- Joined
- Apr 14, 2011
- Messages
- 16,673
- Points
- 113
Sunday, 10 May 2020
Quah Zheng Jie
I have COVID-19. A story was made up about my illness for a national newspaper.
Like other Singaporeans who have caught the virus, I have used Instagram stories to document my journey to recovery. Yet unlike other Singaporeans, my journey has been unnecessarily bumpy.
As a disclaimer, before I elaborate on anything else, I would like to firmly state that my intentions of sharing my stories on Instagram were to reassure my parents and friends that I am recovering well, and am in the good hands of the State as we take a multi-pronged approach to tackle this pandemic.
Unfortunately, my Instagram stories were picked up by a Lianhe Zaobao/Wanbao (LHZB/LHWB) reporter and our subsequent interactions led to much distress and anxiety on top of the discomfort and pain I experienced while recovering from COVID-19.
1. National Newspaper fabricates interview based on my COVID-19 experience.
Lianhe Zaobao published an article online, "阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫", roughly translated to "NTU Student Gets COVID-19 even though he stayed home during the CB Period".This is misleading because it suggests and perpetuates the idea that people can get COVID-19 even if they stay home. The clickbait nature of the headline which merely unsettles public confidence when reassurance is most needed.
Given that LHZB/LHWB’s main audience are the older folks, imagine the kind of paranoia that might ensue for those who take the headline on face value, and that is extremely irresponsible of LHZB/LHWB, especially in these times of heightened anxiety.
2. Journalist sought consent, but was rejected.
On 1 May 2020, a journalist from SPH, “James” (Name changed to prevent doxxing), approached me on Instagram through his Instagram account. “James” sought my consent to use photographs which I had taken and uploaded to my Instagram stories, meant to be up for 24hrs on the account, @quahzhengjie. I stated categorically to “James” that I do not consent to the use of my photographs or any of my personal information relating to my experience.
"Asking for consent, I said no."
“James” acknowledged my refusal of consent. It is even more damning that he recognised my refusal but still went behind my back to use my content to fabricate his story.
"Acknowledgement of refusal of consent."
Despite my clear refusal to give consent, “James” went ahead and used my photographs and details of my experience, including my personal information, in a Lianhe Zaobao article dated 7 May 2020, with the title “阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫". In that article, “James” also claimed that he interviewed me. This statement is patently false.
"Friend's father managed to identify the article was referring to me"
3. Friend’s dad was able to identify I that the article was referring to me.
I was mortified when I found out about the article on 7 May 2020, at around 1515hours through a friend. Her dad had seen the article, and from the profile of the interviewee, he could deduce that the journalist was writing about me. This highlights how easy it was to identify me. A check with NTU also confirmed that I was the only 25-year-old male NTU student with COVID-19.
4. “James” created a fictional picture of me, with the content on IG Stories
Going further than rejecting my initial refusal of ‘No’, “James” went to the extent of building up a fictional picture of me.
“James” had used my content I posted on Instagram Stories, as a basis to make up an entire story including personal details on my family, my daily activities prior to the CB period, during the CB period, these were FALSE.
At this point, I am certain that “James” has crossed the lines of Ethical Journalism. “James’” conduct is a gross and serious violation of fundamental journalistic ethics.
I later called out the journalist on my Instagram Story, and LHWB’s Facebook page in order to raise my concerns over the false reporting and illegal use of my photos.
5. Journalist was aware that I had found out about the article.
The journalist reached out to me on 7th May 2020, at 1722. “James” referred to it as a “misunderstanding”, which is frankly ridiculous, as I had clearly said “NO”. I refuse to believe that SPH Journalists do not understand what “No” means.
"James saying it was a misunderstanding after calling him out."
Later that night, Lianhe Zaobao changed the article’s photo to a generic D'Resort image. However, the journalist’s work of fiction remained up.
6. Reached out to editors. However, issues raised were not acknowledged
I then reached out to editors in LHZB/LHWB, to highlight this issue.
The response was that : After an internal investigation, they found out that “James” had written the story based on my social media postings, and had made a wrong judgment to mention that I was interviewed although I had refused to.
However, this disregards the fact that “James” had fabricated his own fictional work. The only things I have posted were about how I felt of my stay at EXPO and had since been moved to D'Resort. The article mentioned my family, my daily activities prior to being admitted to the hospital, where I lived, whether I went out during the Circuit Breaker Period. These are all FALSE information.
Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information. Yet, from what “James” did, his fabricated tales have caused panic.
7. Article caused unnecessary panic.
Although the online article has since been taken down, the printed version remains in the community.The untruthful reporting within the article that LHZB/LHWB has published online (and offline) has impacted the wider community. This can be seen on various online communities:
1. Causing unnecessary panic amongst the NTU Community (as seen from NTU Confessions)
2. LHZB/LHWB Facebook posts which are now deleted, netizens who reposted the story speculated that even staying home is dangerous.
