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29/05/2007

Singapore - Straits Times Decreasing Traffic

Found On Singapore Election
When The Straits Times started charging for access all those years ago it was the wrong move. Why pay to access the reporting of a mass media outlet that is ranked either 147th or 154th in the world depending on your ranking source. The paper is losing revenue as are so many other newspapers around the world. The 20 - 30 generation are going online to get news that matters to them. Not news filtered by a process of 'self-censorship' or by a regime that demands control over all that is written.

Simply no longer charging visitors to view your advertisements and state-controlled press releases is not going to turn the fortunes of the ST around over night. Trying to isolate yourself from the global market of media and cultural production by charging your readers and hoping that they show loyalty to you was mis-guided. But until the Straits Times journalists are able to compete on the global playing-field without the dead-weight of self-censorship and state control - all the technology in the world will not alter the image of the Straits Times as a state owned and controlled propaganda outlet.

FROM Tuesday, visitors to The Straits Times' (ST) website will not have to pay to read the latest breaking news from Singapore and the world.

They can also post their views - in real time - on the reports they read.

One other major change: The site will drop its 12-year-old name, The Straits Times Interactive, or STI, and go with the cleaner 'straitstimes.com'.

Since becoming a subscription site in 2005, it has been offering only a small buffet of material for free:

1. ST's online forum letters;
2. Multimedia features, such as video news reports and podcasts;
3. A restricted selection of 20 reports from the print edition.

All other content, including breaking news and material picked up from the print edition of the newspaper itself, has been available only to subscribers in the past two years.

Explaining the move to open up more free-access content, ST editor Han Fook Kwang said: 'There's a great deal more we can do in the website to leverage on the award-winning talent in The Straits Times newsroom of writers, photographers, artists and designers. I think we've a good product and we want to make it available to more people in cyberspace, and to use the technology available on the web to make it an even better product.'
Here is the real reason ....

Comments

the only US paper that succeeded in maintaining suscription only access is Wall Street Journal; even Microsoft's Slate magazine failed in its introduction of subscriber-only access, which was abandoned after less than a year; Microsoft eventually sold Slate to Washingtonpost

there is therefore nothing special about ST not being able to keep up the subscriber numbers; Business Times has been subscriber-only longer than ST, and seems (we dont really know) to be holding out; maybe, like Wall Street Journal, it caters to companies that are willing to pay

Posted by: sgsociety.com | 29/05/2007

a major problem with subscriber only access is that news.google.com would not index it, and the paper misses out on searches, which would produce hits on Today and Channel News Asia instead

Posted by: sgsociety.com | 29/05/2007

Nothing like a good-old "market signal" to keep producers on their toes.

The Customeri snot only always right, he is Sovereign!

Posted by: Matilah_Singapura | 30/05/2007

Anyway, no loss to me.
It just confirms what we already know all these years.

Many of my cohorts and I do not buy the Straits Times for many years.

When we see certain reports in the local papers, and compare similar news in the Internet and the wireline services, we will invariably notice a certain slant to the news reported in the local papers. There appears to be a hidden agenda. not once, but always. ..as if there is some censor-board overlooking the final print version.

(with some exception, especially on foreign news or articles written by some foreigners. But that too are not above board. as some of them are employed by our local papers).


On the other hand, we are relatively happy with the other paper, TODAY. Not perfect, though. Each copy gets circulated many times among friends and office colleagues.
It seems that TODAY reaches out to the intellectuals.

As for the Stratis Times, how many of us actually look at the Classified Ads , and the other sections. These end up with the kuning-kuni (old nerwspapers collectors) men.

What is the use of having highly paid reporters in the local press, giving us the mumbo-jumbo. Some articles are too superficial, too partonising (as if we are that stupid).

Are practising their English skills at our expense ?

My children dislikes reading the Staits Times.
They too prefer TODAY, as it can be easily held and have short stories, and do not sensationalise like some papers, including the Chinese local dailies.

