There are plenty of Chinese proverbs extolling the virtues of listening to your elders and respecting authority. In this regard, I have decided to take the advice of veteran journalist PN Balji, a renowned figure in Singapore journalism and occasional Yahoo News Singapore contributor.

At the official launch of his book “Reluctant Editor” on 14 June, the 70-year-old noted, “Singapore journalists hardly write stories about journalism. Many of them take these stories to the grave.”

View photos Veteran journalist PN Balji (centre), at the official launch of his book "Reluctant Editor" at Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop on 14 June, 2019. (PHOTO: Nicholas Yong/Yahoo News Singapore) More

"Reluctant Editor" largely covers Balji's time as editor of The New Paper and Today, with many behind-the-scenes stories of the government's often contentious relationship with the mainstream media. It topped the non-fiction bestseller list at Books Kinokuniya the week it was released.

The 70-year-old paints a portrait of a thin-skinned government that often reacted defensively to negative coverage and was unafraid to resort to strong-arm tactics. Jobs were literally at stake, and more than one journalist felt the wrath of the authorities.

On one occasion in 1981, senior editors at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) were summoned to a press conference with then-Transport Minister Ong Teng Cheong. There, Ong demanded that the editors reveal their source for a Straits Times story about impending bus fare hikes. The editors declined.

Fast forward 38 years later, with the proliferation of social media and alternative news sites, has the government changed its approach to the media? No. It has simply gotten smarter and much more sophisticated about it.

At 38, I haven't quite reached Balji's level of gravitas or knowledge. But I do have some stories to tell based on my 12 years of experience in the media industry.

A caste system for press access

As I have previously written, unequal access for mainstream media (MSM) and alternative news outlets in Singapore is a well-established fact. SPH and Mediacorp outlets are given priority for the most important press releases, speeches and event invites.

It is not unusual for accredited outlets like Yahoo News Singapore to be sent press releases hours after the MSM outlets have broken a story, or to be told that certain high-profile events are reserved for "local media only".

On one occasion, when we requested an advance copy of the National Day Rally speech - probably the most important political speech of the year - we were given the runaround by senior government officials who all had the same excuse: "I don't have it." Meanwhile, MSM reporters had obtained the speech the day before.

In this day and age, why is the MSM still accorded first-mover advantage over other media outlets, thus enabling it to shape the narrative first?

'We cannot facilitate your request'

Without the equivalent of a Freedom of Information Act, which enables Americans to request the disclosure of information by the US government, local government agencies are often less than forthcoming, particularly on sensitive topics.

In April, while Yahoo was pursuing a story about maid abuse, a request was sent to the Manpower Ministry for facts and figures on this issue. We received a one-liner in reply, "We’re unable to facilitate your queries."

In an era where public accountability is more important than ever, why are government agencies still empowered to simply fob off reasonable requests for information from the media?

'What is your agenda?'

View photos Police gear up before a simulated gunmen attack demonstration for the public at a housing estate in Singapore on 10 December, 2017. (Reuters file photo) More