9/07/2007

Quality journalists

By Ong Sor Fern I HAVE never, nor will I ever, read blogs. Yes, I am an information snob. I prefer my writing to come in published formats: newspapers, magazines and books. As someone who grew up on a hearty diet of old media, I trust these established systems of delivering information simply because there is quality control. When I read a newspaper, I can be assured that the journalist is subject to a code of ethics, his work has been audited by editors and his sources verified. Ditto a magazine and a book. Blogs, however, are a Wild West frontier, a welter of undifferentiated information that blends fact with opinion with merry disregard for consequences. No doubt there are intelligent bloggers out there. But trying to find them is akin to looking for a single brainy needle in an exceedingly large and, mostly dumb, haystack.... ________________ I must say that she is very logical and objective. And all her articles are not opinions but well researched, well edited and well verified.

21 comments:

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

I don't dig her writing—but it is hard to find a S'porean writer I do dig, because generally speaking they "ain't got no soul".

Put another way, if you can really write, you wouldn't be with SPH. :-))

I don't read blogs either—unless I want to whack my comments in. There is scarcely any truth in mainstream publishing... on the net, whoa! Caveat emptor as soon as you log in!

But hey, who says you need "truth" to have fun?

Anonymous said...

I agree with both of you, blogs are self opinated garbage that mixes truths with half truths and usually not credible; no intelligent person should waste their time with these trash even if they have nothing to do. Hence I agree that Ms Ong's observation is logical in that sense.

Anonymous said...

you are talking through your arse again, matilah_singapura. as always.

Anonymous said...

Put another way, if you can really write, you wouldn't be with SPH. :-))


ya should be a magician with starcruise or something else lah..

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Draw your own conclusions about "intelligence" from these responses, and understand why the blogsphere shouldn't be taken seriously:

anon 4:48

> you are talking through your arse again, matilah_singapura. as always. <

This dog-fucker anon 4:48 obviously wasted the state's money in getting his half-assed "education".

What he is suggesting is anatomically IMPOSSIBLE. But hey, maybe his dumb MOE-employed biology teacher forgot to tell him.

anon 5:04
> ya should be a magician with starcruise or something else lah..<

Something else? How about a bad lounge singer at the Holiday Inn?

I was making the point that the BEST writers are to be found elswhere. SPH is a dead-end job, but hey, it's a job for those who can deliver to that level.

Good writers end up writing mega-selling songs, scripts, books... and the best paid of all (on a dollars-per-word basis): ADVERTISING COPY

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:04 meant it as a pun lah, that's what blogsphere is abt boss. ;-)

...who says you need "truth" to have fun?.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4R8fRcQLH8&mode=related&search=

Anonymous said...

Draw your own conclusions about "intelligence" from these responses, and understand why the blogsphere shouldn't be taken seriously:


It just reiterates that blogs are garbage...

...No doubt there are intelligent bloggers out there. But trying to find them is akin to looking for a single brainy needle in an exceedingly large and, mostly dumb, haystack...


Please lah, you guys are not telling us you are that needle are you?

Anonymous said...

blogs are annoymous communications and should not be taken seriously as such.... i go into blogs the likes of stomp only to have fun, nothing more... what may be nonsense to one, could well be sickening fun to another, you'll never know?.. so many posters here have dual & triple hypocritical personalities, and it will be your problem if you think their postings and feelings are proper and real.. this illusive cyberspace is the last place for one to establish his personality and trust in.. relax., dun take yourself too seriously uncle!

Anonymous said...

Hey Matilah!! what did you do to mister dog?

Anonymous said...

Good writers end up writing mega-selling songs, scripts, books... and the best paid of all (on a dollars-per-word basis): ADVERTISING COPY



known as copy writing

Anonymous said...

Red bean -- you have some paid bloggers here!!

Anonymous said...

She hits her pen on our butts by her reminder that blog articles are not well researched and verified; it is an understatement. Incomplete facts and figures are powerful tools for distortion and misinformation and opinions in cyberspace can at best be slanted to underscore one's limited and narrow perception of things; at worst manipulated to suit one's flawed reasonings and arguments. In other words, bs propaganda.

'.. propaganda presents facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented..'(Wikipedia)

Matilah would have said, those who cant see that doesnt deserve his state funded "education". Btw was it really him on the mister?

Anonymous said...

yupee indonesia's getting new tanks and sukhois,. submarines, apaches - a billion dollar's worth; hullo there! you still want to mess with my referees??

Anonymous said...

Anon 5:04 meant it as a pun lah, that's what blogsphere is abt boss. ;-)

...who says you need "truth" to have fun?.....

Please lah, you guys are not telling us you are that needle are you?

B

I

N

G

O

!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Naturally some may be defensive about it.
I think that can't be helped.
Ong Ser Fern's message has certainly "bingo".
Thanks for the nice posting.

Anonymous said...

to anon 9:39

Exactly. It is ALL opinion—whether written by a "credible" journalist (lah-di fucken dah!)or an incredulous blogger.

In general, I find that mainstream media wonks "fear" the blogsphere. As with nearly everything in life: quality is rare and a therefore valuable attribute.

There are virtually no "barriers to entry" in to the blog-world, so virtually any broadband butt-plugged moron can become a blogger.

To add more discomfort to mainstream journos, from the "spontaneous order" of the blogsphere: there are blogs which generate REVENUE, so much so that business is serious about using blogs as marketing tools. This is already happening, and GROWING.

Therefore Ms Ong and her ilk or stuffed-shirt-mainstream-soon-to-be-has-been-journalists , are really declaring their ignorance and inflexibility, along with their unwillingness to consider the possibilities in, and of new ideas. And dare I say, her slip is showing ;-)

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

you can say it better or the way as it is, only in the net.

we are having unfair advantage against the mainstream. they need to be vetted and vetted and edited and edited before someone will approve it for print.

here we are, just shoot : )

hey you guys, lets not spoil this blog by too many personal attacks. lets enjoy each others company.

for the paid doggies, please have a life and find a decent job and gain some self respect.

Anonymous said...

he never said he's got good character, that's what this blog isnt abt. what is impt is he can twist and turn until his point gets thru. whether his reasonings and arguments are flawed or not, you will know after some readings. all these rantings border on immaturity if you ask me, which could only appeal to the never-do-wells and misfits of society. that's my take. i rest my case.

Anonymous said...

redbean,

your shit, no matter how stinko, will be lapped up by these doggies for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

they can't get enough of them. you can try chasing them away with a broom stick, but try as you might, they love your shit. they won't go away.

that is how good your shit smell to them.

bet you a thousand bucks. they will be here everyday, asking for more.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

anonymous,

you have chased away my good bros. hey today is the last day of the 7 moon.

hope they will get a better reincarnation and come back as normal human beans. i am starting to miss them.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

nuffnang dot com dot sg

Stick that up the mainstream media. ;-)