Posted by: Peggy | 31/05/2007

> There appears to be a hidden agenda

not hidden at all. we all know SPH is the PR dept of Singapore Inc

>as if there is some censor-board overlooking the final print version.

not necessary; the journalists know their job

>(with some exception, especially on foreign news or articles written by some foreigners. But that too are not above board. as some of them are employed by our local papers).

not all foreign; Janadas Devan is Devan Nair's son (but he lives in Austin Texas)

>As for the Stratis Times, how many of us actually look at the Classified Ads , and the other sections. These end up with the kuning-kuni (old nerwspapers collectors) men.

but that is the whole point of SPH: it gets income from advertisements and uses the money to publish in a way that is positive for the Singapore economy, bringing in more advertisements...; Today has its uses too: it shows there is an alternative; your reaction to Today is exactly what the planners planned for

>What is the use of having highly paid reporters in the local press, giving us the mumbo-jumbo. Some articles are too superficial, too partonising (as if we are that stupid).

but penetrating analysis or poking fun at shortcomings would be contrary to the mission; even Today does little of these; it is merely simpler and more down to earth; remember Today's editor was replaced not long ago; life as journalists is very tough

Posted by: sgsociety.com | 31/05/2007

You are correct in yr assessment.

Thanks for your valuable feedback.

I hope that advertisers take stock of their advertisements and gauge for themselves the effectiveness of adverts in the print media.

Nielson and other independent agencies can conduct the research and come to the same conclusion which we all know for a long time.

For me and many contemporaries I know, we use the internet more often to look out for best buys and which product to buy (PC, TVs, etc...) or go directly to the shops and make any further enquiries or a purchase.

As for news, I checkout the yahoo.sg and bbc...etc websites.
For instance, from Yahoo.sg, I learnt today of the sad news of an accident in Mandai on Saturday.


There are so many news sources via the Internet and Cable TV (CNN, BBC, etc..). The print media is no longer the main source of news.

Posted by: Peggy | 03/06/2007

Recently release from CNN, David Kernell, the son of a member of the House of Representatives, Mike Kernell, allegedly reset the password and accessed the personal e-mail account of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He also allegedly read the contents, took a screenshot of her directory, and got into her address book information. Her address book contained the contact information including cell phone numbers of family members as well as birthdates and other information. He also then allegedly posted all of this including the password on a public website. After turning himself in, he pled not guilty. Kernell faces up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of probation and supervision after release, and up to $250,000 in fines. Think about this: to pay that down, he would have to take almost 200 payday loans at the maximum allowed amount of $1,500.

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Posted by: Payday Loan Advocate | 16/10/2008

On Wednesday, October 14, 2008, the third and final U.S. Presidential Debate took place in Hempstead, New York. Illinois Senator Barack Obama came into the debate with an eight-point lead, according to an average of national polls as compiled by CNN. It seemed like Obama was content with that margin. Arizona Senator John McCain took advantage of Obama’s complacency and challenged his policies, judgment and qualities of character. When Obama criticized the economic policies of the Bush Administration, McCain quickly retorted by saying he is “not President Bush.” McCain stated that, as president, he would enact an “across the board spending freeze” in all government programs. On the contrary, Obama’s stance sounded more conservative; Obama proposed to “go through the federal budget page by page, line by line” in order to terminate programs that aren’t working as they should. Both candidates believe their economic plans will implement much needed change in a broken America, but will their plans leave consumers with the right to choose whether or not they’ll have access to payday loans? That remains to be seen. Americans live in “the land of the free,” and special interest groups (i.e. banks and credit unions) should not be able to steal our liberties.
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Posted by: Payday Loan Advocate | 23/10/2008

Why would anyone read espercially THE STRAITS TIMES, which is a politically-controlled print media, when readers can get their international news right off the web?
Newspapers will soon be a thing of the past, as the readers get more sophiscated, and get their news instantaneously off the web? From various political opinions, stock market updates, all on the web?

Posted by: MC Harding | 05/12/2008

Peace & Prosperity
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Agha Dilbar

My Open Letter (Blog) has been sent Three Lak (300000) to International Community for the welfare of Humanity till today. I Agha Dilbar authorize Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, to Publish and Radio, T.V. Channels to broadcast this letter all round the World.
To read my letter please click on blog.

