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ST’s editor-in-chief says “real news matters” amid global pandemic; ST published MOH’s ads that tell people not to wear masks if well, reinforced idea that masks not needed

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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted “the critical role that a credible and reliable media” plays in the health and well-being of the people, said the editor-in-chief of The Straits Times (ST), Warren Fernandez, in his opinion piece published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Monday (28 Sept).

Mr Fernandez, who is also the World Editors Forum’s president, had elaborated on the importance of credible journalism amid the pandemic in his article titled “Coronavirus a reminder of need for reliable, sustainable media”.

He pointed out that people want to know how to stay safe and safeguard their jobs, and that they need help “to separate fact from fiction” while the coronavirus-related fake news was being circulated on social media.

“At a time when so much has been turned on its head, this much has become clear – real news matters. The truth matters. Objectivity matters. Balance and fairness matter. In short, quality journalism matters,” he wrote.

The World News Day, which has gathered over 150 newsrooms from around the world on 28 September, is not an occasion for journalists to “pat themselves on the back” for the work they do, said Mr Fernandez.

“Rather, the focus is on how journalists go about reporting on issues that matter to our audiences.”

He highlighted that the pandemic has led people to turn to professional journalists “like never before”, as readers are “looking to people they can trust to help them join the dots and make sense of these bewildering times”.

Citing the closing of the Brazil-Paraguay’s International Friendship Bridge in March, Mr Fernandez said the stories of families being separated amid the national lockdown to curb the outbreak were reported in media reports.

“In my hometown, Singapore, the land bridge popularly called the Causeway that many use to cross into Johor Bahru in Malaysia also shut down to stem the spread of the virus. Families, workers, businesses and communities that were intertwined for decades were suddenly left bereft of each other.”

“Their stories were told in the pages of The Straits Times,” he added.

In fact, stories related to “common humanity” during the global pandemic were also told in many media reports, such as ST’s special report in February, titled “On the front lines of the coronavirus”, that profiled the medical staff in Singapore who were combatting the virus.

“Across the planet, newsrooms have brought these stories to our audiences, not only to inform and educate but also inspire and uplift communities.”

Coronavirus has not only highlighted the importance of good governance, the value of trust in leaders and institutions, as well as the families’ and communities’ “solace and strength”, but also “the critical role that a credible and reliable media plays in the health and well-being of our societies”, said Mr Fernandez.

He also indicated that the pandemic has posed “an existential threat” to many newsrooms.

“While audiences have surged, revenues and resources have plunged, making it harder for journalists to keep doing their jobs.”

Despite that, Mr Fernandez reiterated that “real news matters” especially when it comes to “make sense of the bewildering developments” in the country.

“Credible journalism is critical if we are to have informed debates about where we might be headed in a post-pandemic world. Newsrooms that are engaged with their readers can help rally communities in a time of wrenching change.”

He cited the French author Albert Camus’ novel, “The Plague”, which tells how the inhabitants of a town came to terms with a deadly outbreak:

Albert Camus wrote: “The strongest desire was, and would be, to behave as if nothing had changed … but, one can’t forget everything, however great one’s wish to do so; the plague was bound to leave traces, anyhow, in people’s hearts.”

“Wittingly or otherwise, the ‘traces in people’s hearts’ that are left post COVID-19 will have to be dealt with when the pandemic that is still raging around the world eventually passes. Societies that remain well-served by good news organisations will be better-placed to do so,” said Mr Fernandez.

He went on to highlight the media’s vital roles in helping communities survey the “ravaged landscape” around them, and in creating “honest conversations needed to figure out the way forward”.

“That, put simply, is why the success and sustainability of the media matters – now more than ever – to us all.”

ST carried MOH’s ads telling people not to wear masks if they are well

Though Mr Fernandez acknowledges that people turned to professional journalists who they believe can help them “join the dots and make sense of these bewildering times”, this seems contrary to ST’s moves to carry an advertisement that tells people not to wear a mask if they are well, given that experts have relentlessly emphasised the need to wear a mask to prevent from being infected with the virus.

The following advertisement was published on ST’s newspapers by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in January 2020.

 

In January, the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19 — co-chaired by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong and Lawrence Wong — urged Singaporeans from the onset of the outbreak in Singapore to refrain from hoarding masks, stressing that masks should only be used by those who are unwell.

This was also echoed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Facebook post on 30 January,  where he highlighted the MOH’s advice to wear a mask only if the person is sick.

He wrote, “There is no need to wear a mask if we are well.”

However, over the course of the pandemic, experts around the world have come forward to extol the importance of mask usage for everyone, whether or not they are unwell.

