Lets Get Angry!

ST Reporters: Are you proud of your ranking?

Published Thursday, October 26, 2006 by Singapore Election |

I'm sure you reporters/editors/editorial staff are fully aware of your achievements - or lack thereof - and where you stand in this globalised village of free-flowing information - or manipulated information.

So, how you people feel about being on that ship that ranks 146th?

You people are proud of what you're doing? You people are proud of what you have not done, or are doing to Singapore society?

You people are proud of your so-called "nation building" efforts? Do you really know what you're "building" and for whom?

a1zb2y's got a message:

Dear Singapore journalists,

With the release of Reporters Without Borders' 2006 report on press freedom, I am sure you guys (and gals) are feeling rather low right now. Well, to be honest, you guys deserve to feel that way. Unless you don't.

Once upon a time, the profession of a journalist was a respected one. One on which people depended to tell the truth about public affairs and public issues. While you may pat yourself on the back and adopt a self-congratulatory demeanour with all the in-house awards you have been getting (without any competition at all), the truth is that you are a condemned lot.

Sure you can congratulate yourself in what may resemble sessions of self-masturbation of egos, you cannot escape from the fact that you are despised not only around the world but also in your own country. Perhaps especially in your own country.

And sure again, you can blame the government and soothe your ego with blanket excuses like "I am just doing my job" or "I have a family to feed", the truth (again) is that you are solely responsible for the pathetic state that our media is in. Yes, each one of you. Each individual one of you.

I used to sympathise and empathise with you lot, even giving you the benefit of the doubt. The machinery of the govt is overwhelming. The fear instilled in you is frightening. The consequences of being fair is apalling.

Well, not anymore.

Someone here called you people a disgrace. And indeed you are. All of you. A disgrace.

A disgrace to your profession.

A disgrace to your country.

A disgrace to your own very self.

The people looks to you for fair reports. The people looks to you to be humane in your reports. The people looks to you, above all, to tell the truth.

You have failed in all counts.

So, please do not play the victim. Most of all, please do not any longer pretend you are professionals. It is what you do from now on that will change our perception and perhaps regain whatever credibility you have left - if you have any at all left.

Stop your self-masturbation, stop your cowardice, stop your vindictiveness. Stop your pretension. And most of all, stop giving yourself awards. It is a joke.

Do yourself a favour and self-reflect - as an organisation, an institution and as individuals. For even though you may point the finger and ascribe blame to the organisation, you should not and must not forget that the organisation is made up of individuals like yourself, each one of you.

The pathetic state of the media reflects the individual in it.

Anyway, I know this message will do nothing to change whatever you do or how you do it. So, it makes no difference.

My only hope is that you will realise what you are doing to my country - and the people of my country.

Sincerely,
Just a Singaporean.

5 Responses to “ST Reporters: Are you proud of your ranking?”

Anonymous on 12:00 AM SGT

you think the journalists in singapore cares about the ranking.. they only cares about their payslips.. the lower the ranking the better it is because the people in white will reward them with pay increase and high bonuses for toeing the line...
Anonymous on 1:37 PM SGT

I concur, if they have any sense of justice (or lack thereof), they should have quit their positions long time ago. Let the "foreign talents" fill up their role because they won't care much about what they write anyway. There will be no personal bearings or conscience.

If the journalists have any moral conscience about the stuff they write, they should not work for a govt run press like the Singapore Press Holdings.
Anonymous on 10:40 AM SGT

Everday I pick up the newspapers I am more appalled at the articles. They really are the PAP's mouthpiece. Just look at today's paper, Oct 28th, opposition politician is referred to throughout as "Chee Soon Juan" instead of Dr. Chee while Vivian Balakrishnan is always "Dr....." Also note that in the article of M Ravi's suspension there is no mention that he represents Dr. Chee is a total character assasination. Biased dogs.
Anonymous on 8:04 AM SGT

it may be easy to muzzle a tiny dot but to take on the world's formidable press and try to shut them up needs more herculean efforts - the Economist, Financial Times, FEER etc. The latter appears hell bent on stopping all these defamation law suits against the world media so that China will not follow the tiny dot's methods. Certain topics are really taboo here. Who can blame our professional journalists here for protecting their ricebowls?
Anonymous on 8:14 AM SGT

anonymous (10:40 AM SGT) said: "Also note that in the article of M Ravi's suspension there is no mention that he represents Dr. Chee is a total character assasination."

Help! Can anyone please explain what the above sentence means?

I'm not being critical of that post, I've just exposed my ignorance on this particular detail of local events, and I'm curious enough to ask.

Robert L

Singapore Election Watch

ST Reporters: Are you proud of your ranking?

5 Responses to “ST Reporters: Are you proud of your ranking?”

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