Dear President Barrack Obama
the Great Leader of the World
I Agha Dilbar have sent Mr. President 100 registered research Letters (1000 new ideas to develop America and to Change the World for Peace and Prosperity) through Embassy of USA Islamabad till today and also direct sent these registered Letters to Whitehouse Washington DC 20500.These letters have been written on the guidelines of CHANGE WE NEED. And these letters are about the Common Men Problems of respected American Peoples and their Solutions. To end, Economic Recession, Unemployment and to Finish War, all round the World for Peace and Prosperity. In these letters I have sent one thousand new scientific Planning /Suggestions, about every walk of life for Peace through Friendship Progress and Prosperity all over the World.
Dear Barrack Obama, the Great Leader of the World, my Friend, my Brother, Provide an opportunity to Agha Dilbar to pay an Official Visit to America, that we two brothers can sit together and by halting this horrible war(In this war 1-million people have died from 9/11 till today, if this war continues, it will become the 111- World War.200-Million people would die, if 111-World War is triggered) can take out 6.5 billion people of the World from abyss of destruction and then put them on the road to Progress and Prosperity.
Dear President Barrack Obama considers, from 9/11 till today, America has conducted many war operations in connection with War on Terror, resulting the circle of war has spread hundred times. Millions innocent persons have died. Many More have been rendered homeless. One Lak (10000) war affected youth joined the army of Al-Qaida and Talban by the help of anti American countries have begun gorilla war in a horrible manner. It is the result of wrong war strategy. I Agha Dilbar desire to solve all above mentioned problems in a meeting with President Barrack Obama by adopting new revolutionary planning by bringing an end to present gorilla war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the result the World can enter in a peaceful, advanced and progressive world, May it be so.
I Agha Dilbar have a new War Strategy to achieve success through Table Talk between Talban, Pakistan and American Govts. 90% of Talban that are fighting against Pak Army belong from Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP. I can provide America all realistic facts in such manner that their implementation could convert these Talban into Patriotic Citizens of Pakistan. In this War Strategy Pakistan Gov will never send his Heavy Artillery, Tanks, Cannons and Air craft in war. In this way 5-million persons will never Displaced. In the end Talban by their will handover, their Weapons to Pakistan Gov, they will come to Table Talk and Suicide Bombing will come to an end in Pakistan. Through this War Strategy Pakistani and American Govts can save expenses on war. Through this planning American and Pakistani Govts can utilize their saving on war budgets for development of Schools, Hospitals, Colonies, Markets, Roads, Bridges, Dams, Canals and Industries of Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP that are war affected. On account of present war strategy, Billion Dollars are being wasted yearly.
This war can cause Fall of America instead of continuation of war; my best suggestion for America must keep his Supper Power on the World and should conquer the World instead of war, but by his No-1 scientific technology spending on agriculture, industry, trade, education, scientific development and tourism, all round the World. Making an end to Economic Crisis in America.
A new Global Package is being offered for your kind honor. America will have to make complete and final announcement that in future all Multinational American Companies to get free land on 20-years lease and will set up under the BOOT agreement (in undeveloped and poor countries) factories, mills five star hotels, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, air companies, shipping companies, latest railway, bus transport and steel mills. All these companies will be bound to handover without any cost to under developed and poor countries well as their machinery and transport after 20-yaars.
A new suggestion in connection with Global Peace is offered that in return of export American Agriculture and Industrial Products, will give his 50% prophet to the exporting countries and utilize as Aid on the development of agriculture, industry, trade, education and tourism. This suggestion, making an end to American Economic Crisis and get full support to enhance his Foreign Public Relation
. May it be so?
To make successful American Foreign Policy on Global Level the following planning is put before:
a) America will have to provide free scholar ships at least to ten top master students (in each country) of medical and science in underdeveloped and poor countries of the world
b) Highly educated and well trained one hundred cultural groups (each group contains 100 persons) will have to arrange one hundred cultural shows for three months in big cities of underdeveloped and poor countries.
c) America will have to arrange exhibitions through his Embassies for his latest products, in the underdeveloped and poor countries .All these mentioned above industrial exhibitions will be arranged continuously for two months. In the above mentioned exhibitions present products will be sold except export order booking. In mentioned above exhibitions, American Cultural Programs will have to arrange and American Traditional Dishes will be kept for sale. In these exhibitions American Tourism Stalls will also be set of.
Following rules and regulations will be undertaken for the progress and prosperity of American students.
a) Among metric, fsc, bsc, (engineering).mbbs, llb, ca and diploma holders in all institutions, all those receiving degrees at the state level, ten each from girls and boys by cash prizes will be announced on behalf of the gov during invitation on lunch.
b) For above mentioned top ten intelligent students boys and girls each, tours for different historical and healthy sites will be arranged free of cast.
c)Sport Talent Schools of international level will be set up over the country at the district level, in which students of extra-ordinary sports talent taught from class one to fsc level.
d) American states gov will announce free transport, free medical facilities and free lunch during education to all school, college and university students.