3. Foreign news sites have also picked up on the story, even though it is not a factual story.
(As of 11 May 2020 2030, the story is still online.)
This story basically used my identity and my COVID-19 experiences to cook up an article that caused panic, and at the same time monetised by LHWB/LHZB.
8. Emotional and psychological distress.
I think no one is able to comprehend the shock I felt when I saw my own story being published on the news like that. I have been dealing with COVID-19, and not disclosing much about my experience to anybody because I wanted to avoid the attention, and avoid dramatising/sensationalising the virus.
Yet, I woke up from my rest to see my own pictures and experiences being circulated via the media, without my consent. It felt like a true betrayal of trust. I have also been on the receiving end of many of the hateful/blunt comments by various netizens speculating that I might have been untruthful and non-compliant to Contact Tracing and Circuit Breaker measures.
This adds on to the unnecessary stress that comes with trying to recover from COVID-19, being away from my family and friends for so long.
9. Combatting Fake News
At this juncture, I refer to a quote by Mr Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of Bangladesh’s The Daily Star: “In order to combat the onslaught of fake news, news organisations have to be diligent, uphold ethics and better engage readers to maintain public confidence in what they publish..... Until we do that, fake news is going to haunt us."
-The Straits Times
Not only did “James” make up this entire piece of fictional work. It is troubling that he chose to use it as a vehicle to sensationalise the COVID-19 situation with such a headline. I strongly believe that news must be factual, impartial, and accurate.
The Straits Times’ political editor, Zakir Hussain, also mentioned that news organizations should call out "false and insidious" reports they might otherwise have downplayed, debunk fake news and its agenda, and help educate readers to spot falsehoods and correct disinformation. Isn’t that what the Government has been championing for the past few months, especially with the introduction of POFMA?
How LHZB/LHWB handled the situation, of just deleting the posts and article without a retraction, apology, or clarification of the news is really irresponsible.
In these times where we need a strong united front (#SGUnited) to tackle a crisis, I sincerely hope that all news outlets report accurately and factually, without misleading or fear-mongering headlines and content.
Journalists need to be careful about how they conduct themselves in these times, the people rely on them for factual information, not non-existent interviews and made up facts which sow fear and paranoia in the community.
Quah Zheng Jie
I have COVID-19. A story was made up about my illness for a national newspaper.
Like other Singaporeans who have caught the virus, I have used Instagram stories to document my journey to recovery. Yet unlike other Singaporeans, my journey has been unnecessarily bumpy.
As a disclaimer, before I elaborate on anything else, I would like to firmly state that my intentions of sharing my stories on Instagram were to reassure my parents and friends that I am recovering well, and am in the good hands of the State as we take a multi-pronged approach to tackle this pandemic.
Unfortunately, my Instagram stories were picked up by a Lianhe Zaobao/Wanbao (LHZB/LHWB) reporter and our subsequent interactions led to much distress and anxiety on top of the discomfort and pain I experienced while recovering from COVID-19.
1. National Newspaper fabricates interview based on my COVID-19 experience.
Lianhe Zaobao published an article online, "阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫", roughly translated to "NTU Student Gets COVID-19 even though he stayed home during the CB Period".This is misleading because it suggests and perpetuates the idea that people can get COVID-19 even if they stay home. The clickbait nature of the headline which merely unsettles public confidence when reassurance is most needed.
Given that LHZB/LHWB’s main audience are the older folks, imagine the kind of paranoia that might ensue for those who take the headline on face value, and that is extremely irresponsible of LHZB/LHWB, especially in these times of heightened anxiety.
2. Journalist sought consent, but was rejected.
On 1 May 2020, a journalist from SPH, “James” (Name changed to prevent doxxing), approached me on Instagram through his Instagram account. “James” sought my consent to use photographs which I had taken and uploaded to my Instagram stories, meant to be up for 24hrs on the account, @quahzhengjie. I stated categorically to “James” that I do not consent to the use of my photographs or any of my personal information relating to my experience.
"Asking for consent, I said no."
“James” acknowledged my refusal of consent. It is even more damning that he recognised my refusal but still went behind my back to use my content to fabricate his story.
"Acknowledgement of refusal of consent."
Despite my clear refusal to give consent, “James” went ahead and used my photographs and details of my experience, including my personal information, in a Lianhe Zaobao article dated 7 May 2020, with the title “阻断措施期间足不出户 南大生不解为何染疫". In that article, “James” also claimed that he interviewed me. This statement is patently false.
