• Hong Kong’s freedom of speech is higher than that of Singapore. According to the 2019 World Press Freedom Index, Hong Kong is ranked at the 73rd place, while Singapore ranked at the 151st place.

• After comparing the news articles, Hong Kong’s media system theory is leaning towards libertarian theory. However, both Hong Kong and Singapore follow the media system theory of social responsibility.

 

How the different media system impact the development of the media industry in Singapore?

Under the Social Responsibility Theory, even though the media is privately owned, but it is still under the control of the Government. It is unlike the Libertarian Theory which Hong Kong is leaning towards. Under this theory, the media which is also privately owned is free from any authority or censorship. There is more freedom of speech in Hong Kong as compared to Singapore, which allows the public to discover truths and check on the government which is almost impossible under the Social Responsibility Theory. 

 

If Singapore continues under this media system, it will cause the public to not discover some truths which the Government might want to hide from the public. Hence, even though the role of the media is to serve the public, Social Responsibility Theory is not really serving the public if truths are hidden.

 

Singapore and Hong Kong

Both Singapore and Hong Kong falls under the Social Responsibility Theory.

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Media is not just seen as an enterprise like others in the business sector of any society, but due to its unique nature, society expects a particular role which media must play in getting rid of social evils, educating people, criticizing government policies and exposing other wrongdoings in a society. The sense of responsibility has been emphasized more in this theory  as compared to any other.

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The basic premise of the theory is as follows:

1. Media has certain obligations to society

2. It must show truth, accuracy, objectivity, and balance.

3. The media should be free but self-regulated (codes of conduct, ethics)

4. The media according to this theory is pluralistic: diversity of society, various points of view, forum for ideas

5. The media ownership is a public trust. Therefore, a journalist is accountable to his audience/readers