KUALA LUMPUR: There is a need for the quick dissemination of news as social media continues to grow, according to Multimedia and Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo (pix). He said the public wants easy and quick access to news and journalists must provide this without compromising their ethics. “Everyone can record and provide news but they must be responsible and ethical,” he said. “Journalists must provide accurate news for the sake of stability and the well being of the people,“ he said at the closing ceremony of Mobile Journalism: Digital News in Your Hands programme today. Gobind said the use of smartphones had taken the provision of news to a whole new level. He said such devices allowed media practitioners to be innovative and creative when presenting news. “They can record, edit, take photographs while spreading the news. “Therefore in such instances social media platforms play a vital role in the dissemination of news,“ Gobind … [Read more...] about Social media and smartphones important in spreading news: Gobind
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Democrat O’Rourke accuses Trump White House of dictating Fox News content
SAN FRANCISCO: US Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke attacked the close ties between Republican President Donald Trump and Fox News on Sunday (Apr 28), saying the White House has "free rein, almost" over what is broadcast on the cable television network.Democrats have long accused Fox of reporting that is biased in favour of the Republican Party and Trump. The president is an avid watcher of the network, and Sean Hannity, one of its stars, is an admirer of Trump and last year spoke at one of his rallies.Former Fox News executive Bill Shine became a communications official in the Trump White House in 2018, resigning the position in March to be an adviser on Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.Speaking at a campaign event in San Francisco, former Texas congressman O'Rourke, one of 20 candidates seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, criticized the links between the Trump White House and an influential news network."You have members of the organization moving into the … [Read more...] about Democrat O’Rourke accuses Trump White House of dictating Fox News content
Fake news must be curbed before it affects society: PM Lee
There is wide scope for discourse in Singapore, but fake news is a distinct and specific problem that must be curbed before it affects society, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He made this point in an interview, when asked for his response to concerns that proposed laws to tackle fake news would curb free speech. There is no society in which free speech is absolute or uncontrolled, he said, noting that it exists within appropriate boundaries. For example, speech that is defamatory or threatening in nature lies outside of these boundaries, said PM Lee in an interview conducted in Mandarin with variety show host Kym Ng and news presenter Evelyn Lam that was broadcast on Mediacorp's Channel 8 last night. "We must set an appropriate boundary that would allow us to protect free speech and allow people to exchange information, thoughts and opinions in a meaningful way," he added. Other countries, like the United States and those in Europe, are also grappling with the problem of fake … [Read more...] about Fake news must be curbed before it affects society: PM Lee
Fake news is a problem that must be curbed: PM Lee
There is a wide scope for discourse in Singapore, but fake news is a distinct and specific problem that must be curbed before it affects society, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He made this point in an interview when asked for his response to concerns that proposed laws to tackle fake news would curb free speech. There is no society in which free speech is absolute or uncontrolled, he said, noting that it exists within appropriate boundaries. For example, speech that is defamatory or threatening in nature lies outside of these boundaries, said PM Lee in an interview conducted in Mandarin with variety show host Kym Ng and news presenter Evelyn Lam broadcast on Mediacorp's Channel 8 last night. "We must set an appropriate boundary that would allow us to protect free speech and allow people to exchange information, thoughts and opinions in a meaningful way," he added. Other countries are also grappling with the problem of fake news, PM Lee said, citing Germany as an example of a … [Read more...] about Fake news is a problem that must be curbed: PM Lee
Everyone should be on the alert for fake news: Ong
The proposed fake news laws are targeted at the creators of falsehoods and not at those who disseminate them, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung said yesterday. He added that "everyone need not be overly worried", as the proposed Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act does not target opinions, criticisms, satire or parody. Speaking at the Singapore Buddhist Federation's Vesak Day celebration event at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, Mr Ong said it is important to have strict laws to prohibit speech and actions that try to divide people of different religions and races. "The Government must take action to prevent against the harm caused by online falsehoods on society," said Mr Ong. The proposed laws would give all ministers the power to decide whether a statement is false or misleading and against public interest, which could lead to an order for a correction to be made or the statement to be removed. Since its introduction in Parliament on April 1, the bill has triggered … [Read more...] about Everyone should be on the alert for fake news: Ong