Criticism & Commentary

Amy Khor, chairman of REACH, has encouraged the Government to engage netizens on sites that "allow for reasoned and constructive debate and gain traction". "Netizens themselves who desire rational discourse should support such sites or else start them," she said. Khor's speech in Parliament also reflected the PAP's alarm at the appeal of less rational wesbites – an alarm that may result in new legislation. Full Story

After a General Election in which online dissent left PAP politicians smarting, the government is considering new laws for the internet. The Law Ministry says, "Amongst others, the proliferation of new media has brought about new challenges to the rule of law. MinLaw will review legislation to deal with harmful and unlawful online conduct." Full Story

Prominent blogs have different policies towards the regulatory obstacles they face, the norms of fairness and balance, and where they situate themselves in relation to public opinion. – Text of a presentation at the IPS conference on the Impact of New Media on General Election. Full Story

The terrain has changed not just for newsmakers but also for the press as an establishment institution. It’s not just a question of keeping eyes and ears open to report the changes around them. The media also have to decide where to stand and when to move, if they want to play their role effectively without being either swept aside by the tide of change, or run down by conservatives who want to blame them for their setbacks. Full Story

Singapore was presented with a double bill feature on censorship this month. There was the Wikileaked diplomatic cable reporting that young reporters felt frustrated by newsroom gatekeepers. And there was Tan Tarn How’s play, Fear Of Writing, staged by TheatreWorks. Between the two, I found Tan’s work of fiction truer and more illuminating. Full Story

MediaCorp's controversial television coverage of this year's general election has been given the gentlest of feedback by a government-appointed consultative panel, the Programme Advisory Committee for English Programmes (PACE). The Committee said MediaCorp had tried to be balanced, but noted that the broadcaster's refusal to report unconfirmed results on election night made it look bad. Full Story

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for online spaces where Singaporeans and the government can engage in more balanced, open and rational debate on issues. He did not say how such spaces could form, or whether the government intended to create or facilitate such sites. The most effective solution would be bottom-up projects, created independently by established bloggers with street-cred. Could Singapore’s socio-political bloggers, for so long seen as a thorn in the government’s side, be the answer to the PM’s prayers? Full Story