The Pressing Issues

Listening to: KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See

'The power of the journalist is great, but he is entitled neither respect nor admiration because of that power unless it is used right.' (Theodore Roosevelt)

For all those interested in the topic of media and especially what S'pore's stand is on this issue, then you should have read the excerpt of the speech by SM in today's ST.

Go read the full article for all the details, but let me share the excerpts of excerpts - all extracted from SM's speech :)

1. The media disseminates information, news, analyses and commentaries. It influences and shapes public opinion. Hence ideally, its corporate interests should converge with the core interests of its home country.

2. The media also provides an important channel for the government and national leaders to communicate with the people.

3. Editors and journalists shoulder a heavier moral and social responsibility beyond that of CEOs and executives of other commercial companies.

4. A free press by Western standards does not always lead to a clean and efficient government or contribute to economic freedom and prosperity.

5. In reality, of course, there is no such thing as unfettered press freedom. Even the most liberal-minded person would acknowledge the necessity of some form of regulation or code to ensure responsible reporting.

6. Singapore needs a media model where the players practise press freedom in a responsible way.

7. I do not favour a subservient press. An unthinking press is not good for Singapore. But press freedom must be practised with a larger sense of responsibility and the ability to understand what is in or not in our national interests.

8. Editors need to understand what their larger responsibilities entail and to demand them of their journalists. Editors and journalists must have high personal integrity and sound judgment - people who understand Singapore's uniqueness as a country, our multiracial and multi-religious make-up, vulnerabilities and national goals.

9. News should not be slanted to serve a hidden agenda.

10. Even though Singapore is now more developed and our population better educated, it remains crucial for Singapore to maintain our own unique and tested system of political governance and media model. They have worked well. We should improve them from experience and by learning from others. Accept what has worked and reject what has not, whether they are from the East or West. But we must be bold enough to evolve our own model of a responsible, lively and credible media.