He is an idiot. He is there to balance out Cherian George. "Independent mind" my arse. Only became indepedent after his retirement and after collecting his grautity.
Farewell to a veteran
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]
HE ADMITS he has “a dubious reputation” and that his “independent mind” has probably unsettled a few. So, when former MediaCorp editorial director P N Balji (picture) was approached to head a new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme to be launched by Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), his reply was a candid, “Are you sure that Temasek (Foundation) will agree to my appointment?”
.
A quick phone conversation later,Mr Balji was told, ‘You’re the person we want.’ “I was glad the response came,” said the 60-year-old, who on Friday completed his two-year contract with MediaCorp.
.
“It shows they were not looking to me to do a propaganda job. Which I would never have done anyway.”
.
Mr Balji — a journalist for almost 40 years — will head the new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. The inaugural programme, launched by Temasek Foundation and NTU, will run from February through April next year.
.
Up to 15 journalists will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship. Fellows will be given the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests away from the usual deadline pressures of their jobs. The programme also includes seminars and workshops to sharpen professional skills and deepen participants’ understanding of the latest trends in media and communication.
.
The end goal: To give the fellows a better understanding of what makes Singapore tick. “Many people outside had a one-sided view of Singapore which is not necessarily the wrong view,” said Mr Balji. “But there are other views of Singapore too, which I don’t think they are exposed to.”
.
He went on to cite the chewing gum ban as a common misconception. “Or that we are an extremely repressed place, which is only half the truth,” he added. “So, this (the fellowship) would help them understand us better.”
.
Besides being the Fellowship director, he will provide counsel to The Jakarta Post. He will also remain with MediaCorp in a different capacity — as a consultant to its integrated advertising sales arm.
.
As the man who started Today, he listed two defining moments in the newspaper’s eight-year history: What kind of newspaper it should be, and the decision to not just concentrate on the commuter crowd, but enter the homes as well. The editorial direction of the newspaper cumulated on one stormy Saturday, said Mr Balji, where two sides were locked in heated discussions. After a five-minute cooling off, the then MediaCorp chairman Cheng Wai Keung sided with a hybrid mode, rather than a typical downmarket, talkdown free newspaper model. “If the chairman had not given the go-ahead, and we have taken the other approach, we would not be where we are today,” said Mr Balji.
.
Mr Balji began his career as a journalist at the Malay Mail on April 1, 1970, which he said, “is still a big joke”. He then went on to three other newspapers before he co-started The New Paper.
.
What does this media veteran see as the biggest challenge for the media going forward?
.
While he believes that competition is overall good for society, Mr Balji said the Government also plays a part in ensuring the growth of the media landscape. “The Government must make sure that the media is given enough space to engage the audience.”
.
With that, at 9.30pm, Mr Balji left the newsroom on Friday night to a more important task. The father of two went on to another new role — that as grandpa.
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]
HE ADMITS he has “a dubious reputation” and that his “independent mind” has probably unsettled a few. So, when former MediaCorp editorial director P N Balji (picture) was approached to head a new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme to be launched by Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), his reply was a candid, “Are you sure that Temasek (Foundation) will agree to my appointment?”
.
A quick phone conversation later,Mr Balji was told, ‘You’re the person we want.’ “I was glad the response came,” said the 60-year-old, who on Friday completed his two-year contract with MediaCorp.
.
“It shows they were not looking to me to do a propaganda job. Which I would never have done anyway.”
.
Mr Balji — a journalist for almost 40 years — will head the new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. The inaugural programme, launched by Temasek Foundation and NTU, will run from February through April next year.
.
Up to 15 journalists will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship. Fellows will be given the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests away from the usual deadline pressures of their jobs. The programme also includes seminars and workshops to sharpen professional skills and deepen participants’ understanding of the latest trends in media and communication.
.
The end goal: To give the fellows a better understanding of what makes Singapore tick. “Many people outside had a one-sided view of Singapore which is not necessarily the wrong view,” said Mr Balji. “But there are other views of Singapore too, which I don’t think they are exposed to.”
.
He went on to cite the chewing gum ban as a common misconception. “Or that we are an extremely repressed place, which is only half the truth,” he added. “So, this (the fellowship) would help them understand us better.”
.
Besides being the Fellowship director, he will provide counsel to The Jakarta Post. He will also remain with MediaCorp in a different capacity — as a consultant to its integrated advertising sales arm.
.
As the man who started Today, he listed two defining moments in the newspaper’s eight-year history: What kind of newspaper it should be, and the decision to not just concentrate on the commuter crowd, but enter the homes as well. The editorial direction of the newspaper cumulated on one stormy Saturday, said Mr Balji, where two sides were locked in heated discussions. After a five-minute cooling off, the then MediaCorp chairman Cheng Wai Keung sided with a hybrid mode, rather than a typical downmarket, talkdown free newspaper model. “If the chairman had not given the go-ahead, and we have taken the other approach, we would not be where we are today,” said Mr Balji.
.
Mr Balji began his career as a journalist at the Malay Mail on April 1, 1970, which he said, “is still a big joke”. He then went on to three other newspapers before he co-started The New Paper.
.
What does this media veteran see as the biggest challenge for the media going forward?
.
While he believes that competition is overall good for society, Mr Balji said the Government also plays a part in ensuring the growth of the media landscape. “The Government must make sure that the media is given enough space to engage the audience.”
.
With that, at 9.30pm, Mr Balji left the newsroom on Friday night to a more important task. The father of two went on to another new role — that as grandpa.
