Govt is making use of new media to actively engage Singaporeans
By CHUANG PECK MING, Business Times, 24 Feb 2009
IT may be less 'wild' compared to its online counterparts, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thinks there is still a place for old media to be the trusted source of information.
He told Channel NewsAsia in an interview that traditional media would always have a role to play in presenting trusted, unbiased and informed opinions.
Despite the new media's growth, Mr Lee noted, traditional media has seen a rise in viewership and readership.
'Well, there is a place called the Wild West and there are other places which are not so wild,' Mr Lee said.
'And the new media - some of it are Wild West and anything goes and people can say anything they want. And tomorrow take a completely contrary view and well, that is just the way the medium is.'
Even on the Internet, he said there are places which are 'more considered, more moderated, where people put their names down and identify themselves'.
'And there is a debate which goes on and a give and take, which is not so rambunctious but perhaps more thoughtful. That is another range,' Mr Lee said.
Speaking on the evolving media landscape, he said the government is already building up some capabilities.
Mr Lee noted that
Indicating that this is the way the new generation operates, he said it would happen in politics too.
Already, the
Moving forward, Mr Lee said what is needed are young members of parliament who are comfortable with the new media landscape.
'We are still learning. It is not easy to make this transition. It is like going from sea to land or vice versa, you are changing your medium and you need to get comfortable with it. But we are working hard at it.'
