Afghan Blog/News of the Day/Afghan Blog—Melanie Wicander

News of the Day--Kunal Hiranandani

China…Part 1 of 3 from Jones’ documentary

http://blip.tv/file/1010165 

SingaporeWhy a Tiny Island Nation Matters in Global Press Freedom

Singapore 4.5 million people

Prosperous and calm amidst the chaos of Asia

Small financial island nation that runs efficiently—making it a good place to do business—even the media business

Controlled for 30 years by Lee Kwan Yew—and now by his sons and daughters

Nominal opposition political party that has never won a majority of votes.

Singaporeans tend to agree that a government that eradicated poverty, corruption, and crime is worth voting for…and not criticizing

But the same view of the press as China… A free press is a threat to government control

Pragmatic approach to the press—use it to control people, control it to control people.

Press is to used as a tool of the government…not as a tool of the people

Control of ideas versus the marketplace of ideas

Government knows best—much like the idea of “market socialism.”

The market only works if there is government oversight. Thus the media only works well if there is government oversight.

In Singapore, there’s no gloss of a “free press.”Singaporean press is state controlled…Singapore

Press Holdings…although it appears as a global multinational corporation just like any other global media company.

Media is considered a way to disseminate information to the people…entertain…and make money

International media is controlled through fees, licensing and the law…laws that favor the government

Singapore’s Tactics for Press Control

In response to Reporters without Borders’ report in 2005, Lee said: “You are not going to teach us how we should run the country…We are not so stupid, we know what our interests are and how to preserve them.”

A Brief history… Singapore’s history--has no historical precedent for a free

press—unlike Hong Kong, another British colony, that had a thriving free press before the handover in 1997

Need for control early on because of its location

A Chinese majority surrounded by Malaysia and Indonesia

Multi-cultural state designed to keep order between Chinese, Indians, Malays—seeking racial harmony and a national identity

Priority is placed on communitarian ideals over individual ideals

Press is controlled by the government—to help promote harmony and the national identity

How it works…for Singaporeans Lee Kwan Yew is the spokesman for the debate against free

speech—his opinion carries immense weight with the Singaporean people.

Dissent is legal, but discouraged.

Freedom of expression and speech is written into the Constitution but it is not an absolute freedom. Gov’t can pass laws in interest of national security, morality, restrictions to protect the privileges of Parliament

All videos/dvds entering Singapore are viewed by a censorship committee.

Films are edited for content.

Singaporean film makers can be fined up to 500,000 euros (about $750,000) for making films considered “partisan.”

But some film makers get around it— “12 Stories”

And works…for the foreign press News media can be gazetted—circulation is cut to 500

copies with the government having the right to distribute the copies as it sees fit. Allows government to say it is allowing free speech, but with regulation

Publications gazetted include Far Eastern Economic Review (1988 and banned completely in 2006), Time (1986), Asian Wall Street Journal (1987)

Libel laws that include large monetary damage awards

Requires media to appoint a publisher’s representative and post bonds of $124,000 to pay for legal fees for publications including Far Eastern Economic Review, the Financial Times, the International Herald Tribune, Time and Newsweek

While some have decided to leave…others play by the rulesThe Wall Street Journal sets up a global news

operation in Singapore…and stops writing in general about Singapore business and politics.

Bloomberg and the Economist settled libel suits out of court and paid damages and apologized.

Accept the government notion that it is a “privilege, not a right” to publish in Singapore

So why does Singapore matter? Its view of the press (and capitalism) offers a

counter-argument to the West’s “free press” ideals

It stands as an economic and political model to be followed by other Asian nations—including China

Singapore’s control relies on the legal system, heavy fines, financial hardship for journalists and citizens who speak up, and a citizenry that is happy with its economic situation so it demands less political and social freedom

It has been successful in demanding changes from the foreign press

There are some cracks appearingBloggers like “Mr. Brown” have a following

The chasm between rich and poor in Singapore is growing—causing unrest and dissent

Globalization may force change—cellphones and the Internet aren’t as easy to control

Lee Kwan Yew’s death is likely to lead to an easing of restrictions

First Half Wrap UpGovernment Control versus Corporate Control?

I

Corporate ControlU.S. media operates under the umbrella of a

free press

But is it the press that our founders meant when they crafted the First Amendment?

As A.J. Liebling once said “the press is free for the people who can own one.”

What are the dangers of a free press in a free market?

Which is worse? Government Control or Corporatization?

Are the excesses of gov’t control easier to see than the excess of corporate owners?

Do we have the power to change corporate media control?

What happens when gov’t control begins to mimic corporatization?Singapore example

Control of the press and information hidden by a plethora of newspapers, magazines, etc. that offer celebrity gossip, sports, fashion, crime (as long as it doesn’t deal with political figures.

Media is about making a profit—not about investigation, questioning—”giving voice to the voiceless.”

Regulations and punishments are financial instead of physical. Fines instead of prison; huge court costs instead of torture; threat of loss of job instead of the loss of life.

Midterm Minimum requirements. These are only guidelines.  

Paper—5-7 pages

Why this journalist? Give a history as well as your personal reasons for choosing this journalist.

How does this journalist symbolize what is happening in their country regarding press freedom—or lack thereof?

Cite at least two specific examples of the journalist’s work and explain why you chose these examples. What do they reveal about the journalist’s role in their country’s press system?

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