Speaking at the dinner, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that in a new media environment, The Straits Times should remain a unifying force to help Singaporeans make sense of complex issues, provide high-quality and reliable content, as well as speak with a Singaporean voice to the world.
PURSUING TRUTH
“Now, more than ever, Singapore needs trusted media – to help us navigate a more complex world, to discern fact from falsehood, and to build common ground in an age of rapid change and complexity.”
At the dinner, PM Wong also officiated at the launch of ST’s newly designed website and app, which allow readers to customise their reading experience and view recommendations powered by artificial intelligence.
Reflecting on the changes in the media landscape, ST editor Jaime Ho said these can be a catalyst for courage, innovation and renewed commitment to the news outlet’s core values.
“It is about understanding and reflecting the needs, concerns and aspirations of our communities, and providing them with information and insights that are truly meaningful and impactful,” he said.
“This means investing in community-driven journalism, where we meet and collaborate with those around us, to identify the stories that matter most to them, and to amplify their voices.”
To do this, ST kick-started its 180th anniversary celebrations in January with Conversations with The Straits Times, a series of in-person dialogues to engage different groups of readers such as students and leaders of non-profit organisations.
Live podcasts explored social issues – such as defining success beyond grades and jobs – encouraging audiences to pose questions to guests.
From April to May, ST hosted an interactive current affairs competition for more than 6,000 young participants from 50 schools, as newer generations of readers compete to show how well connected they are to the world around them via the media.
In July, the broadsheet threw a little party for some of its staff who have been behind the news throughout the decades.
Such activities back up Mr Ho’s goal for ST to become more than just a purveyor of information – its future lies in becoming an indispensable partner in the life of the community and a catalyst for constructive dialogue, he said.
The transformation of ST over 180 years – from a black-and-white print paper to the current multimedia, multi-platform resource it is today – has been encapsulated in a roving exhibition that is being held in July and August. The Heartbeats And Headlines: 180 Years Of Telling The Singapore Story exhibition starts at Jewel, before moving to Westgate and Raffles City Shopping Centre.
One key takeaway from the exhibition: The 180 years of telling stories is not something ST could have done alone without the support of its readers – and even its naysayers. As Mr Ho said: “Let’s keep writing the Singapore story together.”