http://tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,212583,00.html?
People see Channel NewsAsia as voice of Govt, says report
By Liew Hanqing
September 04, 2009
BIDDING WAR: Arsenal and Celtic in the Champions League playoff last week. Subscribers are the losers in bidding war between StarHub and SingTel for rights to screen the matches. PICTURE: AP
A NEW report has criticised news broadcaster Channel NewsAsia (CNA) for its approach in news reporting.
The 12th biennial report by the Programme Advisory Committee for English Programmes (Pace) said CNA adopted a generally 'conservative and careful' approach in its reports, which has resulted in the public perceiving it as the 'voice of the Government'.
The report said this could hamper CNA's credibility as a news conduit.
In its response to the report, MediaCorp said it has noted the committee's opinions on CNA's reports and programmes.
It highlighted that its current affairs programmes elicit opinions from viewers every week and are complementary to its news programmes.
It also explained that CNA's content is beamed internationally and that while it serves audiences in Singapore, it has to balance the need with it being a regional news and information channel competing with global news players.
Responding to the comments directed at CNA, former editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English and Malay Newspapers Division and media consultant Peter Lim told The New Paper that he felt Pace made valid points about CNA.
'But the message should also be directed at the Government, and not just MediaCorp and CNA - because MediaCorp is a government-linked company and operates in an environment and media atmosphere that are largely influenced by how much space the journalists and the bosses feel they have,' he said.
Balance
Mr Darryl David, course manager of Temasek Polytechnic's Communications and Media Management programme, added: 'Singapore is, by and large, still a fairly conservative society. CNA has to balance its programmes such that they cater to both regional and Singaporean audiences.'
He added that he felt CNA had achieved a certain standard over the past five to 10 years.
'I think their programmes reflect that they are mindful that they have an obligation to Singaporean audiences,' he said.
However, the Pace report lauded CNA for its good quality and wide coverage of international and Asian news, as well as its variety of info-educational programmes - which included programmes on travel, health as well as science and technology.
The report also commented on radio programming in Singapore, noting that as radio newsreaders increasingly double up as the voices of consumer products and services, it is getting harder to tell what's news and what isn't.
The report called for radio stations to make a clearer distinction between sponsored content and regular programmes.
An excerpt from the report read: 'Members (of the committee) noted that some radio deejays were endorsing products during their programmes or reading advertisements on air before and after they read the news.'
This, the report said, made it confusing for listeners who could have trouble distinguishing between news segments and advertising segments.
The report also expressed concern over the bidding war between StarHub and SingTel for the exclusive broadcast rights to the latest season of the Uefa Champions League and its impact on consumers.
The bidding war has led to football fans here having to subscribe to channels from both TV providers if they want to watch the English Premier League and the Champions League.
In light of this, the report called for both Pay TV providers to cooperate to come up with an arrangement which would better cater to viewers.
People see Channel NewsAsia as voice of Govt, says report
By Liew Hanqing
September 04, 2009
BIDDING WAR: Arsenal and Celtic in the Champions League playoff last week. Subscribers are the losers in bidding war between StarHub and SingTel for rights to screen the matches. PICTURE: AP
A NEW report has criticised news broadcaster Channel NewsAsia (CNA) for its approach in news reporting.
The 12th biennial report by the Programme Advisory Committee for English Programmes (Pace) said CNA adopted a generally 'conservative and careful' approach in its reports, which has resulted in the public perceiving it as the 'voice of the Government'.
The report said this could hamper CNA's credibility as a news conduit.
In its response to the report, MediaCorp said it has noted the committee's opinions on CNA's reports and programmes.
It highlighted that its current affairs programmes elicit opinions from viewers every week and are complementary to its news programmes.
It also explained that CNA's content is beamed internationally and that while it serves audiences in Singapore, it has to balance the need with it being a regional news and information channel competing with global news players.
Responding to the comments directed at CNA, former editor-in-chief of Singapore Press Holdings' English and Malay Newspapers Division and media consultant Peter Lim told The New Paper that he felt Pace made valid points about CNA.
'But the message should also be directed at the Government, and not just MediaCorp and CNA - because MediaCorp is a government-linked company and operates in an environment and media atmosphere that are largely influenced by how much space the journalists and the bosses feel they have,' he said.
Balance
Mr Darryl David, course manager of Temasek Polytechnic's Communications and Media Management programme, added: 'Singapore is, by and large, still a fairly conservative society. CNA has to balance its programmes such that they cater to both regional and Singaporean audiences.'
He added that he felt CNA had achieved a certain standard over the past five to 10 years.
'I think their programmes reflect that they are mindful that they have an obligation to Singaporean audiences,' he said.
However, the Pace report lauded CNA for its good quality and wide coverage of international and Asian news, as well as its variety of info-educational programmes - which included programmes on travel, health as well as science and technology.
The report also commented on radio programming in Singapore, noting that as radio newsreaders increasingly double up as the voices of consumer products and services, it is getting harder to tell what's news and what isn't.
The report called for radio stations to make a clearer distinction between sponsored content and regular programmes.
An excerpt from the report read: 'Members (of the committee) noted that some radio deejays were endorsing products during their programmes or reading advertisements on air before and after they read the news.'
This, the report said, made it confusing for listeners who could have trouble distinguishing between news segments and advertising segments.
The report also expressed concern over the bidding war between StarHub and SingTel for the exclusive broadcast rights to the latest season of the Uefa Champions League and its impact on consumers.
The bidding war has led to football fans here having to subscribe to channels from both TV providers if they want to watch the English Premier League and the Champions League.
In light of this, the report called for both Pay TV providers to cooperate to come up with an arrangement which would better cater to viewers.
