By S Ramesh | Posted: 23
April 2012 1425 hrs
SINGAPORE: It is important that Singapore's
newspapers, radio and television stations do not lose sight of
their key strengths, even as the media industry adapts to the
online playing field, Minister for Information, Communication and
the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim said.
Speaking at a luncheon organised by Singapore Press Club on Monday,
Dr Yaacob said as more Singaporeans turn to the Internet and social
media for news and views, they also continue to refer to the
established traditional media as their main source of news.
One example was the two elections held in Singapore in 2011.
Dr Yaacob stressed that while the newspaper, radio and television
players exercise their own independent editorial judgement in their
reporting, they must remain mindful of their roles and
responsibilities.
He said Singapore's media model is based on consensus and
facilitating nation building, as well as preserving social cohesion
and empowering audiences to make informed decisions as a
society.
Dr Yaacob said the question that would now arise is whether this
approach should continue online.
"Our major companies which have established presence can set the
right tone online as well with good practices of information
sharing and moderation on the various online platforms," he
said.
"We can encourage information and viewpoints that inform and
evaluate, and not disturb and divide. This will enhance their
credibility that they already enjoy in the real world."
Dr Yaacob said this will enhance the credibility that they already
enjoy in the real world.
He also spoke about an internet code of conduct involving the
larger online community.
"If there are enough moderating voices within the Internet to
decide what is good and what is not acceptable, I believe it will
work," Dr Yaacob said.
"The government has a stake in this and we will continue to
encourage and engage people who have an interest in how the code of
conduct can be shaped."
The last thing the government should do, Dr Yaacob said, is to
adopt a top-down process.
The top-down process will become an instruction and, in some way,
the public will look towards the government to enforce the code, he
said.
If it is a bottom-up process, a certain degree of give-and-take and
a certain degree of moderation would have to take place, Dr Yaacob
added.
He said the light-touch approach for the Internet has worked and
can continue to work as good sense can prevail.
- CNA