The Media In Singapore

Let us look back at the China milk scandal. Is the Singapore media still covering the news as much as when it was first published? What sort of effect has it on the general public in Singapore?

Taken from: http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/45f711ce-15a3-4c83-a99b-8f22ad9399d7/china-milk0919.jpg?size=l

 

At the very beginning of the China milk scandal, the repeated coverage of the milk scandal is a clear indication of the Agenda Setting Function Theory. 

By repeating the news coverage, the audiences are primed to believe that this issue warrants more attention and importance.  According to the theory, audiences who are affected by the issue addressed would have limited effects.

 

Taken from: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/09/17/china_milk_wideweb__470x306,0.jpg

 

However, in this particular case of the China milk scandal, audiences who are affected by the issue discussed would have experienced a greater effect because they consumed those products and are worried about their health. On the other hand, people who did not consume the tainted products would just avoid the products.

 

Taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/limon-art/546485135/

 

The use of many mediums such as the newspapers, the television, the internet and the radio gives the impression to the public that the news reported is so important that it is required to be on all mediums available. This underlying message due to the use of different mediums is a good example of the Media Determinism Theory.

 

From their coverage of the news, the media is warning the general public of the tainted food product. This of course prevents further consumption of the tainted dairy products and save the general public from further harm.

 

At the same time, they are also boosting the image of the press. Their immediate coverage and dissemination of the news shows the efficiency of the press and that they report for the best interest of the public. By doing so, they are creating an influence gradually which can be seen in the Cultivation Theory.

Taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adforce1/2080289575/

 

Since we only have one press in Singapore and the government owns it, our perspective of the real world is very much shaped by them, a testament to the Media Hegemony Theory. Adding on to that, we are inclined to think that the government is always right and act in the best interest of Singapore. Thus, bulk of the Singapore population has a homogenous overview of the world. This homogenous view increases people acceptance of messages presented in the media.

All these theories ultimately convey a very strong message to the public and also to the benefit of the media. The media in Singapore is doing a fantastic job in covering news that is directly related to us, but should we be totally reliant on the local news? Or should we subscribe to other channels to broaden our perspectives?

School suspends 12-year-old for having Rayhawk fever

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/School-suspends-12-year-old-for-having-Rayhawk-f?urn=mlb,113776

Yahoo! Sports

29 October 2008

 

This is an article written by an American. Notice how the writer wrote about the boy and his situation. Though reporters are supposed to write in an objective manner, they never fail to reflect their societies’ take on the issue or situation.

 

Taken from: http://l.yimg.com/a/i/ww/news/2008/10/10/raysfan.jpg

“… but you have to admire a kid who's willing to stand up for what he believes in.” – Kevin Kaduk

“… school that won't allow their students to experience a little playoff fun.” – Kevin Kaduk

“Long live the Rayhawk, indeed.” – Kevin Kaduk

 

From the above statements, we can see the author’s take on the issue. Perhaps this is due to the culture of the Americans, which falls at the individualist side of the spectrum. They favor acts that show individualism. By being resolute about keeping his Mohawk, he is seen as someone who stands up for his beliefs. The principal of the school is shown in a less favorable light as someone who is inflexible. The school is portrayed as dull and authoritarian.

If the same thing happens in the Singaporean context, it would be vastly different.  Singapore, leaning more to the collectivist side, will have a different take on the situation. They would view the boy to be rebelling against the system and disrupting the harmony of the system. People would feel that the boy is in the wrong and side the principal decision. This article would not even be published because it would be seen as trivial.

Taken from: http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts__13/ept_sports_mlb_experts-416182125-1223558205.jpg?ym.g5IAD.XD9lxJO

The great difference is attribute to the difference in culture. What culture we come from determines the type of interpretation we make towards everything as shown above. Our culture shapes our schemas and creates certain attitudinal barriers when we view things. Just like Singaporeans cannot look beyond the fact that the boy is rebellious and Americans cannot look beyond the fact that he is resolute.

We can see a plethora of viewpoints in the comments section. Different individuals have different outlooks on this case. We can see how different people of different cultures place different emphasis on their views regarding the matter. Their arguments reflect the values and principles that they live by. 

Gamers Are Weird Lonely Shut-ins? Think Again

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-15/1250202

Yahoo! Games

Playback 15 Part 1

World of Warcraft

Taken from: http://img.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/67682/world%20of%20warcraft_qjpreviewth.jpg

        

Guild Wars/Defense of the Ancients

Taken from: 

bp2.blogger.com/.../ s400/guild+wars.jpg

http://www.d3scene.com/forum/downloads/__dota_allstars___by_kunkka_lx6.jpg     

The common misconception about gamers is that they are socially inactive. Such stereotypes usually arise from people who are non-gamers. But as we can see from these video, that is not the case. Gamers are just as socially active as their non-gamer counterparts, perhaps even more sociable in certain cases. 

             People tend to think of gamers as people who shut themselves up in there own rooms and spend bulk of their time playing games alone. What people don’t realize is that gamers usually play with someone they know. It might be their classmates, friends or even people they know through the Internet. Their social circle can be as vast as non-gamers. Sometimes, they even have friends that non-gamers would not possibly have. They could easily have gamer friends from other parts of the world who the game with. Skeptics would say that such relationships are weak and superficial. However, I feel that is not the case. Gamers go through thick and thin together in the virtual world.

Need for Speed Underground/Maple Story

Taken from: 

http://baixaki.ig.com.br/imagens/wpapers/TheNeedForSpeedUnderground800.jpg

www.fantom-xp.com/ wallpapers/18/Maple_Story.jpg

             On the individual level, we can use the DeFleur’s Role of Communication in Relationships, albeit in a slightly different context.

 

Engagement                         Gamers get together for the first time.

Management                        Gamers playing games together.

Disengagement                   Gamers break off relationship.

             Gaming is another platform for people to socialize. Be it cooperative or competitive game play, gamers form relationships through gaming. Gaming is also good for team bonding. Certain gamers form guilds, clans etc, to have a shared identity. Though there might be possibilities of groupthink, it is usually very minimal as such groups are usually form by recruiting elite gamers rather than people who have the same mindsets.

 

Gamers get together for a variety of reasons. 

 

Similarity                              How similar they are

Complementarities            How well they complement each other

Exchange                              Benefits of being together

Proximity                              Frequency of interaction

Competency                          How competent they are

Fifa 2009

Taken from: http://www.f-team.ru/images/fifa2009/fifa09_3.jpg

             As we can see, gamers have a rich social circle in the cyber world. We cannot say that they are socially inactive. However, old stereotypes die hard. Perhaps as we progress into the future, there will be less of such notions.