The Straits Times - Wikipedia

The Straits Times is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press ... TheStraitsTimes FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch DailybroadsheetnewspaperbasedinSingapore NottobeconfusedwithNewStraitsTimes,theMalaysiannewspaper. Thisarticleneedsadditionalcitationsforverification.Pleasehelpimprovethisarticlebyaddingcitationstoreliablesources.Unsourcedmaterialmaybechallengedandremoved.Findsources: "TheStraitsTimes" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April2015)(Learnhowandwhentoremovethistemplatemessage) TheStraitsTimesFrontpageon13December2019TypeDailynewspaperFormatBroadsheetOwner(s)SPHMediaTrustEditorWarrenFernandez[1]Founded15 July1845;177yearsago (1845-07-15)(asTheStraitsTimesandSingaporeJournalofCommerce)(64714issues)LanguageEnglishHeadquarters1000ToaPayohNorth,NewsCentre,Singapore,318994CountrySingaporeCirculation995,991(AsofAugust2018[update])[2]5,000(Myanmaredition)[3]2,500(Bruneiedition)[4]OCLCnumber8572659Websitewww.straitstimes.comMediaofSingaporeListofnewspapers TheStraitsTimesisanEnglish-languagedailybroadsheetnewspaperbasedinSingaporeandcurrentlyownedbySPHMediaTrust(previouslySingaporePressHoldings).TheSundayTimesisitsSundayedition.[2]Thenewspaperwasestablishedon15July1845asTheStraitsTimesandSingaporeJournalofCommerce.[5][6]TheStraitsTimesisconsideredanewspaperofrecordforSingapore.[7]TheprintanddigitaleditionsofTheStraitsTimesandTheSundayTimeshaveadailyaveragecirculationof364,134and364,849respectivelyin2017,asauditedbyAuditBureauofCirculationsSingapore.[8]MyanmarandBruneieditionsarepublished,withnewsprintcirculationsof5,000and2,500respectively.[3][4] Contents 1History 1.1Japaneseoccupation 1.1.1Lead-uptooccupation 1.1.2Asapropagandainstrument 1.2Post-warperiod 2Coverage 2.1SaleinMalaysia 2.2Internationaleditions 2.3StraitsTimesOnline 3Preservation 4Communityprogrammes 4.1TheStraitsTimesSchoolPocketMoneyFund 4.2TheStraitsTimesSchools 5Governmentinterference 6Publicopinion 7Seealso 8References 8.1AdditionalSources 9Furtherreading 10Externallinks History[edit] TheoriginalconceptionforTheStraitsTimeshasbeendebatedbyhistoriansofSingapore.Priorto1845,theonlyEnglish-languagenewspaperinSingaporewasTheSingaporeFreePress,foundedbyWilliamNapierin1835.[9]MarterusThaddeusApcar,anArmenianmerchant,hadintendedtostartapaper,hiredaneditor,andpurchasedprintingequipmentfromEngland.Howeverthewould-beeditordiedabruptly,priortothearrivaloftheprintingequipment,andApcarwentbankrupt.FellowArmenianandfriend,CatchickMoses,thenboughttheprintingequipmentfromApcarandlaunchedTheStraitsTimeswithRobertCarrWoods,Sr.,anEnglishjournalistfromBombayaseditor.ThepaperwasfoundedasTheStraitsTimesandSingaporeJournalofCommerceon15July1845.[10][11]TheStraitsTimeswaslaunchedasaneight-pageweekly,publishedat7CommercialSquareusingahand-operatedpress.ThesubscriptionfeethenwasSp.$1.75permonth.Aseditor,WoodssoughttodistinguishTheStraitsTimesfromTheSingaporeFreePressbyincludinghumour,shortstories,andforeignnews,andbymakinguseofregularsteamshipservicescarryingmailthatlaunchedshortlybeforeTheStraitsTimeswaslaunched.[12]HistorianMaryTurnbulldisputesthisaccountofTheStraitsTimes'founding,sayingthatitwasunlikelyanArmenianmerchantwouldhavewantedtofoundanEnglish-languagenewspaper,particularlygiventhepresenceofthemoreestablishedSingaporeFreePress. InSeptember1846,thepaperwasgiventoWoodsoutrightbecausethepressprovedunprofitabletorunandMoseswasunabletosellit.Thepaperstruggledwithalackofsubscribersandnewsworthyitemstocoverage.Woodscoveredthefinancialdeficitbyusingtheprintingpressforotherprojects,includingthefirstdirectoryofSingapore,TheStraitsTimesAlmanack,CalendarandDirectory,publishedin1846.[9] ThefirstmajorpoliticalstancetakenbyTheStraitsTimeswasagainstJamesBrooke,theRajahofSarawak.WoodspersonallyresentedBrookeandchangedthatBrooke'sactionsagainstDayak"pirates"wasamassacreofpeaceful,civilianmerchants.TherivalSingaporeFreePresscametoBrooke'sdefenceandtheensuingcontroversyboostedthecirculationofbothpapers.WoodspetitionedtheBritishgovernmentforaninquestofBrooke'sactionsin1851,withacommissionconvenedin1854.