One of the experts was Adrien Burch, who is an expert in microbiology at the University of California at Berkeley. He noted that there is no strong evidence to support the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) claims that wearing face masks “don’t work”.

Subsequently,  the Government took a “U-turn” from its previous stance on wearing a mask on 3 April, as PM Lee announced that the authorities will “no longer discourage people from wearing masks”. This came after the WHO and CDC stated that it will review the guidelines on wearing face masks.

The Government finally made it compulsory to wear a mask when leaving the house starting on 14 April.

ST gave wrong impression that medical chief “rebuts” doctors’ mask advice, when he merely said “not the most important thing”

What’s more, ST had given the wrong impression to readers when its article – which dated 13 February – was titled with “Medical chief rebuts doctors’ mask advice”, despite the medical chief, Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, merely said that wearing a mask is “not the most important thing”.

Prof Mak, who is the Director of Medical Services at the MOH, was responding to media questions pertaining to a letter signed by four local medical doctors who advised that everyone should wear a mask when leaving home, regularly wash hands and reduce unnecessary mingling with others.

“Be aware of things you commonly touch. The thing most commonly touched is your phone, so wearing a mask is not the most important thing,” he responded, which clearly indicates that Prof Mak did not discount the wearing of masks, but only saying that it’s not on high priority.

ST, however, had chosen to use the term “rebut” in the news title, giving the impression that Prof Mak has completely refuted the doctors’ mask advice.

This is how the Oxford Dictionary defines the word “rebut”:

 

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Hong Kong

Former STAND News journalists jailed for sedition in landmark Hong Kong case

On 26 September 2024, former Stand News chief editors Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam were sentenced in a landmark sedition case. Chung received a 21-month prison term, while Lam’s sentence was reduced due to health issues. The ruling is seen as part of Hong Kong’s crackdown on press freedom.

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1 week ago

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27 September 2024

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Chung Pui-kuen, former chief editor of the pro-democracy news outlet Stand News

On 26 September 2024, a Hong Kong district court sentenced Chung Pui-kuen, former chief editor of the pro-democracy news outlet Stand News, to 21 months in prison for sedition.

The case, which marks the first time a journalist has been jailed for sedition since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, is seen as part of an ongoing crackdown on media freedom in the city. Chung, aged 55, had led Stand News during the height of the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Chung’s co-defendant, Patrick Lam, who also served as a chief editor, received a sentence reduction due to serious health issues, with the judge ruling that a return to prison could endanger his life.

Lam had already spent nearly a year in detention and will not face further jail time.

The two editors were found guilty in August 2024 of “conspiracy to publish and reproduce seditious publications,” under a colonial-era law that carries a maximum two-year prison sentence.

District Court Judge Kwok Wai-kin, who presided over the case, argued that Stand News had engaged in actions that opposed the government rather than genuine journalistic work.

“They were taking part in the so-called resistance,” Kwok stated, pointing to the publication’s support for the pro-democracy movement.

He emphasized the influence of Stand News, which had 1.6 million followers at the time of its shutdown in 2021, claiming that the seditious articles had caused significant, though unquantifiable, damage.

Kwok maintained that prison was the only viable sentence.

International outcry

The sentencing has drawn swift condemnation from international rights organizations and foreign governments.

The United States denounced the convictions as an attack on media freedom, and the European Union called on Hong Kong authorities to stop prosecuting journalists.

Amnesty International’s China director, Sarah Brooks, noted that the ruling seems aimed at fostering a “chilling effect” on the press, discouraging criticism of the authorities both in Hong Kong and abroad. Brooks added that the situation reflects the growing repression of free speech in the former British colony.

Joseph Ngan, Chair of Hong Kong Media Overseas, expressed concern over the broader implications of the case. “This case, with its landmark ruling outlawing criticism of the government, makes clear that Hong Kong has come fully into line with laws prevailing in Mainland China,” Ngan said. He recalled that Hong Kong had been promised freedom of speech after the end of British colonial rule, a promise that, he noted, “is now a distant memory.”

The press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) echoed these concerns. Cédric Alviani, RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director, condemned the imprisonment of Chung and called for his immediate release.

He emphasized that both Chung and Lam were acting in the public interest by reporting on social and political issues in Hong Kong, and he urged the international community to increase pressure on China to secure their freedom, alongside other detained journalists in the city.

The rise and fall of STAND News

Stand News, a non-profit Chinese-language news site, was among Hong Kong’s most influential independent media outlets. At its peak, it had over 1.7 million followers on Facebook and nearly one million on Instagram.

The publication gained significant attention during the 2019 protests, offering extensive coverage of the pro-democracy movement.

In December 2021, the outlet was raided by 200 police officers, leading to the arrest of six journalists, including Chung and Lam.

