The two latest independent news websites to be marked for registration — and potentially have their journalistic wings clipped — by the Media Development Authority are none other than Mothership.sg and The Middle Ground.
Both sites have been hit by a requirement to register under the Broadcasting Act, which imposes influential news websites to register for a license to continue running.
Yesterday, The Middle Ground was notified that they’ll have to register under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification under the Broadcasting Act, as an “internet content provider engaged in the propagation, promotion, and/or discussion of political issues relating to Singapore”, Channel NewsAsia reports. The site is restricted from receiving foreign funding for the provision, management and/or operation of the website — so that foreign entities can’t potentially “control or manipulate” local media platforms.
One founder of The Middle Ground — former The Straits Times associate editor Bertha Henson — noted to Channel NewsAsia that they’ve actually been prepared for the notice. Henson is of course no stranger to the Act; her now-defunct commentary site Breakfast Network shuttered operations in response to MDA’s request for it to be registered under the Class License scheme back in 2013.
And here we go again….I have to register The Middle Ground, says MDA. Only one month in operation and got “invitation’…
Posted by Bertha Henson on Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Mothership.sg on the other hand has been told to register under a different category: the online news licensing framework. They’ll have to put up a performance bond of $50,000 and comply with MDA’s take-down directions should their content breach certain standards, including offending religious sensitivities and other things of Bad Taste.
Their website would become the 11th one to come under the contentious individual licensing framework, among other contemporaries including The Straits Times, Stomp, Channel NewsAsia and Yahoo Singapore.
Thankfully, the MDA has not identified any other websites to submit themselves for the contentious individual licensing framework, which many have noted to be a major suppression to journalistic freedom.
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