[13]Brookeswasexonerated,butthepopularityoftheepisodemadeTheStraitsTimesasuccess,anditbecameadailynewspaperin1858. Woodscontinuedaseditorofthepaperuntilhesolditin1860.JohnCameronservedaseditorfrom1861to1869,duringwhichthepapernearlywentoutofbusinessduetohugelydestructivefire.Thepaper'sassetsweresoldatpublicauctionfor$40andCameronwentbankrupt,althoughhemanagedtorevivethenewspaper.SixyearsafterCameron'sdeathin1881,hiswidowappointedArnotReid,ayoungScottishjournalist,aseditor,whothenheldthepostfor12years.[14][15] TheStraitsTimesbecameamajorreporterofpoliticalandeconomiceventsofnoteinBritishMalaya,includingshippingnews,civilandpoliticalunrestinSiamandBurma,officialreports,andincludinghighsocietynewsitemssuchasteapartiesheldatGovernmentHouseandvisitsfromdignitariessuchastheSultanofJohor.Colonialofficials,suchasFrankSwettenham,wrotearticles,sometimesintheirownnames.ThepaperlaterpublishedSwettenham'swritingsonthehistoryofPerakandhisinvolvementintheBritishResidentialsystemin1893.[15] FollowingReid'sretirement,AlexanderW.Stilltookoveraseditor,apostheheldfor18years.DuringStill'sleadershipaseditor,TheStraitsTimesbuiltareputationforboldreportingandfearlesscommentary.Itwasknownasthe"ThundereroftheEast",areferencetotheoriginalThunderer,TheTimesofLondon,andwasacriticoftheBritishcolonialadministration,thoughmuchmilderinitscriticismofthegovernmentcomparedtoitscritiqueofunethicalbusinesses.UnderStill'sleadership,circulation(from3,600in1910to4,100in1920)andadrevenuesincreased.Still'soutspokennessaseditorresultedinanumberoflibelsuitsagainstthepaper,whichwereeitherlostorsettledprivatelyoutofcourt.Hebelievedthatthepaperhadanobligationtoinvestigateandexposecorruptionbothingovernmentandinbusiness.Forourownpart,wecherishthelibertyofthepresssimplyforitsvaluetothecommunityasawhole.Nothingfillsuswithgreatercontemptthanthetypeofjournalism,unfortunatelysomewhatontheincreaseinGreatBritain,whichpriesintoprivateaffairs,gloatsoverdomesticscandals,andticklesthepalatesofthepeoplewithsnappytidbitsofpersonality.Wedonotwantlibertyofthepressextendedinaformthatwouldenablethiskindofjournalismtopanderwithoutfearofpenalties.Butinthemodernconstitutionofsociety,thepresshasgreatfunctionstoperform.Itisthechiefsafeguardagainstcorruption...ourbusinessistodowhatwedeemrightandnecessaryinthepublicinterest,andnolawcourtcanbethekeeperofourconscience...Malayahassomereasontobeproudofitspress.Itishonest,clean,andpublic-spirited.Itmaybewrong-headedoccasionally-wemayourselvesbethechiefofsinnersinthatrespect-butitputsnomanorwomantotheblush,anditsaimsaregenerallywholesome.[16]StillattackedtheactionsofgovernorLaurenceGuillemardonthegroundsofafreepress,suchasback-roomdiscussionsofaproposedconstitutionalchangethatcolonialadministratorsurgedreporterstodelaycoveringuntiltheproposalswereannounced.Inaneditorial,Stillreplied,"Thatismerepompousnonsensewhenaddressedtoafreepeopleandafreepress."[17] TheSingaporeFreePress,whichhadfoldedin1869,wasrevivedbyW.G.St.Clair,whoeditedituntil1916.TherivalnewspapersspurredreadershipamongthegrowingEnglish-readingcommunity,withTheSingaporeFreePresspublishedinthemorningandTheStraitsTimesreleasedintheafternoon.[14]StillretiredfromTheStraitsTimesin1926andthepapercycledthroughfoureditorsinthespanoftwoyearsbeforeGeorgeSeabridgebecameeditorin1928.Heheldthepositionforthenext18yearsandoversawhugegrowthincirculation:from5,000to25,000subscribers. TheStraitsTimesfocusedpredominantlyonBritishandBritish-relatedeventswhileignoringthepoliticsandsocio-economicissuesofconcerntoothergroups,includingtheMalay,Chinese,andIndianpopulationsinandaroundSingapore.Coverageofeventsrelatedtonon-Britishwastypicallyrestrictedtocourtcasesorsensationalizedcrimes,suchastheTokJanggut'srebellioninKelantanin1915.UnderStill'seditorship,thepapercalledforbetterworkingconditionsforMalay,Chinese,andIndianlabourers,butonthegroundsthatitwouldimprovetheirefficiencyandproductivity.StillalsoconsideredtheAsianpopulationofSingapore"untrustworthy"andsuggestedtheyshouldnotholdpositionsofpowerorserveinthemilitary.[16]AsianreportersatTheStraitsTimesexperienceddiscriminationintheworkplaceandwhileonassignment.PeterBensonMaxwell,anIndianreporter,arrangedaninterviewwiththegovernorCecilClementiviaClementi'ssecretary,butwasquicklyremovedfromthepremisesoftheGovernmentHousewhenhearrivedinperson.