The Straits Times

The Straits Times is an English-language broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore. It is owned by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). SPH's non-executive chairman, Lim Chin Beng, was also the chairman of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board from December 1985 to November 1989 and Singapore ambassador to Japan between July 1991 and November 1997. The Straits Times was first published on July 15, 1845 and is the dominant newspaper of the country, with a circulation of 400,000 daily.

Currently, the newspaper publishes three weekly pull-outs ("Digital Life," "Mind Your Body," and "Urban," on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, respectively). All three pull-outs are published in tabloid format.

The Straits Times is the only English-language newspaper with an active Internet forum in Singapore. A separate edition, The Sunday Times, is published on Sundays. The newsstand price of The Straits Times is 0.80 Singapore dollars.

Contents

1 About the Paper 2 Criticism 3 Straits Times Interactive 4 Community Programmes 4.1 The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund 4.2 The Straits Times Media Club 4.3 The Straits Times School of Rock Competition 5 External links

About the Paper

The Straits Times, the English flagship daily of SPH, has been serving readers for more than a century. Launched on July 15, 1845, its comprehensive coverage of world news, East Asian news, Southeast Asian news, home news, sports news, financial news and lifestyle updates makes The Straits Times the most-read newspaper in Singapore. Quality news, in-depth analyses, impactful commentaries and breaking stories are packaged to give readers riveting accounts of events in Singapore, the region, and beyond.

The Straits Times' key strength is in its world class coverage of news outside Singapore. With 11 bureaus in major cities around the world, The Straits Times correspondents bring world news to readers on a Singapore platter, helping them appreciate world events from a Singaporean perspective.

In keeping with the times, The Straits Times carries a weekly tabloid edition called Digital Life. The weekly covers all the latest in information technology for both the IT savvy and novices.

Criticism

Its circulation has been banned by the Malaysian government at one point during an international dispute over the sale of water (conversely, the rival Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times was banned in Singapore).

One criticism is that articles are selectively comprehensive and in-depth, especially those on the Asian and world region, and is seen by critics as being biased towards the right-wing ideology of the ruling People's Action Party (with whom Singapore Press Holdings has a long history of association—past chairmen have been government ministers.)

Opposition figures are often given little or no press coverage, in terms of interviews or statements. Reporters Without Borders has ranked Singapore 147th out of 166 countries in its second annual World Press Freedom Ranking in 2004. The annual Country Human Rights Report for Singapore in 2004 report by the U.S. State Department has reported that the Singapore government "fostered an atmosphere inimical to free speech and a free press," though it said that there was "limited progress towards greater openness during the year." [1] (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41659.htm)

Straits Times Interactive

On 15 March 2005, the online version of the paper became a paid access site. Launched in 1999, having an account on the Straits Times Interactive was free of charge and had all access to the sections and articles found in the newspaper. For non subscribers then, they had access to the website and read the articles, but more limited though. Currently only people who subscribed to the online edition can read the articles online. For those who subscribe to the paper, they get the rates at a special rate.

Community Programmes

The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund

The Straits Times Pocket Money Fund is a community fund set up by The Straits Times to ensure that less well-off pupils are adequately well-fed in schools. They are given either $30 (for Primary School) or $50 (for Secondary School) every month, to ensure that there are enough pocket money for their recess.

The Straits Times Media Club

The Straits Times Media Club is a youth programme to encourage Youth readership and interest in News and Current Affairs. Schools will have to suscribe at least 500 copies, and will receive their papers on every Monday. A Youth Newspaper, IN, is slotted in together with the main paper for the students.

The Straits Times School of Rock Competition

The Straits Times School of Rock Competition was incepted in 2005. Budding young bands with members aged between 13-18 compete to be the ultimate Youth Band in Singapore. The final showdown will occur at Junction 8 on 31st July.

External links

• The Straits Times Official website (http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/)