all-accepting singaporeans.

sgdiehard SG

Those who are brainless cannot be brain-washed, and those whose brains are full of shits also cannot be washed, you need to flush it. We can thus infer that those who were brain-washed have brains and their brains are not full of shits.

ObviousMan SG

If you read carefully, you will see that I was talking about 2 groups the younger generation who were brain-washed from young and the older generation upon whom PAP built their success. I am not so worried about the young generation --- the young can adapt fast, even if dulled by years of education and assurances that the government will ensure more good years ahead.

But the older generation is at risk. They lived through the period where economic growth benefited everybody. That era is now passé. Future growth will produce winners and losers. Losers will once again be the working class. If you are old and working, well you can go look at what WDA has to offer be retrenched and retrained to work in some worse-off job made to look glamorous by the WDA. And the sad thing is, that is going to be the way of life (which is what the WDA is advertising). I will try my best to avoid this planned fate, although I cannot be sure I will not fall into it.

The older generation can ignore what I say, go listen to the govt then. The old and poor will not be left behind. See our MM 81 years old still has a job--- what is there to fear? Those kanna retrenched at age 40++ sure can find jobs one mah. Is the govt talking sense or am I talking sense? Just look around yourself to see the reality. So my point is, think for yourself and not follow someones plan, else you will find yourself in some shit hole you never wished for.

sgdiehard SG

If the younger ones are not at risk and obviously you are not worried for them, then what is the problem? brain-wash or no brain-wash? What are you saying that is worthy for the older generation??

Now what old generation are you talking about? those 40+, 50+, or 60+??
Retrenchment or lay off is common place these days. The question is whether you can find another job later. If you are 30+, you're ok; if you are 40+, you need to try hard and hope for luck; if you are 45+, slim chance, 50+ no chance. This is happening everywhere and not just singapore. To reduce the chance of being lay off, avoid american companies. To continue working, are you prepared to relocate? or are you prepared to learn a new business and start your own later?

The next question is whether you have savings or are you in debt? have you the financial plan for the future?

Those who are now over 50 lived through periods of growth in singapore, 1970 till 1995. If they don't gamble, their HDB bought in the 70s can bring them a lot more now.

Those 40+ are the ones having problem. They were in their 30s in 1990s, they just got married and probably had young children, just bought their house, at the peak. After 1997, if they lose their jobs, they have real problem.

The reality is for everybody to see and you can choose follow the government, WDA , some financial advisers or your own plan...but you and you alone decide your own fate. No body wish to go into any shit hole, and there is no guarantee you will not fall into one even with your own plan.

Do your own planning and respect others choice.

ObviousMan SG

Again, you are not reading my post but forming your own arguments based on your own bias. I never say that the younger ones are not at risk and I never said that I am not worried for them. I say I am NOT SO worried --- meaning that I worry less for them.

The younger ones not at risk? --- you must be kidding. Just go ask how many unemployed / underemployed / underpaid young people there is out there.

I am not so hypocritical to say that what I say is worthy for anybody, regardless of their age. I type what I want to express to Singaporeans. Whether what I post is worthy or not depends on the person reading my post. It has nothing to do with personal self-endorsement.

You are naïve to think that only the 40+ are going to be in problem.

What does rising costs mean to those near retirement? Just look around you, just a few signs of the economy recovering and prices start rising again.

What does the easy entrance of Foreign Talents on Employment Pass mean for Singapore workers. At a minimum cap of $2,500 for professionals and $1800 for technicians (monthly salary), it means you can find cheap AND experienced workers for employment. What does it mean for the possible income growth for workers? What does it mean for fresh degree, diploma and ITE graduates? Basically, it means to accept lower pay or risk being displaced. But the difference is that the FT can work here for a few years and return home rich, while Singaporeans work and remained saddled with debts.

Have you noticed that N.S. is now 2 years (instead of 2.5 or 3 years)? Did you know that N.S is one of the scared cows of our MM? And plans are made for those doing further studies after N.S. to serve their reservist duties during their school holidays. Even the govt is aware that reservist is now a burden for the career of a male Singaporean. In fact, it is a acute disadvantage compared to a PR or FT.

And finally, I have always respected peoples choice. People can choose to accept or ignore what I post anyway. But you seem to be implying that I dont respect your choice. And you keep harping on the term brain-washed. Well, no one has accused you of being brain-washed here yet, but if you keep on harping on it it might be a self-admission that you are.

sgdiehard SG

Reiterating some facts does not bring new lights to the problem. I am not joining you in bitching and mourning about FT, NS and rising costs, old and stale, unless you have better solutions. You are the one who used the word "brain-washed" so don't talk to me about being biased. You are the one who brought up one letter from an angmoh with a conclusion that is known to many of us long time ago and it is you who take the government's way as the "planned fate", so don't talk to me about naivity.