[15] Thepaperwasoriginallyownedbytheindividualfoundersbeforebecomingaprivatecompany,asitremaineduntil1950.ItssinglelargestshareholderwastheprocureroftheParisForeignMissionsSociety,theReverendN.J.Couvreur,whoalsoservedasthechairmanofthecompany'sboardofthedirectorsfrom1910to1920. Inthe1920sand1930s,TheStraitsTimesbegantofacecompetitionfromotherpapers,specificallytheMalayaTribune,whichpromised"frankdiscussionofMalayanaffairs"and"weeklyarticlesbyspecialandwell-informedwriters,Chinese,Indians,andMuslims".[16]TheTribune,foundedin1914,laggedbehindTheStraitsTimesinsalesandreadership,andlaunchedanadvertisingcampaigntoincreasecirculationandmovethepaperawayfromitsimageasthe"clerk'spaper".Italsohiredtalentedjournalists,includingLeslieHoffmanandT.S.Khoo,whobecametheeditor-in-chiefanddeputyeditor-in-chief,respectively,ofTheStraitsTimesafterWorldWarII.TheeffortsoftheMalayaTribuneweresuccessfulwhen,in1932,itscirculationexceededthatofTheStraitsTimes.Inresponsetothecompetition,Seabridgeimprovedthecompanybybuildinganewoffice,replacingandupdatingoldprintingequipment,hiringlocaljournalists,andbeginningdeliveryupcountry.[18]Healsomadesignificantchangestothepaper:heexpandedcoverageofeventsinSingaporeandMalaysia;createdaSundaypaper;cutthepriceofthepapertomatchthatoftheMalayaTribune;andincorporatedpictures,comics,andothereye-catchingelementstomakethepapermoreattracted.Particularlywiththereductionofcost,thenumberofsubscribersdramaticallyincreased. Japaneseoccupation[edit] Lead-uptooccupation[edit] InJuly1941,PrimeMinisterWinstonChurchillappointedDuffCooper,aformerMinisterofInformation,toinvestigatehowtocoordinatedefencepolicyplanninginAsiaagainstthethreatofJapaneseinvasion.CooperarrivedinSingaporeinSeptember1941andreportedthatthevariouscivil,governmental,andmilitaryelementsdidnotcommunicateorcoordinatewell.Seabridge,aschiefeditor,washighlycriticalofthelackofplanningandefficiencyofgovernmentofficials.SeabridgeandF.D.Bisseker,thechairmanoftheEasternSmeltingCompany,stronglyurgedCoopertobuildupthecivildefense;SeabridgealsobackCooper'sproposaltoinstitutemartiallaw.JapaneseattacksinthenorthernMalaystatesbeganon8December1941,thedayaftertheattackonPearlHarbor.Fivedayslater,thecommanderorderedtheevacuationofallEuropeanwomenandchildrenandallmilitarypersonnelfromtheislandofPenang.SimilarevacuationsofonlyEuropeanswereorderedthroughoutthemonthofDecember,seriouslyunderminingthemoraleofthemuchlargerAsianpopulationofSingaporeandthesurroundingBritishareas.However,GovernorShentonThomasinsistedthattheBritishcommunityofSingaporenotfleeinthefaceoftheJapanese,thatnoracialdiscriminationwastotakeplaceintheevacuationofcivilians,andthatBritishcivilofficersstaybehindto"lookaftertheirAsiancharges".Thegovernmentalsoobstructedinformationoftheseverityofthesituationonthefrontlines.On5January1941,TheStraitsTimespublishedthefollowingleadarticlesummarizingthesituation.Malayahasnowbeeninthefrontlineforamonth.TheNorthernSettlement[Penang]isinenemyhands,andfightingistakingplacewithin200milesofSingapore.Thisislandhasbeenbombedonseveraloccasionswith'slightdamagetocivilianproperty'and'afewciviliancasualties'.Thatisareasonablyaccuratesummaryofallthepeopleofthiscountryhavebeentoldofthefightingthatisgoingaroundthem.Vague'lines'havebeenmentionedandtherehavebeensundry'strategicwithdrawals'.Suchgeneralitiesprovideaveryflimsybasisindeedfordetailedcomment-soflimsythatwedonotproposetoattemptataskwhichisverynearlyimpossibleofachievement…Theviewweproposetoputforwardhereistheviewofthemiddle-classAsiaticwhohasbeenaskedtohelpinmaintainingmoralebutfindshimselfquiteunabletodoso...Ifthenewspapersandthenewspaperreadingpublicaretobeanyhelpincombattingrumour,theymustbesuppliedwiththeonlythingswhichareoftheslightestvalueincarryingoutthetask.Andthosethingsarefacts. TheShonanTimes'inauguraledition,dated20February1942.Notetheuseofthedate"20February,ShowaA17",referringtotheShowaemperor's17thyearofrule(1942). On20February1942,fivedaysaftertheFallofSingapore,TheStraitsTimeswasrenamedbyJapanandbecameknownasTheShonanTimes,Shonan(昭南)beingtheJapanesenameforSingapore.ThefirstissueofTheShonanTimespublishedadeclarationbyTomoyukiYamashita,announcingthattheaimoftheJapanesewastoestablishtheGreaterEastAsiaCo-ProsperitySphereinordertoachievea"GreatSpiritofCosmocrasy"and"sweepawaythearrogantandunrighteousBritishelements".ThepaperwaslaterpublishedasTheSyonanTimes,TheSyonanSinbun,andTheSyonanShimbun.Thechangesinthespellingarosefromsquabblesbetweenadherentsofdifferentromanizationsystems,namelyHepburnromanizationandastandarddevisedbytheJapanesemilitarygovernment(i.e.GeneralTojowaswrittenasTozyo).On8December1942,theanniversaryoftheinitialJapaneseinvasion,thepaperwaspublishedastheSyonanSinbun,theEnglish-languageeditionofaJapanesenewspaper.ItfinallybecametheSyonanShimbunon8December1943. Duringthisperiod,thepaperwasthoroughlypro-JapaneseandwouldoftenreportonJapan'swareffortsinthePacific.ThenewspaperwasrunbymembersoftheJapanesemilitarypropagandadivisionandincludedprominentwriterssuchasMasujiIbuse. SeabridgeandhiswifefledSingaporeon11February1942andwenttoBatavia(present-dayJakarta).FromBatavia,SeabridgefiledasecretreportfortheWarCabinetinLondoninApril1942onthefailureofbothmilitaryandciviliangovernmentstoholdandmaintainSingapore'sdefences.SingaporeitselfwasinastateofalmostcompletechaosfromtheendofDecember.CivilServantswhohadevacuatedfromtheMalayStatessoughttosetuptemporarydepartmentsinSingaporefornootherapparentreasonthanthepreservationoftheirjobs.EventheFMSIncomeTaxDepartmentsetitselfupinSingaporeafterthelastFederatedStatehadfallenintoJapanesehands.TheCiviladministrationcrackedbadlyandbrokecompletelyatsomepoints.Therewaslittleco-operationwiththeServices,andmanyindicationsofjealousyandfearthatoutsidersmightpoachonthepreservesoftheCivilServant…Theextenttowhichobstructionistsflourishedwasstaggering. Asapropagandainstrument[edit] InJune1942,theMilitaryPropagandaSquad(軍宣伝班)launchedacampaign,Nippon-GoPopularisingWeek,topromotetheJapaneselanguageamongSingaporeans,usingtheSyonanShimbun.ThePropagandaSquaddraftedsome150membersoftheJapaneseliteratiandassignedthemtoSingapore(Syonan)underthe25thArmyMilitaryAdministration.TheseincludednotableauthorssuchasthenovelistMasujiIbuse,poetJimboKōtaro,andliterarycriticNakajimaKenzo.Adocumentdated17May1942outlinedthefourmainobjectivesofNippon-GoPopularisingWeek. TopromotethestudyofJapaneseduringandafterNippon-GoPopularisingWeek,introducetheJapanesestateofaffairsinaseriesofarticles,andstrengthenthecommandofconventionalJapaneselanguageinthelocalpapers. ToentreatallJapanesesoldiersinvolvedintheconstructivewarefforttocooperateinteachingcorrectJapanesetonatives. Topublishaweeklychildren'skatakananewspaper. TopublishaguidebookontheproperpronunciationofJapanesesyllables. Thechildren'snewspaper,outlinedinthethirdgoal,waspublishedasSakuraandincludedasafreesupplementinthe10June1942editionoftheSyonanShimbun,thoughitwaslatersoldseparatelyforonesen.InadditiontotheSakurachildren'snewspaper,theSyonanShimbunwasusedbytheJapanesegovernmentasawayofattemptingtocreatepro-Japaneseyouthleadersamongthemultiethnic,multilingualchildrenofSingapore. FollowingthereturnofSingaporetotheBritishafterWorldWarII,thenameofthepaperrevertedtoTheStraitsTimeson5September1945. Post-warperiod[edit] AnexampleofTheStraitsTimeson1May1952publishingcashbountiesofferedbytheBritishforinformationoncommunistactivitiesandindividualsduringtheMalayanEmergency.ThepersoninthephotoisChinPeng. On11March1950,TheStraitsTimesbecameapubliclimitedcompany.[15]by1952,itbegantoactivelyembracetheroleasthepredominantnewspaperofSingapore,referringtoitselfasthe'national'newspaperofMalaya.1956wasalsoamajoryearforAsiancontributorstoTheStraitsTimes,withjournalistssuchasLeslieHoffmanappointedaseditor-in-chief,LeeSiewYeeasthedeputyeditor-in-chief,andT.S.Khooasnighteditor.SamadIsmail,aneditorforthedailynewspaperBeritaHarian,joinedthepaperin1963.In1964,themanagingdirectorA.C.Simmonsbecamethepaper'schairmanuntilhisabruptretirementin1974duetoallegationsoftaxevasion.[15] DuringtheMalayanEmergency,TheStraitsTimespublishedcashbountiesforinformationleadingtothekillingorcaptureofseniorcommunists.[19]EarlierduringtheEmergency,TheStraitsTimeshaderroneouslyreportedthat26suspectedcommunistguerrillashadbeenshotdeadbytheBritishmilitarywhileattemptingtoescapeafterammunitionhadbeendiscoveredintheirhomes.[20]Itwaslaterdiscoveredthat24peoplehadbeenshotdead,andthatallofthemwereinnocentcivilianswhohadbeenexecutedaspartoftheBatangKalimassacrebytheScotsGuards.[20] In1956,TheStraitsTimesestablishedaMalaysianedition,TheNewStraitsTimes,basedinKualaLumpur.FollowingSingapore'sindependenceandtheshort-livedmergedwithMalaysiain1963thatendedin1965,thecompanysplitintwo.On1September1972,TheStraitsTimestransferreditsMalaysianbusinessintoawhollyownedsubsidiary,theNewStraitsTimes(Malaysia)Sdn.Bhd.