65% "informed public" in Singapore trust local media

SINGAPORE: Sixty-five per cent of the "informed public" in Singapore trust the local media, an increase from 59 per cent in 2011, according to the 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer report.

Disclosing this, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said Singapore media had also performed well globally, against countries such as the US, where 45 per cent of the “informed public” said they trusted the media; UK at 37 per cent and Australia at 43 per cent.

"Even as the media industry adapts to the online playing field, it is important that our newspapers, radio, and TV do not lose sight of their key strengths.

"At the outset, let me commend our journalists on their dedication towards accurate and fair reporting. This has led to a generally positive perception of our local media.

"As more Singaporeans turn to the Internet and social media for news and views, they continue to refer to our established traditional media as their main source of news," he said in his address at the Singapore Press Club Lunch, here today.

Take the two elections in Singapore last year as an example, Dr Yaacob said, both elections were thought to be Internet elections.

Instead, he said the 2011 Institute of Policy Studies Survey found that "our local newspapers and broadcasters were the most influential forms of media in shaping voter decisions in the 2011 General Elections."

"This was despite the fact that there was a big increase in the use of Internet or social media in the last elections as compared to the General Elections in 2006," the minister said adding that the relevance and growth of the mainstream media will be determined by their credibility.

Dr Yaacob also pointed that according to Nielsen Media Index 2011, Singapore had the highest Internet penetration rate in Southeast Asia, with 67 out of every 100 people using the internet.

He said the republic's digital consumers also spent the most time with online media – as much as 25 hours per week.

Compared to its regional neighbours, Dr Yaacob said the closest were the Philippines at 21.5 hours and Malaysia with 19.8 hours online per week.

Informed public are between the ages 25-64, in top 25 per cent of household income per age group in each country and report significant engagement in business news and public policy.