Freedom from the Press [Recurso electrónico] : Journalism and State Power in Singapore / Cherian George.

Issued as part of book collections on Project MUSE.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [256]-267) and index.

Acknowledgments -- Singapore politics and media: a primer -- 1. Introduction: beyond the Singapore paradox -- 2. Journalism tamed: the mechanics of media control -- 3. Inside the press: routines, values and "OB" markers -- 4. Government unlimited: the ideology of state primacy -- 5. Calibrated coercion: the state strategy of self-restraint -- 6. The harmony myth: Asian media's radical past -- 7. Freedom of the press: a cause without rebels -- 8. Alternative online media: challenging the gatekeepers -- 9. Rise of the unruly: media activism and civil disobedience -- 10. Networked hegemony: consolidating the political system -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

Libro Electrónico

For several decades, the city-state of Singapore has been an international anomaly, combining an advanced and open economy with restrictions on civil liberties and press freedom. This volume analyzes the republic's media system, showing how it has been structured like the rest of the political framework to provide maximum freedom of maneuver for the People's Action Party (PAP) government. Cherian George assesses why the PAP's 'freedom from the press' model has lasted longer than many other authoritarian systems. He suggests that one key factor has been the PAP's recognition that market forces could be harnessed as a way to tame journalism. Another counter-intuitive strategy is its self-restraint in the use of force, progressively turning to subtler means of control that are less prone to backfire. The PAP has also remained open to internal reform, even as it tries to insulate itself from political competition. Thus, although increasingly challenged by dissenting views disseminated through the internet, the PAP has so far managed to consolidate its soft-authoritarian, hegemonic form of electoral democracy. Given Singapore 's unique place on the world map of press freedom and democracy, this book not only provides a constructive engagement with ongoing debates about the city-state but also makes a significant contribution to the comparative study of journalism and politics.

Description based on print version record.