Anyone for a work-out?

Singapore’s mainstream media comes in for criticism for highlighting problems, rather than benefits, of press freedom in its coverage of a session I spoke at, at the WJEC-AMIC conferences.

Hard to judge, but I did visit the offices (pic beneath) of the Straits Times , and was taken with their working environment.

First, there’s a well-kitted gym

And a rooftop basketball court...

Then there’s the main newsroom – a vast open-plan space with modern fittings and high ceilings.
It’s sectionalised into news, money, features – each with their own subbing team.

Also in this space is STOMP (acronym for Straits Times Online Mobile Print), a fun user-generated-content portal. Pic below is from a display in the foyer:

The folk who work on the serious news site are less lucky: they’re stuck away behind closed doors...

... and next to the newsroom in a much smaller low-ceiling

Convergence is catching up, however, and they’re on the verge of being integrated into the bright and airy parent newsroom. Now, if the media environment as a whole was as open …