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January 19, 2021

Through The Lens Exhibition by The Straits Times and World Press Photo (16 Jan – 7 Feb) and Photojournalism Webinar (Jan 27, Wed, 12.30pm)

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Dear Friends,

Singapore Press Club is pleased to invite you to view Through The Lens photo exhibitions by The Straits Times and World Press Photo held at the National Museum of Singapore (The Concourse level 1 and The Canyon at basement) from Saturday, January 16 to Sunday February 7, 2021. It is open to the public daily, admission is free. 

Through The Lens comprises an exhibition by The Straits Times (this year, the ST exhibition will focus on coverage of Covid-19 in Singapore) and an exhibition by the World Press Photo (which celebrates most powerful, provocative and poignant images from around the world).

Join us as well for this Webinar on Photojournalism

Covering Covid-19 – Documenting a new normal amid the pandemic Featuring ST photojournalists As social distancing becomes part of the new landscape, many of us have had to rethink our lifestyles and get creative in the ways we connect, gather, eat and work.

Through visual features that captured how coronavirus impacted lives in 2020, The Straits Times photojournalists discuss the role that photojournalism plays during a public health crisis, as well as the challenges and importance of showing the human face – and cost – of the pandemic.

Date: Wed, Jan 27
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Register by Jan 24, 6pm    
Successful registrants will be sent a unique link prior to the webinar

Click here to Register
January 19, 2021

(1) Webinar on Trauma Literacy for Newsroom Leaders (27 Jan, 12noon SGT on Zoom) and (2) free Newsroom Guide on reporting of health crises

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Dear members,


SPC is pleased to offer you two great resources related to handling crises reporting.

  • Webinar on Trauma Literacy for Newsroom Leaders on 27 January 2021 at 12noon SGT on Zoom
  • Newsroom Guide on pandemic reporting – free download

Starting 2021,  WAN-IFRA is working with Dart Centre APAC in Australia to offer this special training series on how to protect against and prevent trauma and help newsrooms build resiliency and put in place workplace processes which safeguard employees’ mental health and well-being.

This free webinar will come with live translation in Bahasa Indonesia, Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Mandarin.

SPC members are invited to register for a free introductory webinar on 27 January 2021 held at 12noon SGT on Zoom.

You can also share with your friends and colleagues who may benefit from this valuable training.

For more details and to register, visit tiny.cc/traumalit

A free download of a Newsroom Guide with expert views and advice for media professionals and newsrooms to navigate reporting of health crises
 
It’s a great Covid19 reporting resource. This newsroom guide is a distillation of expert views and advice, drawn from the World Editors Forum Science in the Newsroom project. It covers newsgathering, storytelling and innovative techniques to help journalists, editors and newsrooms navigate COVID-19 and future health crises.

Register here to get your free copy

https://forms.gle/RjXPuKt1dZCVzaKj7

The handbook is produced by the World Editors Forum, the network for editors within WAN-IFRA.

December 8, 2020

Enjoy a Eurasian Christmas Feast at home and discover this heritage cuisine with an online talk on Friday Dec 18 from 6:30-7:15pm

Post By admin Club News, Events, Latest News & Events, News & Notices, News & Updates

SPC Gourmet Special is back!

If you missed the Peranakan Taster Meal in October, don't miss this.

Eurasian Christmas Feast & 45-minute Online Talk

by Chef Lionel Chee

Friday I 18 December 2020 I 6:30 - 7:15pm

Order and pay online by Monday December 14, 2020. Only $35 per order (+ $5 flat delivery fee per address)
Terms & Conditions
  • As this is a curated event menu, Chef Lionel is unable to take any special requests beyond the above menu options.
  • Orders close on Monday, December 14, to give Chef Lionel time to purchase ingredients and prepare this special off-the-main-menu group meal. 
  • Should you wish to reduce or cancel your order, we suggest requesting to send it to someone else as a treat as refunds (less credit card charges) would not be possible after 14 December. Change of delivery address will be accepted up to 17 December.

Should you have any questions, please email Singapore Press Club at secretariat@pressclub.org.sg

December 4, 2020

Socially-distanced Networking Lunch Specials!

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Join our tables of 5 at Novotel@stevens restaurants to be held on wednesday, 9 Dec 2020 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. 

 

Each of the 3 featured restaurants – Winestone, In Piazza, The Gyu Bar, all at Novotel@stevens, are offering specially curated set menus for our members.  

