Journalists and politics

While I was waiting to fetch my mom from her cooking class, I flipped through a magazine found at nearby CC and saw a familiar name. Nazri Hadi Saparin, a journalist in Berita Harian is also a contributor in Petir magazine - a PAP bi-monthly publication.

This finding made me question the credibility of information in Berita Harian. Nazri did not specifically proclaim and publicise his political leanings, but we do know that Berita Harian is a government mouthpiece. Despite the fact that I had to flip through Petir and stumbled upon his name, I still think that Nazri is being rather discreet since Petir magazine is only circulated to PAP-related organisations and personnels.

I pity the old folks who have been constantly fed with weighted views from the government. To these old folks like my parents, Berita Harian is their staple and they have nowhere to seek for other alternative information. They have always depended on the Malay paper for views and news. Just look at the ongoing BE2012, Berita Harian gives more coverage to PAP news. Occasionally you will be surprised with a bland, FYI piece on opposition.

In another example, ever since Kumaran Pillai has been the new Chief Editor, we have seen stark changes in The Online Citizen (TOC). TOC is an online source for socio-political news and views in Singapore. Of recent, the social media slowly and deliberately hum an SDP tune. Yet another political party has made use a media channel to forward their agenda.

So journalists’ claims of being neutral are disingenuous. Even the daily selection of which stories were published and which to exclude is not a neutral act. Choice – unless based on a flip of a coin – has an intellectual basis. Journalists should remain free of associations that may compromise integrity and damage credibility. Impartiality should be reporter’s goal. Skeptics of journalistic objectivity are quick to point out that some publishers and owners of news media outlets may not follow the rules they lay down for their employees. A few may get deeply involved and may contribute to political candidates. Is this ethical?

News media should promote thoughtful debate on candidates and politics by highlighting which candidate share the publication's vision. Journalists who want to be perceived as impartial must avoid any display of partisanship. Having said this, should Singaporean writers openly state their political affiliation?

As writers, they have a huge responsibility of providing news and information to the public. We consumers highly depend on these media outlets for news. It is good that writers state their political affiliation so that readers will have a choice of which perspective to take. So that readers can be thinking consumers and not merely take news for granted. This applies to the older and younger generations who have little experience in political affairs. We may not want to sway them to the wrong direction. We want them to be critical thinkers so that the society will continue to breed thinking youths that shape the future of Singapore. Exercising political clout is an integral part of journalism. 

The ethical responsibility of journalists is clear: allegiance must be to the news consumer, not to the news sources and their news agency. In many instances, we have seen loyalties became muddled. Journalists should realize that they have considerable influence on public’s attitudes.

Hysterical sensationalism as seen in Temasek Times is not effective in the long run to stimulate form. Reasoned argument works better. Balancing aggressiveness and thoughtfulness, keeping fairness and accuracy is paramount.