Multi-Media Journalism

Like South Korea, Singapore is launching itself to the forefront of communication technology, utilising widespread quality broadband and mobile service throughout the country to deliver news.

What’s particularly interesting in Singapore’s case is the government’s dedication to developing itself as Asia’s leading media marketplace, through the Media 21 development program. It is not just businesses that are embracing the potential of media; the government is clearly viewing the industry as a big part of the nation’s future economy.

Singapore Press Holdings runs a successful site dedicated to user generated content, known as STOMP. The description sounds similar to OhMyNews, but it is much less formal and there’s a few interesting differences.

STOMP has evolved as a social network with a STOMP football group, STOMP outings, and STOMP tuition groups. It shows how interaction through the telling and receiving of news can provide a sense of belonging. It holds the audiences interest for longer than traditional papers, which people would read but not feel a part of. Articles on this site have provoked change in concerning public issues, giving contributors a sense of empowerment.

Also it’s affiliation to a string of SPH owned newspapers mean that public contributions can end up in mainstream media: this organization now has a simple way of collecting news from everywhere and anyone. SPH certainly recognises the appeal of interactive news sites, and is making the most of professional and citizen news contributions. Is this the news structure of the future?

A trend is emerging that has news professionals quaking in their self-important boots. Someone seems to have realised that journalists are people too. Therefore it is logical that people can be journalists. This doesn’t look good for me, an aspiring professional journo. Oh Yeon-ho is the man who embraced this idea and created OhmyNews.com, a South Korean news website run entirely by citizen journalists.

These citizens are payed US $2- $50 per article, and contribute to the site for the thrill, prestige, and to get their story heard and peer reviewed at a professional level. The site attracts at least 700,000 repeat viewers each day.

Often the media is accused of telling audiences what to think. OhmyNews provides a legitimate platform to respond and publicise neglected stories or perspectives.

As someone who’s nearing the end of a three year journalism degree, I can understand concerns that the accountability and ethics of news may be affected by untrained news gatherers. However, unlike doctors or lawyers, there has never been a clear qualification that allows a person to claim the title of journalist, (other than a good grasp of language).

Maybe we were trying to make an exclusive profession out of something that should always have been accessible to every member of society.

OhmyNews requires all contributors to sign a code of ethics, similar to the ‘professional’ code, which aims to deter unethical journalism. This may not be foolproof, but even the professionals don’t offer a great deal more.

Oh Yeon-ho, CEO and founder of OhmyNews.

Photo courtesy of the Sunday Times Online.