So invite your Press Club friends or colleagues for a lovely lunchtime get-together to catch up on that face-to-face networking you’ve been missing out this year! 

You can also sign up solo and we’ll seat you with other participating Press Club members.   

Check this webpage for more details (link).
November 20, 2020

The inevitability of pandemics: is Asia Pacific prepared? Take-aways from the virtual event held on 12 November 2020

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This webinar hosted by Singapore Press Club and supported by Roche Diagnostics addressed the question about pandemics. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic the world has seen, and it certainly won’t be the last. But it has once again laid bare inherent weaknesses in the world’s infectious disease surveillance and response capabilities. Correcting these weaknesses will be no small task. Significant efforts have been made to navigate the current crisis, but without a long-term view on the management of infectious diseases, the strategies of today may not do much to prevent future epidemics and pandemics.  Renowned academics, clinicians and health economic experts from around the region participated in a 90 minutes discussion about the way forward, and what it will take for Asia Pacific to be prepared for when, not if, the next pandemic strikes. Being a virtual forum, we were able to get over 50 sign ups, mainly journalists from around the region’s 27 media titles. Attendees were from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Hong Kong. 

Zakir Hussain, Vice President Singapore Press Club & Singapore Editor, The Straits Times made a welcome address to the attendees with a simple message that “the pandemic has highlighted the need for collaboration and partnership across society, including media organisations and this event is testament to that.”

A big thanks to our SPC member Ms Shefali Rekhi, Asian Insider Editor, The Straits Times & Asia News Network Editor, for doing a great job in moderating the 3 sessions with the 10 panellists experts from the region in the healthcare sector, including a doctor who had the Covid19 and recovered.  After the session, Shefali commented that “the topic of infectious diseases is very timely, and as media we need to build and continue on such discussions to raise better awareness and provide accurate information”.

Click below image to watch a round up and recordings of the event

Read more information from the speakers from the Dia:gram magazine. Click image to download

November 19, 2020

11.11 Webinar: Catch the panel discussion on the “Job Opportunities in the new media and digital marketing sector”.

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What are the current issues, job opportunities and training available for the media and marketing  industry? 
 
A webinar discussion on Tuesday 11 November 2020  was held to address burning questions for the panellists from Singapore Press Club (SPC), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)/UPME and the Market Research Society Singapore (MRSS).

 

Many thanks to the panel of speakers – Lau Joon Nie, Vice President of Singapore Press Club, Manisha from Republic Polytechnic and MRSS and Melvin Yong, Assistant Secretary General, NTUC for sharing their insights about how #PMETs can successfully transition into this industry and opportunities in the new trend of digital media, marketing and PR. Thanks to Selena Oh from Write Sel Communications & member of Singapore Press Club for Moderating the session and keeping the session engaging with lots of questions from webinar attendees.

If you’ve missed it, you can view the session recording from this link.
November 12, 2020

MEDIA VS PR TRIVIA QUIZ NIGHT

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Sign up for Free by Nov 23 / Special F&B Deals Available

Calling all trivia buffs and aficionados! Are you a journalist who’s up to speed with the latest headlines and current affairs? Or a PR professional who loves your random factoids as much as them random tabloids?

If so, gather your fellow trivia-loving friends and come take part in our inaugural MEDIA VS PR TRIVIA QUIZ NIGHT – organised by the Singapore Press Club and hosted by trivia maestro Ranajit Dam.

Date: 25 November 2020, Wednesday
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Venue: Google Meet (virtual event)

Prizes up for grabs!
The top 3 winning teams will walk away with awesome F&B prizes, courtesy of the Singapore Press Club and our generous sponsors.

1st prize:
$200 worth of Dempsey Hill dining & shopping vouchers courtesy of Country City Investment + 2 bottles of wine

2nd prize:
$150 worth of Lazy Lizard dining vouchers + 2 bottles of wine

3rd prize:
2 bottles of wine

How to register?
Form a team of up to 8 persons and sign up via Google Form via this link https://tiny.cc/SPCQuizNight

Solo players who would like us to assign them to a team of fellow solo players have the option of doing so. 

We will send each team a Google Meet link for the event upon confirmation.

Deadline for registration is 23 November 2020, Monday.

Quiz rules

– Team members (max 8 per team) may choose to either communicate with each other remotely via private chat, or gather at someone’s home for dinner while observing safe distancing and visiting rules.

– Please do NOT Google your answers. This quiz will operate on the journalistic principles of integrity and honesty – may the best team win fair and square!

