SPH's efforts in growing readership, offering quality journalism recognised globally: Iswaran

SPH's efforts to build its digital capabilities and grow its readership have been recognised internationally. PHOTO: ST FILE

Updated

Published

May 10, 2021, 07:00 PM

SINGAPORE - Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) efforts to build its digital capabilities and grow its readership have been recognised internationally, Minister for Communications and Information S. Iswaran said in Parliament on Monday (May 10).

Even as the global news media industry comes under severe structural pressure, SPH has held out longer than most, said Mr Iswaran in his ministerial statement on SPH's plan to hive off its media business.

SPH's overall reach and readership has never been higher, he said. The Straits Times' print and digital circulation, for example, has grown by about 20 per cent.

SPH's efforts have also won global accolades.

"SPH has launched new platforms for readers to engage its correspondents and experts, and has been recognised internationally for its excellent data visualisation and interactive graphics, multimedia and photojournalism," he said.

It was the biggest winner at last year's Asian Media Awards, the minister noted.

The annual competition is organised by the World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra) and attracted 255 entries from 46 media companies drawn from 13 countries.

SPH's flagship title, The Straits Times, and the Chinese Media Group (CMG) picked up accolades in breaking news, infographics, feature photography, and newspaper design, among others, Mr Iswaran said.

In total, ST took home three bronze and two silver awards, while CMG bagged one silver and two bronze awards.

SPH was also the biggest winner at the digital version of the Wan-Ifra awards - Asian Digital Media Awards - last year. It won three gold awards and two silver awards.