[12]TheparentcompanyofTheStraitsTimeswasconvertedintoaseparate,publiccompany. ThenewswebsiteofTheStraitsTimeslaunchedon1January1994,makingitoneofthefirstnewspapersintheworldtodoso.Thewebsiteremainedentirelyfreeuntil2005whenpaidsubscriptionbecamerequiredtofullyaccessnewsandcommentary.[18] Coverage[edit] TheStraitsTimesfunctionswith16bureausandspecialcorrespondentsinmajorcitiesworldwide.Thepaperhasfivesections:themainsectionconsistofAsianandinternationalnews,withsub-sectionsofcolumnsandeditorialsandtheForumPage(letterstothepress).TheHomesectionconsistoflocalnewsandtopicsonEducationforMonday,MindandBodyforTuesday,DigitalforWednesday,CommunityforThursdayandScienceforFriday.Therearealsoasportsandfinancesection,aclassifiedadsandjoblistingsectionandalifestyle,style,entertainmentandtheartssectiontitled"Life!". ThenewspaperalsopublishesspecialeditionsforprimaryandsecondaryschoolsinSingapore.Theprimary-schoolversioncontainsaspecialpull-out,titled"LittleRedDot"andthesecondary-schoolversioncontainsapull-outtitled"In". AseparateeditionTheSundayTimesispublishedonSundays. SaleinMalaysia[edit] Owingtopoliticalsensitivities,TheStraitsTimesisnotsoldinneighboringMalaysia,andtheMalaysiannewspaperNewStraitsTimesisnotsoldinSingapore.[citationneeded] Internationaleditions[edit] AspecificMyanmarandBruneieditionofthispaperwaslaunchedon25March2014and30October2014.ItispublisheddailywithlocalnewspaperprintersonlicencewithSPH.Thispaperisdistributedonministries,businesses,majorhotels,airlines,bookshopsandsupermarketsonmajorcitiesandtargetsalestolocalandforeignbusinessmeninbothcountries.CirculationoftheMyanmareditioncurrentlystandsat5,000and2,500fortheBruneiedition.TheBruneieditioniscurrentlysoldatB$1percopyandanAll-in-OneStraitsTimespackageconsistingoftheprinteditionandfulldigitalaccessviaonline,tabletsandsmartphones,willalsobeintroducedinBrunei.[3][4] StraitsTimesOnline[edit] Launchedon1January1994,TheStraitsTimes'websitewasfreeofchargeandgrantedaccesstoallthesectionsandarticlesfoundintheprintedition.On1January2005,theonlineversionbeganrequiringregistrationandafterashortperiodbecameapaid-access-onlysite.Currently,onlypeoplewhosubscribetotheonlineeditioncanreadallthearticlesontheInternet,includingthefrequentlyupdated"LatestNews"section. Afreesection,featuringaselectionofnewsstories,iscurrentlyavailableatthesite.Regularpodcast,vodcastandtwice-daily—mid-dayandeveningupdates—radio-newsbulletinsarealsoavailableforfreeonline. Preservation[edit] InJuly2007,theNationalLibraryBoardsignedanagreementwiththeSingaporePressHoldingstodigitisethearchivesofTheStraitsTimesgoingbacktoitsfoundingin1845.ThearchivedmaterialsareheldintheLeeKongChianReferenceLibraryandareavailabletothepublicthroughmicrofilm.[21] Communityprogrammes[edit] TheStraitsTimesSchoolPocketMoneyFund[edit] TheStraitsTimesSchoolPocketMoneyFundwasinitiatedon1October2000byTheStraitsTimes,toheightenpublicawarenessoftheplightofchildrenfromlow-incomefamilieswhowereattendingschoolwithoutproperbreakfast,orpocketmoneytosustaintheirdayinschool.[22]Theaimistoalleviatethefinancialburdenfacedbyparentsinprovidingfortheirchildren'seducation.Atthesametimethefundswillhelpchildrenwhoarealreadyfacingdifficultiesinremaininginschooltostayon. TheStraitsTimesSchools[edit] TheStraitsTimesSchoolsisanewsdeskcreatedtoencourageyouthreadershipandinterestinnewsandcurrentaffairs.[23]Launchedin2004,theprogrammewasinitiallyknownasTheStraitsTimesMediaClub.Youthnewspapers,INandLittleRedDotareproducedonaweeklybasisforsecondaryandprimaryschoolstudentsrespectively,whoseschoolswouldhavetosubscribeinbulk.[24]StudentswillreceivetheirpaperseveryMondaytogetherwiththemainbroadsheet.On7March2017,adigitalINappwaslaunched,allowingparents,studentsandotherindividualSTsubscriberstosubscribetoINweeklyreleasesdigitally.[25] Governmentinterference[edit] Priorto1965,duringtheearlydaysofSingaporeanself-governance,thepaperhadanuneasyrelationshipwithsomepoliticians,includingtheleadersofthePeople'sActionParty(PAP).[26][27]ThiswaspartiallyduetoHoffmancriticisingthePAPduringthe1959generalelectionandsupportingtheeventuallydefeatedchiefministerLimYewHock.[12]EditorswerewarnedthatanyreportagethatmaythreatenthemergerbetweenSingaporeandtheMalayanFederationmayresultinsubversioncharges,andthattheymaybedetainedwithouttrialunderthePreservationofPublicSecurityOrdinanceAct.[28][29]Followingcritcismofthepaper'scoveragefromLeeKuanYewafterthe1979by-electionsandthe1980generalelection,TheStraitsTimesagreedtoacceptS.R.Nathan,agovernmentnomineeandtheformerDirectorofInternalSecurity,asitsexecutivechairman.