– Any dispute over points and answers will be resolved at the quiz master’s discretion.

– Don’t play on an empty stomach. To ensure that you are well fed to survive the quiz, we have arranged for special food & drink discounts (check out the offerings from this link  https://pressclub.org.sg/llfandbdiscount4spc
and order menu and guide: https://pressclub.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/LLKE-All-Menus_Ordering-Guide.pdf             ).

– Fun is mandatory. As a bonus, the wackiest answers in each round will be read out for your amusement.
Food & Drinks Discount 
To keep your team fueled during the competition, take advantage of great discounts of 10-20% when you order from any of the four Lazy Lizard outlets or their sister eatery, Kim Eng Chicken Rice!*

SPC members and invited friends participating in quiz night (25 Nov) can all enjoy these discounts, simply flash or cite the discount promo https://pressclub.org.sg/llfandbdiscount4spc

Pay by PayNow for delivery or self-collection; and by cash/credit card/PayNow for dine-in and takeout. Place delivery orders by 23 Nov or at least two hours before the event to ensure timely arrival.

*Terms and Conditions:
– Valid for orders placed directly at the outlet for dine-in/take-out, or via phone calls for self-collection/delivery.
– Discount also applies to drinks menu except promotional offerings such as the Beer Buffet.
– Orders made on food delivery apps or websites are not eligible for quiz night discounts.
– For deliveries, Grab charges typically range from $8-$20, depending on the distance, so pick the closest outlet. The manager will inform you of the delivery charge to be paid to the driver upon arrival. You will also receive a live location link to track your order.  

See you online on the 25th!

Your quiz organisers:

Yeo Sam Jo, SPC Management Committee Member
Lau Joon-Nie, SPC Vice President
Ranajit Dam, SPC Member & Quiz Master
November 8, 2020

Singapore Press Club participates in World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate conference – video on Singapore’s Climate Change actions and initiatives

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The Press Club Brussels Europe, which currently holds the presidency of the International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC), organised on 23 Oct 2020 a unique event in partnership with press clubs around the world – the longest ever online conference (24 hours in 24 time zones) focusing on positive climate action and innovations.


The Singapore Press Club accepted an invitation to participate in the initiative, called the World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate. We presented a 15-minute video on what Singapore is doing to tackle the challenges posed by climate change, and the role the media can play.


We are pleased that the video was commissioned through the Press Club’s recently launched Freelancer Network, in partnership with the National Youth Achievement Award Council.


The video was broadcast on 23 Oct 2020 and can be viewed at  www.worldpressclubsallianceforclimate.com.

You can also view it on the Singapore Press Club’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/HRaIwl5QmxE.

Have a look at our video and check out the Climate Change scenes, actions and initiatives in Singapore and around the world.


Video Presented by:  Singapore Press Club


In partnership with: National Youth Achievement Awards Council


Video Produced by: Mr. Manimaran Govindasamy, a member of Singapore Press Club Freelancer Network

Copyrighted SPH pictures in video and here, used with permission thanks to The Straits Times.

 
 
August 11, 2020

10 Key Takeaways from the Singapore Press Club – Institute of Public Relations Singapore Webinar held on 16 July 2020

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Singapore Press Club - Institute of Public Relations of Singapore Webinar

10 Key Takeaways

from the 16 July 2020 webinar

It was an interesting online panel discussion centred on the uproar in June over social media managers/PR specialists, creatives and business professionals being listed as "non-essential" jobs when in fact, these roles are more relevant than ever to corporates and the community. Panelists discussed the recent story against the backdrop of media/marcomms-related challenges faced during this pandemic and ways to tackle them.

More than 200 have registered to attend. To those who have attended or missed this session, here are the key takeaways summarised by the Panelists:

1.  To me, this was a made-for-print story with 3 articles spread out over 2 facing print/pdf pages (pages 4 and 5). At a glance, the reader is able to scan the headlines and determine the overall angle and intent of the story. However, when it was presented online or in the news app, the 3 articles were, as they would ordinarily, posted as 3 individual articles. While they each carried links to the other 2 related articles, the reader may only choose to read 1 article, to the exclusion of others. The non-essential list in question appeared in 1 article. First, one would question why there was the need to even present this list, which was not relevant to the story.

2.  When this list was clipped by readers and passed around on social media and WhatsApp, often devoid of context, it took on a whole new unfortunate life and interpretation of its own. This is something journalists and editors should bear in mind when working on stories. It’s no longer enough to ask, “Who is my audience?” but also “How will my story appear and on what platform?

