Singapore Print Newspaper Licensing & Ownership

Question 1

How long does Singapore’s print newspaper licensing lasts for?

Answer 1

• Permit normally for 1 year

- Can require a monetary deposit (or other security, eg. a bond)

Question 2

What is the definition of a ‘newspaper’ under Singapore law?

Answer 2

(def.) Newspaper:
“any publication containing new, intelligence, reports of occurrences, or any remarks, observations or comments any other matter of public interest, printed in any language & published for sale or free distribution at regular intervals or otherwise…”

Question 3

What are the requirements for a Singapore Print Newspaper License?

Answer 3

• Requires:
  Newspaper company has management shares scheme, unless proprietor exempted:
  (one can buy stock on stock exchange, get right to vote on direction of company)
  –> Make up 1% of the company’s stock
  –> Same value as ordinary shares
  (NPPA require to have both – ordinary shares, management shares)
  –> 200 times the votes of ordinary shares in governing corporation (aka. Super shares)
  –> Not traded on Stock Exchange
  –> Held by SG citizens (unless exception made)
  –> Gov. approved owners (elaborated)

Question 4

How do you get approved newspaper ownership?

Answer 4

• Newspaper Ownership:
  Ownership approved if “Minister is satisfied that –”
  (a) the person is a fit & proper person;
  (Factors considered: honesty, integrity, competent, financial, sound)

(b) having regard to the person’s likely influence, the newspaper company will…conduct its business prudently & comply with the provisions of this Act; AND
(c) it is in the national interest to do so
- Eg. board voting on who gets top position, management shareholder has 200 times the voters of an ordinary shareholder

Question 5

Who owns newspaper management shares in Singapore?

Answer 5

• Who owns management shares?
• -> Privately owned
• -> Can be individuals or other corporations

Question 6

What is media ownership like in the US?

Answer 6

• “Dominant media firms are quite large, controlled by wealthy people, subject to sharp constraints by owners. They are closely interlocked, & have important common interests, with other major corporations, banks & government. This is the first powerful filter that will affect news choices.”
• First Amendment prohibits prior restraint – no licensing on newspaper
• No requirement that the press must have management shareholder who are gov. approved.