Socio-commentary website Breakfast Network have been asked to “register” their site with the Media Development Authority (MDA).
In a post explaining the situation, editor and publisher Bertha Henson says this is different from applying for a licence, which requires websites to cough up SGD50,000 in deposit once they’ve reached a specified number of unique visitors. Registering with MDA means you “promise” never to accept foreign funding, which in this context expands from traditional investment to include any advertising dollars. Says Henson, the MDA requires monies coming from a “foreign source” to be given back or donated to charity.
It seems Henson and the gang were in the midst of relaunching their site — along with a new logo — to further professionalise the website. They were even planning to put together an official, professional team of workers. But the “call” from MDA came and changed everything.
Now Breakfast Network is trying to decide if it will continue its commercial path — qualify as a legit news and commentary platform for Singapore and struggle to make ends meet with the measly online advertising ops there are — or go completely indie i.e. return to being bloggers.
