The politics of Singapore’s new media in 2006 is explained more than adequately by blogger The Online Citizen:
The year 2006 was a landmark year for the new media and citizen journalism in Singapore. The government’s “light touch” approach to regulating the Internet was probably one of the factors that emboldened many Singaporeans to step up and push the political boundaries through their blogs, podcasts (online sound clips) and vodcasts (online video clips).
Ironically, even though a country like Australia has no real government restriction on political campaigning, Singapore’s advances in online development in 2006 leaves our country for dead.
Hi Antony,
Thanks for visiting theonlinecitizen and posting your comments.
It has indeed been a quite eventful year in the singapore blogosphere in 2006. It is quite clear to us bloggers that the singapore govt perhaps do not really understand what the blogosphere is all about.
Thus, you see them grappling with certain issues - like mrbrown’s podcasting, for example. Another rule which the govt has laid down is ‘party political films’. The law states that it is not allowed. But I believe that in the near future, bloggers here will push that boundary too.
I am not particularly familiar with the australian blogs. Perhaps you could point me to some of the ‘better’ socio-political ones? It’ll be interesting to have a read.
Thanks, Antony… and happy new year!
regards,
Andrew
theonlinecitizen.