“TISG crossed the line for me into endorsing tasteless xenophobia and linking it to our electoral democracy. It is sensational, senseless and nonsensical. Sad.”

– NCMP Daniel Goh

Workers’ Party’s Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Daniel Goh denounced The Independent Singapore’s (TISG) journalistic standards, or lack thereof, in no uncertain terms on his Facebook Page yesterday.

raviphilemondanielgoh3
In particular, he found the exercise of editorial discretion to place a “tasteless and xenophobic” comment from a “random forum user” as a caption for an article “sensational, senseless and sad.” The comment in question said that it was the influx of foreigners which caused 3 SMRT workers to be diagnosed with Tuberculosis.

In response to the post, TISG launched a diatribe. TISG – currently fronted by Lead Editor Ravi Philemon, who stood as a candidate in the last General Elections – accused NCMP Goh of wanting to score ‘political points’. It also chided him for choosing not to engage with them directly as he ran the risk of losing their “one million unique viewers” directly.

The publication went as far as to argue that NCMP Goh was “faking humbleness.”

raviphilemondanielgoh1

At various points in the thread, NCMP Goh did take pains to point out the contradictions in TISG’s retort – like how they accused him of scoring political points while saying that it was his loss if he stops supporting TISG.

raviphilemondanielgoh2

“I am very surprised that TISG would bother with a FB post of 100+ likes critical of it. I am sure that there is a lot more important news to work on than to engage with me on this lonely thread… Why so sensitive?” NCMP Goh riposted.

A Singaporean Journalist, Mr Bhavan Jaipragas, noted that he had written in to Mr Philemon previously about a similar article. He called out Mr Philemon and TISG in a comment on the same thread, too.

13933348_120300000057363009_1961409967_n

“This spiral to the lowest common denominator of goading local against foreigners just for clicks makes me think lesser of you and everyone associated with TISG,” Mr Jaipragas submitted.

On that occasion, Mr Philemon mentioned that Mr Bhavan should “feel free to criticise (the article) publicly.” He also shifted the blame to an ‘anonymous contributor.’

10341884_10152782483554141_1990308685555212095_n
Mr Ravi Philemon, Lead Editor at TISG

ravi comment

editors-kumaran-ravi-the-independent-singapore

Mr Philemon defended TISG by mentioning how TISG has bucked the trend by growing without doing what ‘STOMP’ and ‘ASS (All Singapore Stuff)’ do. That is, presumably, in reference to the 2 aforementioned sites’ fondness for sensationalism and tabloid journalism. The same charges which NCMP Goh attributed to TISG.
He shared that government and related agencies view TISG as “a useful loudhailer.” A point which Mr Jaipragas urged Mr Philemon to shed more light on. In a bizzare conclusion, Mr Philemon chastised Mr Japiragas for airing his criticism publicly – the exact same criticism that he once encouraged.
Mr Philemon’s exchanges with NCMP Goh and Mr Jaipragas does seem to suggest a U-turn, or at the very least, some inconsistency, in TISG’s position on the freedom to criticize. Considering the overzealous manner in which he replied to the criticisms of TISG, it would most certainly be a Herculean task for Mr Philemon and co. to pin the blame on anonymous contributors, and the like, anymore.

 

 

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

SGX introduces S$5 million care package to boost coronavirus relief measures

A care package worth S$5 million has been introduced by the Singapore…

Author Justin Richardson responds to NLB removing his book

By Terry Xu In the wake of the National Library Board removing…

逾11万人已接种疫苗 三人严重过敏

据卫生部文告,迄今为止,本地已有11万3千人接种第一剂冠病19疫苗,超过50人完成第二剂接种。 卫生部称,与卫生科学局密切关注辉瑞疫苗的安全性。截至1月27日,卫生科学局共接到432例接种疫苗后起不良反应的通报,大多是注射处肿痛、发烧、头疼、晕眩等症状,或是红疹等过敏反应。当局声称,这些不良反应逾其他疫苗出现的反应相似,一般在数日就会消退。 还有三名年龄为20、30岁的人士,接种后出现严重过敏,包括喉咙紧缩、气喘、嘴唇红肿和红疹。他们有过敏性鼻炎,以及曾对贝类海鲜过敏。由于不曾出现严重过敏反应才获准接种疫苗。 但当局称,严重过敏及早发现或治疗能受控制。三人目前已康复,并在一天观察或治疗后出院。 本地疫苗严重过敏的发病率,为每10万剂疫苗中有2.7例。

密谋血洗宗教场所 马警逮四IS恐怖分子

马来西亚警察破获极端恐怖组织“伊斯兰国”(IS)成员,企图在斋戒月期间血洗宗教场所的恐怖袭击阴谋,逮捕了四名IS分子。 根据马国新上任的全国警察总长阿杜哈密在今午召开新闻发布会,公布有四名IS嫌犯,是去年兴都庙骚乱事件后,密谋在今年斋戒月期间密谋刺杀高知名度人士和攻击雪隆一带的宗教场所。 该国反恐部队从上周日(5日),就展开行动到吉隆坡和登嘉楼,逮捕涉案人士。警察也起获六枚土制炸弹、半自动手枪、子弹和武士刀等等。 涉案嫌犯包括一名马国公民、一名印尼人和两名罗兴亚人。其中一人为IS区部领袖,透过Whatsapp联系另外三人,计划在国内展开一系列报复行动,例如从邻国偷运军火、计划抢劫、绑架和杀害非穆斯林等等。 据了解,马国警方仍在追缉另外三名IS 成员,相信他们也有份参与策划恐袭。 至于嫌犯制作的土制炸弹,内含黑火药和钢珠,一旦引爆波及范围可达方圆30公尺,周围人士恐非死即伤。