[15]Subsequently,theSingaporeangovernmentrestructuredtheentirenewspaperindustry,inwhichallpaperspublishedinEnglish,Chinese,andMalaywerebroughtunderSingaporePressHoldings(SPH),establishedon30November1984.Followingtheestablishmentoftheconglomerate,TheStraitsTimes,andtheothersubsidiaries,wereallowedtomaintainitsownboardofdirectorsandeditorialstaff. Thenewspaperissometimesreferredas"themouthpiece"oftherulingparty[30][31]oratleast"mostlypro-government"[32][33]and"closetothegovernment".[34] ChuaChinHon,thenST’sbureauchieffortheUnitedStates,wasquotedassayingthatSPH’s“editorshaveallbeengroomedaspro-governmentsupportersandarecarefultoensurethatreportingoflocaleventsadherescloselytotheofficialline”ina2009USdiplomaticcableleakedbyWikiLeaks.[35][36]PastchairpersonsofSingaporePressHoldingshavebeencivilorpublicservants.CurrentSPHChairmanLeeBoonYangisaformerPAPcabinetministerwhotookoverfromTonyTan,formerDeputyPrimeMinister.ManycurrentSTmanagementandsenioreditorshavecloselinkstothegovernmentaswell.SPHCEOAlanChanwasaformertopcivilservantandPrincipalPrivateSecretaryofthenSeniorMinisterLeeKuanYew.Currenteditor-in-chiefWarrenFernandezwasconsideredasaPAPcandidateforthe2006elections.[37][38] Name Position(s)inSPH Yearsserved Position(s)inpublicoffice BeforeSPH AfterSPH S.R.Nathan ExecutivechairmanoftheStraitsTimesPress/SPH 1982–1988 PermSec.MinistryofForeignAffairs Ambassador,PresidentofSingapore[39] LimKimSan ExecutivechairmanofSPH 1988–2002 CabinetMinister,ChairmanofPortofSingaporeAuthority Chairman,CouncilofPresidentialAdvisers,Chancellor,SingaporeManagementUniversity[40] TonyTan ExecutivechairmanofSPH 2005–2011 DeputyPrimeMinister PresidentofSingapore[41] TjongYikMin PresidentofSPH 1995–2002 DirectorofInternalSecurityDepartment GroupChiefExecutive,YeoHiapSeng[42] AlanChan Director,President,ChiefexecutiveofSPH 2002–2017 Perm.Sec.oftheMinistryofTransport ChairmanfortheLandTransportAuthority(LTA)[43] LeeBoonYang ExecutivechairmanofSPH 2011–present CabinetMinister ZainulAbidinRasheed EditorofBeritaHarian,AssociateeditorofST 1976–1996 SeniorMinisterofStateforMinistryofForeignAffairs,Ambassador ChuaLeeHoong Review,PoliticaleditorofST[44] 1995–2012[45] IntelligenceanalystofInternalSecurityDepartment[46] SeniorDirectorofResiliencePolicyandResearchCentreandNationalSecurityResearchCentre,PrimeMinister'sOffice[47] PatrickDaniel Editor-in-chief,DeputychiefexecutiveofSPH 1986–2017 DirectorintheMinistryofTradeandIndustry[48] InterimCEOofSPHMediaTrust[49] NgYatChung ChiefexecutiveofSPH 2017–present CEOofNeptuneOrientLines,ChiefofArmy,ChiefofDefenceForce HanFookKwang EditorofST,Editor-at-large[50] 1989–present DeputyDirectorofMinistryofCommunications(LandTransport)[31] SeniorFellowattheS.RajaratnamSchoolofInternationalStudies[51] JanadasDevan SenioreditorofST 1997–2012 Academic ChiefofGovernmentCommunications[52] InhismemoirOBMarkers:MyStraitsTimesStory,formereditor-in-chiefCheongYipSengrecountshow,since1986,therehasbeenagovernment-appointed"monitor"atthenewspaper,"someonewhocouldwatchtoseeifindeedthenewsroomwasbeyondcontrol",andthatdisapprovalofthe"monitor"couldcostareporteroreditortheirjob.[53]CheongidentifiesthefirstmonitorasS.R.Nathan,directoroftheMinistryofDefence'sSecurityandIntelligenceDivisionandlaterpresidentofSingapore.[53]Editorswereboundbyoutofboundsmarkerstodenotewhattopicsarepermissibleforpublicdiscussion,[54]resultinginself-censorship.[55] Publicopinion[edit] A2020ReutersInstitutesurveyof15mediaoutletsfoundthat73%ofSingaporeanrespondentstrustedreportingfromTheStraitsTimeswhichwasthesecondhighestratingnexttoChannelNewsAsia.[56] TheStraitsTimeshasalsobeencriticisedbynetizensforsloppyandbiasedreporting.Forinstance,thenewspaperrepeatedlyinterviewedacommuternamedAshleyWuon8occasionswithinaspanof10months,wheneverthetrainsbrokedown,ratherthangettingfreshviewpointsfromdifferentaffectedcommuters.[57][58]Thenewspaperisalsoknowntomodifyandinsertadditionallinestoop-edcontributors'works,alteringthetoneandmessageofthearticles,withoutnotifyingtheminadvance.