Editor of 151th-ranking propaganda mouthpiece Straits Times, Warren Fernandez, has issued a warning to Singaporeans not to read fake news and called for Singaporeans to read “good, credible and reliable” journalism like Straits Times:
“The spread of fake news around the world highlights the need for good, credible and reliable journalism. Media organisations have an interest in retaining the trust of their readers.”
The editor of the bottom feeder ranking in press freedom also claimed that Singapore is a democracy and that Singaporeans need a “reliable” media to help them make “good” choices:
“Democracies have an interest in ensuring that they have media organisations that meet voters’ needs for reliable information, to help them make good choices. This forum will delve into how these interests are best served today.”
151th-ranking Straits Times will also be holding a 2-day forum to gather publishers, journalists and policymakers to “fight” fake news. The for-profit event has a ticket cost of S$125 per person and among the speakers are propaganda “opinion editors” from Straits Times and Singapore Law Minister K Shanmugam.
Law Minister K Shanmugam is notorious for oppressing free press and clamping down on criticisms. Earlier last month, the dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has to apologise twice in order to save his job after the latter criticised the Law Minister. Minister K Shanmugam has vowed to shut down independent news sites States Times Review after accusing it of propagating fake news, and promising to make three websites “feel the pain”.