[Bigiron]

Straits Times’ Sengkang election report leans closer to propaganda than journalism 

The Straits Times’ election coverage of the Sengkang GRC contest presents a veneer of balance but sidesteps key realities. By ignoring the PAP’s weak slate, downplaying WP’s performance, and omitting major national scandals, the report reads more like campaign messaging than journalism.

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/03...ournalism/

[Bigiron]

Straits Times’ Sengkang Election Report Leans Closer to Propaganda than Journalism
 
Source: The Online Citizen, published on 2025-03-23
 
Author: Not available
 
Theme: The article criticizes The Straits Times' coverage of the Sengkang GRC election, arguing that it leans heavily towards propaganda rather than objective journalism.
 
Core Points:
 
- Selective Framing: The article accuses The Straits Times of presenting a false sense of balance by framing the election as a "close fight," while neglecting crucial realities. It argues that the coverage downplays the Workers' Party's (WP) performance and ignores the People's Action Party's (PAP) weakened slate in Sengkang.
 
- Omitting Key Realities: The article highlights the PAP's strategic retreat from Sengkang, fielding a weaker team than in the 2020 election. It also points to the PAP's reliance on unelected appointments to maintain visibility and influence in the constituency, while the elected WP MPs are systematically excluded.
 
- Downplaying WP's Contributions: The article contends that The Straits Times fails to adequately acknowledge the WP's contributions in Parliament, focusing instead on trivial issues like vending machine contracts. It also criticizes the article for highlighting resident complaints about minor issues while overlooking the WP's effective management of Sengkang Town Council in challenging circumstances.
 
- Ignoring National Scandals: The article accuses The Straits Times of selectively applying scrutiny, focusing on minor issues related to the WP while overlooking significant national scandals involving PAP figures, such as the Ridout Road affair, corruption charges against S Iswaran, and the NRIC unmasking saga.
 
- Manipulating Public Perception: The article argues that The Straits Times' coverage subtly reinforces the perception that the WP is not doing enough while downplaying the PAP's weaknesses and vulnerabilities. It claims that the coverage relies on cherry-picked quotes to create a misleading narrative.
 
Conclusion:
 
The article concludes that The Straits Times' election report is not an exercise in journalism but rather a carefully engineered narrative designed to undermine the Workers' Party's legitimacy while shielding the PAP from critical scrutiny. It calls for more balanced and truthful reporting from mainstream media to maintain credibility and accurately reflect public sentiment.

[Alice Alicia]

You mean journalism existed in Singapore?
That is news.