Post by lifescience2 on Jul 16, 2006 15:37:19 GMT 7
nofearsingapore.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Let us Heed the message, Not shoot the messenger
Addendum:
I have just received a reply that my letter to the forum page (TODAY) has been rejected. I do not take issue with being rejected ( if you write enough letters , you will have rejections sooner or later), but it is the way the rejection is worded.
The editorial assistant said in the reply, that "We will not be publishing any correspondence on this issue. Shoud you feel strongly, you may want to wish to redirect your views to the source of the letter."
Now I know why there has been zero-coverage of the Mrbrown vs Bhavani debate in TODAY as there has been a near "news blackout" on this issue. TODAY has chosen the easy way out and abdicated its role as a neutral objective feedback channel for the people. It is "washing its hands off" the problem. How convenient but..SAD!
Who is imposing the self-censorship, I wonder? The editorial staff itself?
Dr. Huang
(Below is the original post- also the letter sent to TODAY)
Dear friends,
I read with interest Ms Bhavani's retort to mrbrown's column (Distorting the truth, mr brown ? 3 Jul 06).
What is particularly informative was her assertion that journalists (especially in Singapore), should not "champion issues, or campaign FOR or AGAINST the Government".
Is this is a new dictum, I wonder, as there were many articles by our journalists in the past which appeared an "awful lot" like campaigning for the Government, but I do not recall anyone getting their knuckles rapped for that.
Seriously, is a journalist expected to be just a "human" tape-recorder recording verbatim the minutes of a board meeting like a company secretary? Anything more could be misconstrued as campaigning for or against an issue.
Let us be reasonable.
People (journalist included) will have opinions and these are the sum-aggregates of different sub-cultures that make up Singapore. No one person or organization knows all the answers and feedback of all forms (especially those that seem unpalatable) help us, as a nation, to steer the right course, away from potential calamities.
Let us heed the message, NOT shoot the messenger!
Dr. Huang Shoou Chyuan
( The above was rejected by TODAY forum page - see above comments)
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Let us Heed the message, Not shoot the messenger
Addendum:
I have just received a reply that my letter to the forum page (TODAY) has been rejected. I do not take issue with being rejected ( if you write enough letters , you will have rejections sooner or later), but it is the way the rejection is worded.
The editorial assistant said in the reply, that "We will not be publishing any correspondence on this issue. Shoud you feel strongly, you may want to wish to redirect your views to the source of the letter."
Now I know why there has been zero-coverage of the Mrbrown vs Bhavani debate in TODAY as there has been a near "news blackout" on this issue. TODAY has chosen the easy way out and abdicated its role as a neutral objective feedback channel for the people. It is "washing its hands off" the problem. How convenient but..SAD!
Who is imposing the self-censorship, I wonder? The editorial staff itself?
Dr. Huang
(Below is the original post- also the letter sent to TODAY)
Dear friends,
I read with interest Ms Bhavani's retort to mrbrown's column (Distorting the truth, mr brown ? 3 Jul 06).
What is particularly informative was her assertion that journalists (especially in Singapore), should not "champion issues, or campaign FOR or AGAINST the Government".
Is this is a new dictum, I wonder, as there were many articles by our journalists in the past which appeared an "awful lot" like campaigning for the Government, but I do not recall anyone getting their knuckles rapped for that.
Seriously, is a journalist expected to be just a "human" tape-recorder recording verbatim the minutes of a board meeting like a company secretary? Anything more could be misconstrued as campaigning for or against an issue.
Let us be reasonable.
People (journalist included) will have opinions and these are the sum-aggregates of different sub-cultures that make up Singapore. No one person or organization knows all the answers and feedback of all forms (especially those that seem unpalatable) help us, as a nation, to steer the right course, away from potential calamities.
Let us heed the message, NOT shoot the messenger!
Dr. Huang Shoou Chyuan
( The above was rejected by TODAY forum page - see above comments)