Ms Lau Joon-Nie
Vice President, Singapore Press Club  & 
Director, Asia, World Association of News Publishers

3. PR is about creating buzz and, on social media, the use of clickbait is a proven tactic to draw readership. The challenge of this tactic is the ability to control the conversation to achieve the desired message.

4. In a crisis, the PR professional’s role is critical as credibility is a prerequisite for effective communications. 

Mr. Justin Fong
Honorary Treasurer, IPRS
& Director, Corporate Communications at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

5. Traditional mainstream media should keep at the back of the mind the rise of social media and how it is now recognised as a source of news. In social media, the rules of engagement are different because social media creators will just cut and paste the key parts without explaining or even understanding the context behind a graphics, headline or sentence. We saw it with this “non-essential” story and with the “Grab drivers cannot use the lift” story. https://mothership.sg/2020/05/rv-point-grabfood-cannot-use-lift/ Millennials live on memes, and we must adapt to this new form of media.

6. Media stick to the principles of neutral reporting and have clear separation between advertorials and editorials. With the business of media affected by the rise of social media and digital marketing, it is often tempting to compromise neutrality for extra dollars. This is understandable because of the real business challenges that the media is facing, but if it starts to compromise too much, it will lose its raison d’etre and its real strength. Because when money decides how and when a story runs, then the media will lose the reason for its existence and become obsolete. The aim must still be to reach out to readers but at the same time, media have to be more innovative in looking at ways to bring in revenue that makes sense for the modern marketer.

7. From what I have seen over the last 20 years, 15 as a journalist and 5 as a PR professional, there are too few CEOS who empower their Head of Comms to be able to make statements on behalf of the company without needing to get approval for every statement. One exception was the late Neil Montefiore, ex CEO of M1, who empowered his then head of comms Chua Swee Kiat, and it was always a pleasure working with them because as journalists, we would get fast and good quotes without going through a lot of red tape. This builds the reputation of the company and its trust among the media, which is really what the point should be about external comms. Too many companies are worried about “protecting their CEO” without realising that a “don’t rock the boat” attitude actually does nothing to build the reputation of the company in the eyes of the media.

Mr. Oo Gin Lee
Managing Director GLOO PR Pte Ltd
(former veteran tech journalist for 15 years)

8. Every research study, including surveys, should be understood and examined in the context of four key aspects: sampling, questionnaire design, analysis and visualisations. There is a difference between probability and non-probability sampling, and this survey involved a sample of respondents from Milieu’s existing panel and managed its representation of the general population based on the age and gender quotas. There are limitations in such a sampling approach compared to probability sampling where respondents are randomly selected from a population sampling frame, usually acquired from the Department of Statistics.

9. The other important points to note are how questions are designed – specifically, the underlying assumptions and hypotheses informing the questions. This is related to the earlier point about sampling – if lay citizens are surveyed, how do we expect them to respond to questions about jobs? What do they understand about ‘essential jobs’? Do we expect them to understand and see jobs that are less visible during a pandemic? What jobs should be displayed to respondents and how do we go about selecting this list? Clarity about these assumptions and hypotheses should inform how questions are designed.

10. Finally, the analysis should match the way results were presented visually – if respondents were not asked to rank jobs, much caution has to be taken with ranking them.

Dr. Natalie Pang
Senior Lecturer & Principal Investigator
NUS Department of Communications and New Media, NUS Centre for Trusted Internet and Community

We look forward to you joining us in our next webinar/event.
July 19, 2020

StoryFest Online 2020 (17 to 27 July)

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Storytelling is an art that has captivated audiences through the ages. Now you and your family can enjoy StoryFest Online 2020  right from home!
This year’s festival takes place from 17–27 July with the theme: The Heart of Story. Different facets of storytelling will be presented by familiar faces from the local spoken word scene as well as emerging talents.  

Gain helpful tips from sessions like ‘How to Tell Personal Stories for a Story Slam’.
As the teaser goes:
‘There’s always someone at a dinner party with a captivating story to tell and an audience’.

The young—and young at heart—can step into the world of puppetry whose inhabitants include string puppets, marionettes and ventriloquist puppets!
Presented by The Storytelling Centre Ltd and The Arts House, this digital edition of StoryFest celebrates the timelessness of the oral tradition amidst a pandemic. Check out the programme @ https://storyfestsg.com/2020

Have an enriching and fun-filled festival!