Review of censorship

May 21, 2009
Addendum to President's Address
Review of censorship
By Clarissa Oon

Singapore will reconvene a committee this year to review its censorship of media and the arts. --PHOTO: SINGAPORE ARTS FESTIVAL
SINGAPORE will reconvene a committee this year to review its censorship of media and the arts. The move is aimed at giving citizens more choices without compromising social fundamentals.

This independent Censorship Review Committee (CRC) will study content regulations in broadcast media, films, videos, publications, audio materials, the arts and new media to see if they need updating.

The last time such a review took place was in 2003, said the Ministry Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) in a statement on Thursday, elaborating on its addendum to the President's address in Parliament on Monday.

Previous CRC reviews were held every 10 years.

This time, the committee will be reconvened earlier to help Mica and the Media Development Authority keep pace with the rapidly-changing media environment and societal changes.

Issues that have been raised by industry players include fine-tuning of film and video classifications, video distribution and rules on entertainment and lifestyle publications.

The CRC will also look at what the convergence of multiple media platforms means for content regulations.

Its chairman and members will be announced soon.

Mica has also said it will continue to invest in the arts and creative industries despite the economic downturn.

It plans to open a new library in Clementi and relocate the Orchard library to the new Specialist Shopping Centre. The old library at Orchard moved out of Ngee Ann City in end-2007.

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