SINGAPORE: MediaCorp Group CEO Ernest Wong says the recent media
merger spells the end of destructive competition in the local media
industry.
Hence, MediaCorp can now concentrate on creating quality programmes
not only for local viewers but also for the region and
beyond.
Mr Wong was speaking at MediaCorp's annual technical Star Awards
ceremony on Sunday.
He also urged staff to look ahead into the post-merger
future.
"With the merger, we would see many new faces and some old ones,
come 1 January 2005. Let us welcome our old colleagues with open
arms, forget the destructive past competition and concentrate on
what we can achieve together," said Mr Wong.
However, competition amongst the artistes vying for the Star Awards
is expected to heat up next year when some of the SPH MediaWorks
artistes join MediaCorp.
At Sunday's ceremony, Channel 8's News and Current Affairs team
bagged their share of the Star awards.
Current affairs programme "Focus" won the best feature for its
report on the Nicoll Highway cave-in earlier this year.
The best news story went to reporter Tan Bee Leng for her coverage
of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's inauguration ceremony in
August.
"What was most memorable of this reporting experience was to chat
and mingle with ordinary folks in the street, hawker centres. It
was the first time they took part in the Prime Minister's
swearing-in ceremony. When I spoke to them, I shared their pride
and it was an enriching and humbling experience," said Ms
Tan.
12 technical awards were given out altogether. - CNA
