By S Ramesh | Posted: 23 April 2012 1425 hrs
SINGAPORE: It is
important that Singapore's newspapers, radio and television stations do
not lose sight of their key strengths, even as the media industry adapts
to the online playing field, Minister for Information, Communication
and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim said.
Speaking at a luncheon
organised by Singapore Press Club on Monday, Dr Yaacob said as more
Singaporeans turn to the Internet and social media for news and views,
they also continue to refer to the established traditional media as
their main source of news.
One example was the two elections held in Singapore in 2011.
Dr
Yaacob stressed that while the newspaper, radio and television players
exercise their own independent editorial judgement in their reporting,
they must remain mindful of their roles and responsibilities.
He
said Singapore's media model is based on consensus and facilitating
nation building, as well as preserving social cohesion and empowering
audiences to make informed decisions as a society.
Dr Yaacob said the question that would now arise is whether this approach should continue online.
"Our
major companies which have established presence can set the right tone
online as well with good practices of information sharing and moderation
on the various online platforms," he said.
"We can encourage
information and viewpoints that inform and evaluate, and not disturb and
divide. This will enhance their credibility that they already enjoy in
the real world."
Dr Yaacob said this will enhance the credibility that they already enjoy in the real world.
He also spoke about an internet code of conduct involving the larger online community.
"If
there are enough moderating voices within the Internet to decide what
is good and what is not acceptable, I believe it will work," Dr Yaacob
said.
"The government has a stake in this and we will continue to
encourage and engage people who have an interest in how the code of
conduct can be shaped."
The last thing the government should do, Dr Yaacob said, is to adopt a top-down process.
The
top-down process will become an instruction and, in some way, the
public will look towards the government to enforce the code, he said.
If
it is a bottom-up process, a certain degree of give-and-take and a
certain degree of moderation would have to take place, Dr Yaacob added.
He said the light-touch approach for the Internet has worked and can continue to work as good sense can prevail.
- CNA