Two former Straits Times (ST) journalists have commented on the placement of a Covid-19 case update story in the Apr. 9 edition of ST.

Tan Tarn How, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) said that in his view, the most important story in Singapore on the night of Apr. 8 was the update on new Covid-19 confirmed cases.

142 new cases were reported, which was then the highest single-day jump, along with the highest number of unlinked local cases at 72.

Tan: ST chose to downplay the story

However, in a post titled "The Straits Times gets it wrong - and why it matters", Tan remarked:

"Yet The Straits Times chose to downplay this frightening news. As an ex-journalist and a media researcher, I find this quite befuddling — and disturbing."

Tan, a former senior political correspondent, Science and Technology Editor and Deputy News Editor for ST, noted that the Covid-19 update was not on the front page of the print edition of ST on Apr. 9.

Another item, "Better connectivity to make work, study from home easier" was the lead story on the front page instead.

Added Tan:

"Not only was the bad news not the lead article, it was not even mentioned of it all in any of the “blurbs” on the front page meant to alert readers to what the newspaper considered the other key news inside the newspaper."

The update story, titled "New cases soar to 142, one confirmed to have virus after he dies", was on the eighth page of the main section of the paper instead.

Tan: Story not on online Global page

Tan also said that the ST website did not include the story on its Global page, which is the main landing page for visitors to the website.

Instead, the story was the second item on its "Singapore" page.

However, the story was included as the first story in its "Morning Briefing" round-up of the top news stories.

Commented Tan:

"What is happening here? Good editors will have slightly different news judgement about what deserves top billing every day, but the utter lack of priority given to the new record surely cannot be due to that – unless the news judgement of The Straits Times’ editors is really poor, which I don’t think is the case."

Tan: Decision to play down the news could be political

Tan speculated that the decision to play down the news could be a political, rather than a journalistic decision.

However, he believed that the government probably did not give any instructions to ST to do so.

Tan pointed out that CNA in comparison placed the story as its top news item, which it would not do so if there were any such instructions.

Tan also added: "I also believe that the government has decided that as far as the coronavirus is concerned it should be open and transparent."

Instead, Tan speculated that ST's editors: "...chose on their own accord to “protect” the government by hiding as much as they could bad news from readers." Added Tan:

"Perhaps the editors have the impending general election at the back of their minds. Perhaps they were second guessing what would please the government."

Not a 'national service'

Tan then said that whatever the reason for ST's "journalistic lapse", it is "disturbing" because the news of the then-highest single day jump in confirmed cases is critical in reminding Singaporeans of the gravity of the situation.

It would also serve as a further "wake-up call" for its readers to follow the rules of the circuit breaker period.

Tan, who worked for ST for 16 years, concluded with a call for citizens and residents to help one another by observing the circuit breaker rules.

He added: "Hiding the news, whether intentional or not, performs no national service but does the very exact opposite."

Bertha Henson's observation

Tan was not the only former ST heavyweight to weigh in on the story.

Bertha Henson, former Associate Editor of ST, noted the new record set, and said in a Facebook post on Apr. 9:

"Also, why is this story on page 8??? That’s like burying the news of a record number."

You can see her Facebook post below:

Straits Times' frontpage on Apr. 10

Let's move forward to a day later.

Any indication that yesterday's Covid-19 cases update story might be downplayed is dismissed by the front page of the Apr. 10 edition of ST.

Singapore experienced its highest ever daily jump of confirmed cases with a record 287 new cases of Covid-19 infections.

Perhaps ST editors have heard the feedback from their former colleagues and readers.

Or as Tan notes about the news judgement of ST editors, they are unlikely to be so poor.

Top image from Global Asia NTU's YouTube channel and a Mothership contributor.