"Friend's father managed to identify the article was referring to me"
3. Friend’s dad was able to identify I that the article was referring to me.
I was mortified when I found out about the article on 7 May 2020, at around 1515hours through a friend. Her dad had seen the article, and from the profile of the interviewee, he could deduce that the journalist was writing about me. This highlights how easy it was to identify me. A check with NTU also confirmed that I was the only 25-year-old male NTU student with COVID-19.
4. “James” created a fictional picture of me, with the content on IG Stories
Going further than rejecting my initial refusal of ‘No’, “James” went to the extent of building up a fictional picture of me.
“James” had used my content I posted on Instagram Stories, as a basis to make up an entire story including personal details on my family, my daily activities prior to the CB period, during the CB period, these were FALSE.
At this point, I am certain that “James” has crossed the lines of Ethical Journalism. “James’” conduct is a gross and serious violation of fundamental journalistic ethics.
I later called out the journalist on my Instagram Story, and LHWB’s Facebook page in order to raise my concerns over the false reporting and illegal use of my photos.
5. Journalist was aware that I had found out about the article.
The journalist reached out to me on 7th May 2020, at 1722. “James” referred to it as a “misunderstanding”, which is frankly ridiculous, as I had clearly said “NO”. I refuse to believe that SPH Journalists do not understand what “No” means.
"James saying it was a misunderstanding after calling him out."
Later that night, Lianhe Zaobao changed the article’s photo to a generic D'Resort image. However, the journalist’s work of fiction remained up.
6. Reached out to editors. However, issues raised were not acknowledged
I then reached out to editors in LHZB/LHWB, to highlight this issue.
The response was that : After an internal investigation, they found out that “James” had written the story based on my social media postings, and had made a wrong judgment to mention that I was interviewed although I had refused to.
However, this disregards the fact that “James” had fabricated his own fictional work. The only things I have posted were about how I felt of my stay at EXPO and had since been moved to D'Resort. The article mentioned my family, my daily activities prior to being admitted to the hospital, where I lived, whether I went out during the Circuit Breaker Period. These are all FALSE information.
Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting information. Yet, from what “James” did, his fabricated tales have caused panic.
7. Article caused unnecessary panic.
Although the online article has since been taken down, the printed version remains in the community.The untruthful reporting within the article that LHZB/LHWB has published online (and offline) has impacted the wider community. This can be seen on various online communities:
1. Causing unnecessary panic amongst the NTU Community (as seen from NTU Confessions)
2. LHZB/LHWB Facebook posts which are now deleted, netizens who reposted the story speculated that even staying home is dangerous.
3. Foreign news sites have also picked up on the story, even though it is not a factual story.
(As of 11 May 2020 2030, the story is still online.)
This story basically used my identity and my COVID-19 experiences to cook up an article that caused panic, and at the same time monetised by LHWB/LHZB.
8. Emotional and psychological distress.
I think no one is able to comprehend the shock I felt when I saw my own story being published on the news like that. I have been dealing with COVID-19, and not disclosing much about my experience to anybody because I wanted to avoid the attention, and avoid dramatising/sensationalising the virus.
Yet, I woke up from my rest to see my own pictures and experiences being circulated via the media, without my consent. It felt like a true betrayal of trust. I have also been on the receiving end of many of the hateful/blunt comments by various netizens speculating that I might have been untruthful and non-compliant to Contact Tracing and Circuit Breaker measures.
This adds on to the unnecessary stress that comes with trying to recover from COVID-19, being away from my family and friends for so long.
9. Combatting Fake News
At this juncture, I refer to a quote by Mr Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of Bangladesh’s The Daily Star: “In order to combat the onslaught of fake news, news organisations have to be diligent, uphold ethics and better engage readers to maintain public confidence in what they publish..... Until we do that, fake news is going to haunt us."
-The Straits Times
Not only did “James” make up this entire piece of fictional work. It is troubling that he chose to use it as a vehicle to sensationalise the COVID-19 situation with such a headline. I strongly believe that news must be factual, impartial, and accurate.
The Straits Times’ political editor, Zakir Hussain, also mentioned that news organizations should call out "false and insidious" reports they might otherwise have downplayed, debunk fake news and its agenda, and help educate readers to spot falsehoods and correct disinformation. Isn’t that what the Government has been championing for the past few months, especially with the introduction of POFMA?
How LHZB/LHWB handled the situation, of just deleting the posts and article without a retraction, apology, or clarification of the news is really irresponsible.
In these times where we need a strong united front (#SGUnited) to tackle a crisis, I sincerely hope that all news outlets report accurately and factually, without misleading or fear-mongering headlines and content.
Journalists need to be careful about how they conduct themselves in these times, the people rely on them for factual information, not non-existent interviews and made up facts which sow fear and paranoia in the community.