[59] Seealso[edit] MediaofSingapore MediacensorshipinSingapore ListofnewspapersinSingapore References[edit] ^"LeadershipchangeatTheStraitsTimes".AsiaOneNews.30November2011.Archivedfromtheoriginalon3January2012.Retrieved6May2012. ^ab"TheStraitsTimes/TheSundayTimes(SingaporePressHoldingswebsite)".SingaporePressHoldings.Retrieved25November2019. ^abc"TheStraitsTimeslaunchesMyanmaredition".SingaporePressHoldings.24March2014.Archivedfromtheoriginalon30June2016.Retrieved2June2016. ^abc"TheStraitsTimeslaunchesBruneiedition".SingaporePressHoldings.24March2014.Archivedfromtheoriginalon30June2016.Retrieved2June2016. ^"NewspaperArticle-StraitsTimesandSingaporeJournalofCommerce".Newspapers.nl.sg.Archivedfromtheoriginalon17July2013.Retrieved28February2015. ^"TheStraitstimesandSingaporejournalofcommerce".LibraryofCongress.Retrieved24November2019. ^Christopher,H.Sterling(2009)."A–C".EncyclopediaofJournalism.Vol. 1.SAGEPublishing.p. 108.ISBN 978-0761929574. ^"AuditBureauofCirculationsSingapore".abcsingapore.org.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6August2013.Retrieved24November2019. ^ab"RobertCarrWoods,Sr|Infopedia".eresources.nlb.gov.sg.Retrieved8July2022. ^"TheHistoryofArmeniansinSingaporeandMalaysia".Amassia.com.au.Archivedfromtheoriginalon26February2015.Retrieved28February2015. ^"TheStraitsTimes|Infopedia".eresources.nlb.gov.sg.Retrieved8July2022. ^abcTurnbull,ConstanceMary(1995).DatelineSingapore :150yearsoftheStraitstimes.Singapore:SingaporePressHoldings.ISBN 981-204-615-1.OCLC 33925517. ^Buckley,CharlesBurton(1984).AnanecdotalhistoryofoldtimesinSingapore :fromthefoundationofthesettlementunderthehonourabletheEastIndiaCompanyonFebruary6th,1819tothetransfertotheColonialOfficeaspartofthecolonialpossessionsoftheCrownonApril1st,1867.Singapore:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN 0-19-582602-7.OCLC 11519818. ^abTurnbull,C.M.(2009).AhistoryofmodernSingapore,1819-2005.Singapore:NUSPress.ISBN 978-9971-69-343-5.OCLC 489265927. ^abcdefKheng,CheahBoon(1996)."ReviewofDatelineSingapore:150YearsoftheStraitsTimes".JournaloftheMalaysianBranchoftheRoyalAsiaticSociety.69(2(271)):116–119.ISSN 0126-7353. ^abcNewCultureinaNewWorld :theMayFourthMovementandtheChineseDiasporainSingapore,1919-1932.DavidKenley.Taylor&Francis.2003.ISBN 978-1-135-94564-0.OCLC 824552213.{{citebook}}:CS1maint:others(link) ^Pathsnottaken :politicalpluralisminpost-warSingapore.MichaelD.Barr,CarlA.Trocki.Singapore:NUSPress.2008.pp. 267–300.ISBN 978-9971-69-378-7.OCLC 154714418.{{citebook}}:CS1maint:others(link) ^abEaman,RossAllan(2021).Historicaldictionaryofjournalism(2nd ed.).Lanham.p. 359.ISBN 978-1-5381-2504-5.OCLC 1200832987. ^Ward,Ian;Miraflor,Norma;Peng,Chin(2003).AliasChinPeng:MySideofHistory.Singapore:MediaMasters.pp. 312–313.ISBN 981-04-8693-6. ^abHack,Karl(2016)."'DevilsthatSucktheBloodoftheMalayanPeople'".WarinHistory.25:209–viaSageJournals. ^Walravens,Hartmut,ed.(19January2008),"ENHANCINGACCESSTOTHENEWSPAPERCOLLECTIONS:TheLeeKongChianReferenceLibraryExperience",IFLAPublications,Berlin,NewYork:WalterdeGruyter,K.G.Saur,doi:10.1515/9783598441264.5.137,ISBN 978-3-598-44126-4,retrieved8July2022 ^"TheStraitsTimesSchoolPocketMoneyFund".www.spmf.org.sg.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2March2019.Retrieved2March2019. ^"OurMission-".STSchools.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6May2018.Retrieved24November2019. ^"FrequentlyAskedQuestions-".STSchools.Archivedfromtheoriginalon7October2017.Retrieved24November2019. ^MarketScreener."SingaporePress :TheStraitsTimes'studentmagazine,IN,goesdigital|MarketScreener".www.marketscreener.com.Archivedfromtheoriginalon30March2019.Retrieved24November2019. ^"PAPandEnglishPress".TheStraitsTimes.30April1959.Archivedfromtheoriginalon19August2017.Retrieved19August2017. ^"PressFreedom".TheStraitsTimes.19May1959.Archivedfromtheoriginalon19August2017.Retrieved19August2017. ^"IPItoDiscussPAPThreatAgainstTheStraitsTimes".TheStraitsTimes.22May1959.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20August2017.Retrieved19August2017. ^"'Uglythreats'arealsoamenacetoalreadydwindlingliberties".28May1959.Archivedfromtheoriginalon19August2017.Retrieved19August2017. ^Aglionby,John(26October2001)."Atickintheonlybox".TheGuardian.ISSN 0261-3077.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^ab"MoreyoungpeoplewritingtoSTForum".www.asiaone.com.Archivedfromtheoriginalon16September2017.Retrieved15September2017. ^Mydans,Seth(5May2011)."InSingapore,PoliticalCampaigningGoesViral".TheNewYorkTimes.ISSN 0362-4331.