Minimize the aforesaid differences, which I will deliver to president
the increasing distress and hatred between the Muslim world and America is the major cause of weak relationship on public and government level. As a sincere friend I have practical suggestions to Barack Obama in my official visit to America.
I request the government of America to allow me to describe (first of all my briefing with president’s advisors). My one thousand plans & ideas for changing the world before one to one meeting with the president Barack obama.thanks
Today we are presenting a new planning in America for the rapid progress in industry.

American government will allow to relief 50% relief in the following things. Petrol, dizel,electricity,
gas and water bills

For the establishment of new industries in industrial zone American government will allow 25%relief in taxes .

1) Sugar mills, textile mills,
2)Shoes tire tube factory.
3) Milk powder industry, tin packs industry ornament industry carpet industry.
4) Frozen fish, chicken beef, and meat industry.
6) Dairy forming, poultry forming, fish forming, cattle forming fruit forming.
7) Vegetable forming biscuit sweet industry hotel industry.
8) Electronic industry, sanitary industry paint industry.
9) Furniture industry.
10) Steel mill industry.
11) Engine industry.
12) Aero plane industry and shipping industry.
13) Computer and mobile industry.
14) Medicine industry fertilizer industry and insecticide industry.
15) Car, bus truck loader, harvester industry.

I Agha Dilbar have sent Ten Million research Peace Letters to International Community from 9/11 incident till today. This letter is my Great Peace Mission plan which is continued. Present Global Economic Crisis is the result of War on Terror. This Crisis if further accelerates could initiate a 111-World War. Please hear my Voice of Truth; I can save the World, for my Great Peace Mission, with the help of President Barrack Obama, Peace and Prosperity.
The Government of America will announce to provide free home facility to employees after 20 year of service as per following rules and regulations.

1. For providing free home facility to their employees after retirement the government will deduct 2 ½% amounts for their monthly salaries.
2. The government of America will deduct 2 ½% amounts of salaries to the employee and will deposit the same in government treasury which shall be paid to the housing company on monthly basis.
3. The housing company shall provide beautiful home to the government or non government employee after 20 year of service.
4. The people not acquiring home after 20 year of service shall be paid in whole by deducted total amount from their salaries during their employ
Mr. Barack Obama you are not only the Leader of America, you are Great Leader of the World. In this connection I am waiting for your Email response, dated 2.10.2009.
Please Confirm.
Thank you, God blesses you and God bless America.
Agha Dilbar (founder)
International Revolution Movement
64-neelum block ait Lahore (Pakistan)
Phone: 0092427830084
Cell 03224628349
Email aghadilbar4@gmail.com
Website http://aghadilbar.webs.com/
This Open Letter has been sent Three Lak (300000) to International Community for the welfare of Humanity till today. I Agha Dilbar authorize Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, to Publish and Radio, T.V. Channels to broadcast this letter all round the World
It has been extraordinary to read and hear, some of the things I did my decision alone by the voice of God, who called me in my heart.


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