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SINGAPORE: New technology calls for new rules and that is why the Media Development Authority (MDA) is reviewing how the media should be governed.
MDA also wants to find out the public's views about the proposed changes.
Singapore's media industry has been abuzz with new players as well as new technology such as High Definition TV and Internet Protocol TV services.
With the move into the digital age, the Conduct Code needs to keep up with the times.
So one area the review will address is competition.
Ling Pek Ling, Director, Media Policy, MDA, said: "With the widened powers, we hope to be able promote fair competition and thereby bring in more and better services for the public.
"The old code enabled us to only cover the broadcast and print sector. Now we have more powers to cover emerging media markets."
Arun Mahizhnan, Deputy Director, Institute of Policy Studies, said: "One of the things that comes to mind is how citizen journalism would impact on the current conventions and understanding of mass media. Practically anyone can set up a newspaper, a radio station or a television station on the web tomorrow. You just need to be a bit net savvy.
"The barriers to entry today are very, very low for this sort of enterprise. We need to look at what kind of niche markets these very small players are actually occupying or, in some cases, even dominate. And I am not sure whether we have given sufficient thought to that sort of dynamics."
Another area which the media market conduct code is reviewing is the broadcast of events of national significance and these include events like the national day parade and general election.
Presently, only free-to-air television and radio channels have access to broadcast feeds of these events and the review could change this in time to come.
This could mean that another media service provider who wishes to broadcast such events may be allowed to do so, if MDA gives the nod.
The media conduct code review will also cover advertising practices and how public complaints are handled.
Members of the public can give their suggestions by logging on to the MDA website by May 7.
- CNA/so
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