News these days come from many sources, especially online, but this has actually meant a greater need and wish for reliable sources of information, Dr Lee Boon Yang, chairman of media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), said yesterday.

Some facts and details are conflicting and questionable, noted Dr Lee, who also chairs SPH Foundation. "Although we now lead high-tech lifestyles in a world of mobility and multiple screens, the importance of professional journalism has not changed," he said at a scholarship award ceremony at the SPH News Centre in Toa Payoh.

"Professional journalists with the skills to investigate, report and analyse news that matters to the readers will always be in demand. This is what SPH assures its readers that it is capable of delivering every day," he added.

Yesterday, he gave out the SPH journalism scholarship for undergraduate studies to five recipients - Ms Clara Chong, 19; Ms Prisca Ang, 19; Ms Jean Lau, 20; Ms Charmaine Ng, 22; and Mr Yap Jun Weng, 21.

Ms Chong, who is interning with The Straits Times as a sports reporter, said she was already looking forward to interning again at SPH next year.

"I enjoyed what I did at sports, covering the SEA games. Getting the scholarship is an affirmation to do better," she said. She will begin her degree in chemical science and management at Imperial College in London next month.

Ms Lau will read literature at Durham University, Britain, while Mr Yap will go to Fudan University in Shanghai to study journalism. Ms Ang and Ms Ng will take up communication studies at Nanyang Technological University.

Eleven university students also received the SPH Foundation Lim Kim San Memorial Scholarship yesterday. The bond-free scholarship was launched in 2006 for students of modest means to help them pursue local undergrad studies in languages and humanities.

Scholarships were also given to 15 children of employees and newspaper vendors, for junior college, polytechnic or university studies.