Farewell to a veteran
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]
HE ADMITS he has “a dubious reputation” and that his “independent mind” has probably unsettled a few. So, when former MediaCorp editorial director P N Balji (picture) was approached to head a new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme to be launched by Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), his reply was a candid, “Are you sure that Temasek (Foundation) will agree to my appointment?”
.
A quick phone conversation later,Mr Balji was told, ‘You’re the person we want.’ “I was glad the response came,” said the 60-year-old, who on Friday completed his two-year contract with MediaCorp.
.
“It shows they were not looking to me to do a propaganda job. Which I would never have done anyway.”
.
Mr Balji — a journalist for almost 40 years — will head the new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. The inaugural programme, launched by Temasek Foundation and NTU, will run from February through April next year.
.
Up to 15 journalists will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship. Fellows will be given the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests away from the usual deadline pressures of their jobs. The programme also includes seminars and workshops to sharpen professional skills and deepen participants’ understanding of the latest trends in media and communication.
.
The end goal: To give the fellows a better understanding of what makes Singapore tick. “Many people outside had a one-sided view of Singapore which is not necessarily the wrong view,” said Mr Balji. “But there are other views of Singapore too, which I don’t think they are exposed to.”
.
He went on to cite the chewing gum ban as a common misconception. “Or that we are an extremely repressed place, which is only half the truth,” he added. “So, this (the fellowship) would help them understand us better.”
.
Besides being the Fellowship director, he will provide counsel to The Jakarta Post. He will also remain with MediaCorp in a different capacity — as a consultant to its integrated advertising sales arm.
.
As the man who started Today, he listed two defining moments in the newspaper’s eight-year history: What kind of newspaper it should be, and the decision to not just concentrate on the commuter crowd, but enter the homes as well. The editorial direction of the newspaper cumulated on one stormy Saturday, said Mr Balji, where two sides were locked in heated discussions. After a five-minute cooling off, the then MediaCorp chairman Cheng Wai Keung sided with a hybrid mode, rather than a typical downmarket, talkdown free newspaper model. “If the chairman had not given the go-ahead, and we have taken the other approach, we would not be where we are today,” said Mr Balji.
.
Mr Balji began his career as a journalist at the Malay Mail on April 1, 1970, which he said, “is still a big joke”. He then went on to three other newspapers before he co-started The New Paper.
.
What does this media veteran see as the biggest challenge for the media going forward?
.
While he believes that competition is overall good for society, Mr Balji said the Government also plays a part in ensuring the growth of the media landscape. “The Government must make sure that the media is given enough space to engage the audience.”
.
With that, at 9.30pm, Mr Balji left the newsroom on Friday night to a more important task. The father of two went on to another new role — that as grandpa.
Leong Wee Keat
[email protected]
HE ADMITS he has “a dubious reputation” and that his “independent mind” has probably unsettled a few. So, when former MediaCorp editorial director P N Balji (picture) was approached to head a new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme to be launched by Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), his reply was a candid, “Are you sure that Temasek (Foundation) will agree to my appointment?”
.
A quick phone conversation later,Mr Balji was told, ‘You’re the person we want.’ “I was glad the response came,” said the 60-year-old, who on Friday completed his two-year contract with MediaCorp.
.
“It shows they were not looking to me to do a propaganda job. Which I would never have done anyway.”
.
Mr Balji — a journalist for almost 40 years — will head the new Asia Journalism Fellowship programme at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. The inaugural programme, launched by Temasek Foundation and NTU, will run from February through April next year.
.
Up to 15 journalists will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship. Fellows will be given the opportunity to pursue their own intellectual interests away from the usual deadline pressures of their jobs. The programme also includes seminars and workshops to sharpen professional skills and deepen participants’ understanding of the latest trends in media and communication.
.
The end goal: To give the fellows a better understanding of what makes Singapore tick. “Many people outside had a one-sided view of Singapore which is not necessarily the wrong view,” said Mr Balji. “But there are other views of Singapore too, which I don’t think they are exposed to.”
.
He went on to cite the chewing gum ban as a common misconception. “Or that we are an extremely repressed place, which is only half the truth,” he added. “So, this (the fellowship) would help them understand us better.”
.
Besides being the Fellowship director, he will provide counsel to The Jakarta Post. He will also remain with MediaCorp in a different capacity — as a consultant to its integrated advertising sales arm.
.
As the man who started Today, he listed two defining moments in the newspaper’s eight-year history: What kind of newspaper it should be, and the decision to not just concentrate on the commuter crowd, but enter the homes as well. The editorial direction of the newspaper cumulated on one stormy Saturday, said Mr Balji, where two sides were locked in heated discussions. After a five-minute cooling off, the then MediaCorp chairman Cheng Wai Keung sided with a hybrid mode, rather than a typical downmarket, talkdown free newspaper model. “If the chairman had not given the go-ahead, and we have taken the other approach, we would not be where we are today,” said Mr Balji.
.
Mr Balji began his career as a journalist at the Malay Mail on April 1, 1970, which he said, “is still a big joke”. He then went on to three other newspapers before he co-started The New Paper.
.
What does this media veteran see as the biggest challenge for the media going forward?
.
While he believes that competition is overall good for society, Mr Balji said the Government also plays a part in ensuring the growth of the media landscape. “The Government must make sure that the media is given enough space to engage the audience.”
.
With that, at 9.30pm, Mr Balji left the newsroom on Friday night to a more important task. The father of two went on to another new role — that as grandpa.
