作为歷史材料的《国际时报》: 从1965年以后 的华文报界看新加坡歷史 = THE INTERNATIONAL TIMES AS HISTORICAL SOURCE: SINGAPORE'S HISTORY THROUGH CHINESE PRESS AFTER 1965

Abstract

This thesis explores Singapore's press mechanism after 1965, within a wider context of the local media system under the People's Action Party (PAP) administration. Like the city-state, local media system has been said to be structured by self-restraining use of force, turning to subtler means of control of which market forces are seen as the main tool in taming journalism. This stick-and-carrot approach, or "calibrated coercion’’, is put forth by Cherian George, who experienced in both academia and mainstream journalism. Despite the light this model has shed on the operations and motivations of local mainstream press, examining a peripheral but prominent group of independent press yields understanding to the otherwise overlooked community—the Chinese tabloids. International Times (1964-1993) demonstrates the potential tabloid presses have in contending with mainstream press by developing an alternative public sphere. While demonstrating increasing compliance with the state over the years, International Times presents a unique case where the said model of media system becomes inadequate in examining its multiple nuances. Instead of taming journalism, market forces paradoxically propelled International Times to transform its anti-communist stand from sentiments to strategy 一 obtaining legitimacy from the state and appealing to the Taiwanese market. By developing a niche market model of tabloid press mechanism, International Times has found room enough to manoeuvre within the media system of Singapore, stepping on lines that were deemed out-of-bounds when other mainstream press did the likes. This thesis challenges the assumption that the success of PAP’s political framework has become an all-encompassing framework in shaping media system and press freedom. By close examination of International Times within its context, I examine the complexities in Singapore's multi-facet media system, one that is shaped by individual choices and regional influence as much as local state policies, concluding with a call to supplement the understanding of Singapore's media system by including the tabloid press community, both past and present, in future analysis. This thesis explores Singapore's press mechanism after 1965, within a wider context of the local media system under the People's Action Party (PAP) administration. Like the city-state, local media system has been said to be structured by self-restraining use of force, turning to subtler means of control of which market forces are seen as the main tool in taming journalism. This stick-and-carrot approach, or "calibrated coercion’’, is put forth by Cherian George, who experienced in both academia and mainstream journalism. Despite the light this model has shed on the operations and motivations of local mainstream press, examining a peripheral but prominent group of independent press yields understanding to the otherwise overlooked community—the Chinese tabloids. International Times (1964-1993) demonstrates the potential tabloid presses have in contending with mainstream press by developing an alternative public sphere. While demonstrating increasing compliance with the state over the years, International Times presents a unique case where the said model of media system becomes inadequate in examining its multiple nuances. Instead of taming journalism, market forces paradoxically propelled International Times to transform its anti-communist stand from sentiments to strategy 一 obtaining legitimacy from the state and appealing to the Taiwanese market. By developing a niche market model of tabloid press mechanism, International Times has found room enough to manoeuvre within the media system of Singapore, stepping on lines that were deemed out-of-bounds when other mainstream press did the likes. This thesis challenges the assumption that the success of PAP’s political framework has become an all-encompassing framework in shaping media system and press freedom. By close examination of International Times within its context, I examine the complexities in Singapore's multi-facet media system, one that is shaped by individual choices and regional influence as much as local state policies, concluding with a call to supplement the understanding of Singapore's media system by including the tabloid press community, both past and present, in future analysis. This thesis explores Singapore's press mechanism after 1965, within a wider context of the local media system under the People's Action Party (PAP) administration. Like the city-state, local media system has been said to be structured by self-restraining use of force, turning to subtler means of control of which market forces are seen as the main tool in taming journalism. This stick-and-carrot approach, or "calibrated coercion’’, is put forth by Cherian George, who experienced in both academia and mainstream journalism. Despite the light this model has shed on the operations and motivations of local mainstream press, examining a peripheral but prominent group of independent press yields understanding to the otherwise overlooked community—the Chinese tabloids. International Times (1964-1993) demonstrates the potential tabloid presses have in contending with mainstream press by developing an alternative public sphere. While demonstrating increasing compliance with the state over the years, International Times presents a unique case where the said model of media system becomes inadequate in examining its multiple nuances. Instead of taming journalism, market forces paradoxically propelled International Times to transform its anti-communist stand from sentiments to strategy 一 obtaining legitimacy from the state and appealing to the Taiwanese market. By developing a niche market model of tabloid press mechanism, International Times has found room enough to manoeuvre within the media system of Singapore, stepping on lines that were deemed out-of-bounds when other mainstream press did the likes. This thesis challenges the assumption that the success of PAP’s political framework has become an all-encompassing framework in shaping media system and press freedom. By close examination of International Times within its context, I examine the complexities in Singapore's multi-facet media system, one that is shaped by individual choices and regional influence as much as local state policies, concluding with a call to supplement the understanding of Singapore's media system by including the tabloid press community, both past and present, in future analysis.