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"SingaporeStraitsTimeswebsitedownafterhackerthreat".Reuters.4November2013.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"SingaporebansChinese-Americanscholarasforeignagent".ABCNews.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"JournalistsFrustratedbyPressControls".Wikileaks.16January2009.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017. ^"WikiLeaks:Significantgov'tpressureputonSTeditors".Archivedfromtheoriginalon8September2017.Retrieved8September2017. ^Cheong,YipSeng(2013).OBMarkers:MyStraitsTimesStory.StraitsTimesPress.ISBN 9789814342339. ^"COMMENT:ThebigstorybehindtheSPHreshuffle".Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"FormerpresidentSRNathandies,aged92".TheStraitsTimes.22August2016.Retrieved21July2021.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) ^"LimKimSan|Infopedia".eresources.nlb.gov.sg.Retrieved21July2021. ^"TonyTanelectedSingaporepresident".www.ft.com.28September2011.Retrieved21July2021.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) ^"FormerISDdirectorTjongYikMindiesatage67".TheStraitsTimes.1June2019.Retrieved21July2021.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:url-status(link) ^"AlanChanreappointedLTAchairman".www.businesstimes.com.sg.Retrieved25June2021. ^Chua,HianHou."STeditorialreshuffletostreamline,strengthencoverage".www.asiaone.com.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24September2017.Retrieved24September2017. ^"LandTransportAuthorityAnnualReport2009"(PDF).Archivedfromtheoriginal(PDF)on11November2012.ChuaLeeHoongwaswiththecivilservicefor10yearsbeforejoiningSingaporePressHoldingsasajournalistin1995. ^Ellis,Eric(21June2001)."ClimatecontrolintheSingaporePress".TheAustralian.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24September2017. ^"AppointmentofMemberstoThePublicTransportCouncil|MinistryofTransport,Singapore".www.mot.gov.sg.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24September2017.Retrieved24September2017. ^Yahya,Yasmine(26May2017)."JournalismveteranPatrickDanieltoretireasSPHdeputyCEO,stayonasconsultant".TheStraitsTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"PatrickDanieltobeinterimCEOofSPHMediaTrust;digitalmediacapacitytobeenhanced".www.businesstimes.com.sg.Retrieved25June2021. ^"BioonAuthorHanFookKwang"(PDF).Archived(PDF)fromtheoriginalon15September2017. ^"HanFookKwang|RSIS".www.rsis.edu.sg.Retrieved25June2021. ^"AppointmenttotheGovernmentInformationService".Base.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8September2017.Retrieved8September2017. ^ab"BookReview:LeeKuanYew'sTamingofthePress".Archivedfromtheoriginalon5October2013.Retrieved7September2016. ^"UnderLeeKuanYew,thepresswasonlyasfreeasitneededtobetoserveSingapore".SouthChinaMorningPost.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^"TheExoticWorldofSingaporeanJournalism-AsiaSentinel".AsiaSentinel.17July2013.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2017.Retrieved13August2017. ^ReutersInstituteDigitalNewsReport2020(PDF).UniversityofOxford:ReutersInstitutefortheStudyofJournalism.p. 101. ^"TransportMinistervs."Singapore'sonlycommuter"AshleyWu".Archivedfromtheoriginalon31July2017.Retrieved31July2017. ^"ThankstoMinisterKhaw,AshleyWu,aged35to37,isS'pore'smostfamouspublictransportuser".Mothership.sg.Archivedfromtheoriginalon22March2018.Retrieved8May2018. ^"StraitsTimesmodifiesAWAREcontributor'sarticlefor"Opinion"section,addsinlineswithouttellingher".Mothership.sg.Archivedfromtheoriginalon11November2017.Retrieved12November2017. AdditionalSources[edit] Thio,HRandtheMediainSingaporeinHRandtheMedia,RobertHaased,Malaysia:AIDCOM199669at72-5. Furtherreading[edit] Merrill,JohnC.andHaroldA.Fisher.Theworld'sgreatdailies:profilesoffiftynewspapers(1980)pp305–7 Turnbull,C.Mary.DatelineSingapore:150YearsofTheStraitsTimes(1995),publishedbySingaporePressHoldings CheongYipSeng.OBMarkers:MyStraitsTimesStory(2012),publishedbyStraitsTimesPress Externallinks[edit] Officialwebsite TheStraitsTimesattheWaybackMachine(archiveindex) Today'sTheStraitsTimesfrontpageattheNewseumwebsite SPHNewsLink—ArchiveofStraitsTimesArticles SearchdigitisedSingaporenewspapersfrom1831-2013 vteSPHMediaTrustNewspapers TheStraitsTimes TheBusinessTimes TheNewPaper tabla! 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