Analyzing Fake News Impact in Singapore: A Media Relations Report

This report examines the impact of fake news in Singapore, focusing on three specific examples: a "kidnap scare" at international schools, reports of "plastic rice" from China, and allegations against a childcare center. The analysis covers the target audiences, impacts, and the spread of misinformation. A media release is included, addressing the issues and emphasizing the importance of identifying fake news through source credibility checks, timeliness assessment, and fact verification. The report also provides frequently asked questions to help readers understand the key issues and ways to distinguish between real and fake news. The Singapore government's efforts to combat online falsehoods are highlighted, noting the establishment of a Select Committee and ongoing discussions in Parliament to address the problem.

Media Relations

Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
TASK...............................................................................................................................................1
Issue Analysis.........................................................................................................................1
Media Release........................................................................................................................3
Frequently Asked Questions...................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

TASK
Issue Analysis
Young people of Singapore are consuming abundance of fake news where various
individuals are not criticising this or considering them as the key source of story. This is essential
for universities and schools to create a system where identification of fake news is being taught
in institutions 1. Here, in report, analysis of three fake news articles that disturbed people
specially target audience on wider level. Three news articles are undertaking for examining the
type of false articles and its impact along with their target.
The first article which examined in the report is “Kidnap scare Reported at two
international school” in which it was claimed that some van occupants in one of the accident had
tried to persuade students to forcefully get into the van and stated as ‘kidnap scare’ . News were
published by ‘the Newpaper’, an online news website 2. The publisher targeted to aware parents
or individuals about the harassment cases that might be incurring and were based on
assumptions. This news was later proven as fake news and van was owned by schools itself only.
The second news article is “Plastic Rice from China”. The news is not directly but is
indirectly associated with the target audience as this create imbalance in the social pattern of
country and promote online falsehood 3. This news was not true which was later identified by the
state. ‘Snopes’ online website published this article which was later proven as false information
by state food investigator.
The third article which has caused major loss to education, morals and beliefs of adults,
students and society is “Childcare centre in River Valley accused of letting kids sleep in their
own faeces & eat rotten fruit”. Broadcasted by Channel 8 News, this news claimed that in River
Valley Road, a childcare centre is suspected for inappropriate and undesired action. This news
created large impact on society which later was confirmed false news by the police of Singapore.
1 Rainie, Anderson and Jonathan. 2017. The future of free speech, trolls, anonymity and
fake news online. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
2 Ang. 2018. Kidnap scare reported at two international schools. [Online]. Accessed
from:< https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/kidnap-scare-reported-two-international-schools>.
3 Plastic Rice from China. 2016. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/plastic-rice-from-
china/.
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After this report, numerous parents started examining their kids at care home and kids become
terrified 4. Hence, false news can create major impact on society. Below is created a media
release on these actions.
The above identified issues are affecting businesses and adults of Singapore as they are
responsible for prosper of unaware public, create online falsehood, defame the organisation and
related enterprise’s information, impact on structure of social living. The key issues discussed in
story are kidnapping, dissemination of wrong information etc. that have also cause organisational
market fall or crisis as well.
4 Jonathan. 2017. Childcare centre in River Valley accused of letting kids sleep in their
own faeces & eat rotten fruit. https://mothership.sg/2017/02/childcare-centre-in-river-valley-has-
kids-sleeping-in-their-own-faeces-eating-rotten-fruit/.
2

Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE
EastWest Public Relations
Figure 1: Logo
Date: 10.02.2019
About organisation: EASTWEST Public Relations is a independent agency i.e. based in
Beijing and Singapore specialised in public relations and marketing communication 5. Since
1995, the company has assisted more than 400 clients which has become one of most
recognised public relation company in 12 Asian nations 6.
Headline: Impact of Fake News and its Identification
Target Audience: In this part, the company has targeted adults, adolescents, students,
5 Hendrix, Hayes and Kumar, 2012. Public relations cases. Cengage Learning.
6 Wilson and Supa, 2013. "Examining modern media relations: An exploratory study of
the effect of Twitter on the public relations–journalist relationship." Public Relations Journal 7,
no. 3: 1-20.
3

undergraduate media students and educators in order to provide basic knowledge of fake
articles, its impact and how to recognise fake or true news 7. Hence, the major information will
be written aiming these individuals and informing them about the most emerging issue in
Singapore.
Lead: False news is reportedly creating huge impact on society, education system of country
and businesses. These are creating imbalance in the systems and create major impact on few
target audience such as students. They are coping up with cyber crime, harassment and many
other issues due to this. On the other hand, state of Singapore is constantly creating laws which
can help in recognising the difference between fake news and true news.
Body: Despite creating social dysfunction, false news is creating a culture of uncertainty and
fear among adults and children that extends to dearth of belief in their school work and own
skills. Students and children actually don’t understand which is false news and believe in
online stories 8.
Identification of Fake News: This is one of most essential phase which is needed to be
disseminated to students to make them aware of fake news. Here is mentioned tips to identify a
fake news:
 Check the credibility of publisher (publishing sites and domain name)
 Focus on timeliness and quality (major grammatical errors)
 Ensure citations and sources
Summary: Government of Singapore has also determined a Select Committee including
numerous representation and ministers. Country’s parliaments is also discussing this issue
critically and trying to come up with law which can ignore such issues.
7 Pang, 2010. "Mediating the media: A journalist-centric media relations
model." Corporate Communications: An International Journal 15, no. 2: 192-204.
8 Gibbs and Haynes, 2013. "A phenomenological investigation into how Twitter has
changed the nature of sport media relations." International Journal of Sport Communication 6,
no. 4: 394-408.
4

Frequently Asked Questions
Here are mentioned most frequently asked question that might help you.
1. Suggests some media articles which were harmful for adolescents?
2. Who was the target audience of “Kidnap scare reported at two international schools”
article?
3. What are the key messages in referred articles?
4. What is the source of these fake articles?
5. What is the name of media organisation that is liable for this fake news?
6. What are the key issues emerged due to these false news among the target audience?
7. What is the negative impact of this fake news on society?
8. What are the probable ways through which one can recognise the difference between real
or fake news?
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ang Tian Tian. 2018. Kidnap scare reported at two international schools.
https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/kidnap-scare-reported-two-international-schools.
Rainie, Harrison, Janna Quitney Anderson, and Jonathan Albright. 2017. The future of free
speech, trolls, anonymity and fake news online. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
Gibbs, Chris, and Richard Haynes, 2013. "A phenomenological investigation into how Twitter
has changed the nature of sport media relations." International Journal of Sport
Communication 6, no. 4: 394-408.
Hendrix, Jerry A., Darrell C. Hayes, and Pallavi Damani Kumar, 2012. Public relations cases.
Cengage Learning.
Jonathan Lim. 2017. Childcare centre in River Valley accused of letting kids sleep in their own
faeces & eat rotten fruit. https://mothership.sg/2017/02/childcare-centre-in-river-valley-has-kids-
sleeping-in-their-own-faeces-eating-rotten-fruit/.
Pang, Augustine, 2010. "Mediating the media: A journalist-centric media relations
model." Corporate Communications: An International Journal 15, no. 2: 192-204.
Plastic Rice from China. 2016. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/plastic-rice-from-china/.
Wilson, Drew, and Dustin W. Supa, 2013. "Examining modern media relations: An exploratory
study of the effect of Twitter on the public relations–journalist relationship." Public Relations
Journal 7, no. 3: 1-20.
6