Singapore media climbs 11 places to 133th position on 2009 World Press Freedom Index
October 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
The Singapore media, whose editorial independence is a constant source of jokes among the country’s bloggers, has climbed up 11 places from 144th to 133th position on the latest world press freedom index released by international media watchdog Reporters without Borders (RSF).
The index reflects the degree of freedom that journalists and news organizations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the authorities to respect and ensure respect for this freedom.
It is assessed using a questionnaire of 40 criteria to assess the state of press freedom in each country including every kind of violation directly affecting journalists (murders, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats) and news organizations (censorship, confiscation of newspaper issues, searches and harassment).
The 175 countries ranked are those for which Reporters without Borders received completed questionnaires from independent sources. RSF did not explain the reasons for Singapore’s improved ranking.
Though Singapore has climbed up the rankings, it is the only developed country in the world which is ranked outside the top 100 positions along with the likes of Chad, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
In Asia, Japan is ranked 17th, followed by Hong Kong (48th), Taiwan (59th) and South Korea (69th).
There seems to be a correlation between the degree of press freedom and economic development which Singapore defies.
The top ten positions are occupied by European countries including the Nordic states of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Singapore’s press freedom ranking does not quite commensurate with its lofty status as a modern developed country.
The ruling party has consistently dismissed the findings of RSF on the grounds that “western-style” journalism which is inherently “antagonistic and confrontational” in nature does not suit Singapore’s interests.
The Singapore media has long been relegated to become a mouthpiece for the government.
All the print media in Singapore are under the control of one single company – SPH, whose Chairman is always a former PAP minister. The incumbent is Dr Tony Tan, an ex Deputy Prime Minister.
By virtue of its undisputed market monopoly, SPH is able to continue riding roughshod over its readers by churning out half-baked myths, spins and propaganda on a daily basis to glorify the regime.
Criticisms of government leaders and policies are unheard of in the mainstream media. Even the Straits Times Forum has been abused to serve the nefarious interests of the ruling party with frequent letters from foreigners singing its praises.
Few Singaporeans are aware of the fact that they have been misled and deceived by the state media all along.
In a survey conducted recently, nearly 70 per cent of the respondents indicated that the mainstream media remains their primary source of information to which Minister Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew declared triumphantly that it is here “to stay”.
Unless Singaporeans wake up from their slumber and start protesting against SPH’s gutter journalism with their spending prowess, it is highly likely that Singapore will retain its dismal ranking on the world press freedom index, be it 133th or 144th for some time to come.
Posted in Editorial
If you take a read of those ranked below Singapore, you’d find that the only reason why Singapore rose is that others fell quite dramatically when they had death threats, jailings and killings. It is only by virtue of not qualifying for any of the quantitative indicators of RSF that Singapore has not dropped even further, and yet, it says much about the state of press freedom here that Singapore can rank amongst countries that kill journalists without needing a single statistic to that effect.
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To young01,
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
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133th very good result already. Out of 200, that within the top 66.6%…
I find it extremely amusing that our ministers can actually brag about it and make the gross misrepresentation that it equates to credibility. Expect more increment this year for Minister for Foreigner Welfare and State Miscommunication.
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“Unless Singaporeans wake up from their slumber and start protesting against SPH’s gutter journalism with their spending prowess”
We need alternative news sites which can not only provide free and fair opinion pieces, we also need sites that can provide other forms of news, like world news, entertainment news and even fringe news.
Only then will people abandon the mouthpiece.
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one day, either our ranking will climb to match those developed countries or we will become a developing country to match our present ranking. hope it will be the former!
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“There seems to be a correlation between the degree of press freedom and economic development which Singapore defies.”
That I would rightly agree. Difference here is that Singaporeans just got no balls.
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At this rate of ‘progress’ we’ll get to
#1 in 12 years’ time. After I’m long gone.
-sigh-
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The reality is that most people rather drink the kool aid rather than face the truth.
It is only when the facing the truth hurts less than drinking the kool aid will we see a shift.
On another note, try asking your friend if they feel the MSM is credible, i would hazard a guess that responses most would range from conceding that information is tailored for local consumption, to outright ridicule.
The only reason that the public still consumes MSM is that it is convenient, credibility is seldom a consideration.
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Can’t wait till the MSM brag about their 133th ranking.
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If what [young01] says is true, then that could be a factor in the improve standings.
However, why are we discounting the real likeliood that the cetrist media online is exerting a temendous pressure on the fascist values traditional media? I have been noting a correspondence for a few years now; the traditonal madia is mimicking many of the things said in cyberspace.
So, to that homophobe Mohamed Zaqy, it is not that the traditional media is ‘credible’ – 133rd out of 175 does not make it so – it is that the centrist media online that is.
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