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THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE my paper editorial team during a weekend get-together. From its relaunch on Tuesday, the free newspaper's English content will be mainly news-driven while the Chinese-language content will focus on lifestyle and entertainment features. -- PHOTO: MYPAPER
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FOR my paper journalist Veena Bharwani, a strong dose of Indian tea is helping to keep her spirits high.
The 27-year-old strolls into the office with a bright smile and seven teabags worth of caffeine shooting through her veins to get through another day.
She and her colleagues have been relying on potent caffeine shots, chocolate and Chinese dictionaries over the past three weeks.
These journalists - most of them more used to English than Mandarin - have been on a rollercoaster ride while putting together my paper's brand new English section, especially as almost half the team do not know Chinese. They include three Malays, five Indians and an Irishman. But it does not really matter because they are producing only the English section.
'The project is like a foetus that we're making into a baby,' said Miss Bharwani. 'But it's a lot of hard work and long hours, thus the caffeine.'
The mixed crew are from Singapore Press Holdings' various English and Malay newspapers, and were pulled together to produce the new English section of my paper.
From Tuesday, half of the new-look, new-concept freesheet will comprise English content that is predominantly news-driven. The other half will comprise Chinese-language content and focus on lifestyle and entertainment features.
The English section's 25-member staff will be headed by former Life! deputy editor Yeow Kai Chai, 39. Straits Times deputy editor Felix Soh is the consulting editor.
Mr Soh said the 'young but strong team with good journalistic experience' had an 'infectious' enthusiasm for their work.
Mr Yeow said the mixed crew served as 'a good yardstick' in pitching the product correctly to readers. 'Our reporters are an eclectic bunch who accurately reflect our readers,' he said.
For Mr Goh Sin Teck, 44, editor of the Chinese section, work has been no less hectic.
Besides putting out the regular Chinese paper, his 25-member team have been doing double duty preparing for the relaunch.
Mr Goh said: 'My reporters have all been working overtime. And my subs have developed a 'split personality' - doing pages for the next day and prepping the same pages with the new layout. too.
'Luckily, they are all young and energetic.'
serl@sph.com.sg
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