ObviousMan SG

Well, i may be the one who used the word "brain-washed", but you were the one who kept harping on it --- see what i mean.

And did i say i am the one who is bringing in any solutions? My only solution is to get people to think for themselves by pointing out the obvious. If you just want solutions, are you thinking for yourself or are you relying on someone to think for you?

And did i not say that very clearly in earlier posts that NOT EVERYBODY is aware of the way singapore media operates?

Once again, you may have read my posts but nothing of what i say has registered. So i point out what is obvious to you, if you are not happy, that is because you have never considered what my agenda is (even though i gave a hyperlink for you to enjoy), but rely on your own bias that i am "bitching and mourning".

ctstalin SG

Hey obvious-man,
watever the others say, i will always support you. A very good letter published.

ObviousMan SG

Well, I must clarify that i am here to express my opinion of things. What i want to say is that i find singaporeans usually have no personal opinion of how things are. Like good students, they are spoon-fed by the local media and their thinking are all alike which is parroting what they are taught.

So to readers, feel free to flame me if you want but do it in a way that truely reflects your personal opinion and not act as a mouthpiece for some propaganda material.

robertteh SG

The story in the journalist's plight arising from his insistence of journalistic professionalism and independence reminds me of a letter about accountability and transparency I once wrote to a paper. An assistant replied to say that it would be published but it was not.

I later found that my letter was withdrawn from intended publication by a powerful special editor even though it was accepted for publication.

I emailed to the special editor and was told that it was published but tried as I did, I could not find it printed in any forum or commentary. I emailed her again later that it was not seen in print but it was of no avail as it was her words against mine.

This story merely confirmed my fear about lack of openness and accountability being talked about by the new pm. If such a letter was deliberately prevented from publication, how to speak candidly with youths of Singapore and ask them to come forward to serve the nation.

How to be seen as truthful and equitable in release of news and information for accountability and transparency? Laughing

ObviousMan SG

Right, they will publish things like this:

Dec 16, 2004
Three weeks away and he missed The Straits Times

HAVING just returned from a three-week overseas trip, I was surprised that The Straits Times was one of the many things I missed during my absence from Singapore.
Reading it on a leisurely Saturday morning re-established a certain inexplicable connection between me and fellow Singaporeans and it was such a pleasure to pore over the pages once again.
What made the read much more meaningful was when I turned to the Forum page and came across two letters, 'Kids cost money but they bring priceless gifts' and 'Cut up your credit cards before it's too late' (ST, Dec 11).
Both articles touched me very much and I am glad that the Forum has become a space where readers can share their insights on issues that concern the heart and not just the brain.
Where it used to be more of a channel for the public to air grievances and question the authorities, the Forum has evolved sensitively to include lighter but no less important matters on family, love and life.
If Singapore is to become a more open and reflective society, I am delighted to know that we have The Straits Times and the Forum which will serve as a much needed space for everyone to participate.
Tony Tan Song Huat

Laughing

patriot SG

After reading Mr Gupte's article, my sense of his disposition is summed up in three words: disgruntled former employee.

There is no such thing as a perfect organisation in this world. And especially in larger companies, imperfections can certainly be magnified. When reading his article, I would advise objectivity above all else. People with a personal agenda are usually less than objective in their interpretation of the situation and expression of their opinions. And getting fired from one's job certainly is a rather significant blow to a bloated ego (er, how many times did he drop names or extoll his own journalistic prowess in the article?).

So, I'm not saying what Mr Gupte wrote is not true. And I'm sure he is a very good journalist. I'm just saying that for some people, it is a tendancy to smear the collective reputation of a group of people just because he felt wronged by a few. We should bear that in mind when we read such articles.

ObviousMan SG

Right, readers please be objective when reading the article. I did not post the article to highlight the fact that someone lost his job or to allow him to vent his frustration at being laid off nor is it to discuss the foreign talent issue. I posted the article to show readers how ST operates (the title shows it all).

While readers can read the article any way they like, I am more concerned at how ST operates. Some obvious questions that come to my mind are:

(1) Why are intelligence officers being employed as editors in the media industry?

(2) Why are journalists asked to present facts that are supplied by editors but are not historically true?

(3) On his website, Mr Gupte revealed he was sacked when he refused to comply with what he saw as unprofessional behaviour as a journalist and escorted out of the country by intelligence personnel. Does this mean that all Singapore journalists are supposed to follow orders from the top and report fiction and not facts?

I am not seeking answers for any of the above questions, although I would like to know more if any one here has worked in the Singapore media industry before and like to share.

Indeed, the answers to the questions are like asking Russians why KGB exists in the former USSR. However beautiful the explanation, it only shows that those at the top are very skilful at using the media to influence people.

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