That same day, Stand News announced its closure and terminated its staff after the government froze its assets, valued at approximately 61 million Hong Kong dollars (US$7 million). Around 70 employees lost their jobs as a result.

The prosecution in the case against Chung and Lam presented at least 17 articles published by Stand News between July 2020 and December 2021 as evidence.

These articles included interviews, profiles, and opinion pieces that the authorities deemed seditious. The trial, which ended in June 2023, saw the two journalists detained for nearly a year before being granted bail under strict conditions, including weekly reports to the police and a prohibition on giving media interviews.

Declining press freedom

In recent years, Hong Kong has seen its ranking in global press freedom indices fall dramatically.

According to Reporters Without Borders, the city dropped to 135th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, a stark contrast to its position just two decades ago when it ranked 18th. Meanwhile, China remains near the bottom of the index, ranking 172nd.

Chinese officials in Hong Kong have rejected international criticism of the sentencing, maintaining that Stand News functioned as a political organization rather than a legitimate news outlet.

The government’s position reflects broader efforts to align Hong Kong’s governance and legal frameworks more closely with those of Mainland China, particularly in terms of controlling dissent and regulating the media.

The sentencing of Chung Pui-kuen underscores the growing constraints on press freedom in Hong Kong, further solidifying the city’s shift away from its reputation as a bastion of free speech in Asia.

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Media

Mediacorp to merge TODAY digital newsroom with Channel News Asia

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1 month ago

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28 August 2024

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Mediacorp, a state-owned media company under Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Temasek Holdings, has announced on Wednesday (28 Aug) that the TODAY digital newsroom will merge with Channel News Asia (CNA) on 1 October 2024.

This merger, which will effectively transform TODAY into a digital weekend magazine under CNA, is presented as an effort to consolidate resources and expand CNA’s reach both within Singapore and internationally.

As part of the merger, TODAY will shift its focus to producing long-form analytical features on current issues, in-depth news reports, human interest stories, and opinion pieces under its Big Read brand, which will be published every weekend. This content is intended to supplement CNA’s existing daily digital offerings, with the goal of increasing CNA’s digital traffic and deepening audience engagement, particularly on weekends.

Starting 1 October, the TODAY app and website will no longer be updated, with all new content being channeled through CNA’s platforms. However, TODAY will maintain its social media pages, which will redirect followers to CNA’s digital sites.

Walter Fernandez, Mediacorp’s Editor-in-Chief, framed the merger as a response to global trends, including increased news fatigue and active news avoidance, trends exacerbated by changes in social media algorithms that de-emphasize news content. Fernandez also cited a significant overlap between the digital audiences of TODAY and CNA as a key factor in the decision to merge the two newsrooms.

The merger will not result in job losses, according to Fernandez, as all TODAY staff will be offered roles within CNA. These roles will involve either working on the new weekend magazine or integrating into other teams within CNA, depending on their expertise.

While Mediacorp presents the merger as a strategic response to the evolving media landscape, critics might view this consolidation as part of a broader trend of centralizing media under state influence in Singapore, particularly given Mediacorp’s ownership by Temasek Holdings and the fact that SPH Media Trust, which runs The Straits Times and other vernacular publications such as Lianhe Zaobao, is funded by the Singapore government through a grant of S$900 million.

TODAY, launched in 2000 as a free newspaper and a rival to Streats, another English-language freesheet published by Singapore Press Holdings, quickly rose to prominence as the second-most widely read daily in Singapore. In 2002, TODAY launched a weekend version, WeekendTODAY, which was distributed to homes as a free newspaper and also sold at newsstands for 50 cents.

In 2004, Singapore Telecommunications pulled out of the newspaper venture by selling its 28.51 percent stake in the company for S$13.66 million, following SMRT Corp.’s sale of its 14.56 percent stake for S$3.5 million.

In April 2017, TODAY discontinued its weekend edition, publishing only on weekdays. Later that year, in September, it ceased print publication of its weekday edition, continuing solely as a digital publication.

Despite its achievements, including international recognition for its short-form video content and coverage of youth issues, TODAY has faced significant challenges, such as the controversial suspension of Mr Brown’s column in 2006 after he criticized the government.

The merger also raises questions about the future of media plurality in Singapore, where Mediacorp already holds a dominant position.

Chief Commercial Officer Jacqui Lim sought to reassure advertisers, promising competitive alternatives across Mediacorp’s network, which includes CNA, 8 World, Berita, and Seithi. Lim emphasized that the merger aligns with Mediacorp’s audience-first approach, aiming to provide innovative and effective media solutions.

The post Mediacorp to merge TODAY digital newsroom with Channel News Asia appeared first on Gutzy Asia.

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