SINGAPORE MEDIA

Singapore's Minister of Information has assured us that the nation's dreadful place in the press freedom index is not something to be worried about. The Straits Times (registration required) reports:

No independent media? S'pore model is different

SINGAPORE'S reputation as a global city will not be affected by international media organisation Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) ranking the Republic as the lowest developed country in terms of press freedom.

Making this point in a written reply to Non-Constituency MP Steve Chia, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Lee Boon Yang said two recent surveys had underscored Singapore's standing as a progressive and successful country.

... the Press Freedom Index drawn up by RSF, which has its international secretariat in Paris, France, places Singapore 147th in a survey in which North Korea came in last at 167th. Denmark was first.

The RSF 2004 annual report said there are no independent media in Singapore, but that Singaporeans have wide access to foreign media.

On the RSF index, Dr Lee said it was based largely on a different media model 'which favours the advocacy and adversarial role of the press'.

Singapore's media model was different, he said.

'Our model is that of a free and responsible press whose role is to report news accurately and objectively to Singaporeans.'

...

'We will continue to encourage diversity of views and ideas from Singaporeans, while at the same time, engage our people to work together to safeguard our social norms and values,' he said.

'Our media has a tremendously important role in this national effort by rallying Singaporeans to do the things which matter most to Singapore. This is certainly more important than... to gain the favours of international ranking associations.'

Mr Lee is of course right in this last point. The Straits Times, local television and radio have been marvelously effective at promoting various causes and public campaigns. In some cases, such as the Sars outbreak, this was no doubt beneficial. Local state-monitored media did handle that particular crisis a bit better than the state-run media in another state.

Still, "rallying Singaporeans to do the things which matter most to Singaporeans,"” does not seem to qualify as news. There's a better word for that.