Stop using S'pore's ranking in World Press Freedom Index to bash media

Here we go again.

Reporters Without Borders has just released its 2016 World Press Freedom Index, where Singapore fell one place from last year's lowly 153rd ranking to an even lowlier 154th position out of 180 countries.



It has become a cliche to use this ranking to bash "mainstream media", specifically the news outlets of SPH and Mediacorp, and the journalists who work for them.















I find this terribly ironic.

For one thing, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders is a pro-journalist organisation.

It doesn't distinguish "mainstream media" from so-called "alternative media". It advocates freedom of information for all and seeks protection for journalists and bloggers alike.

What many would take the World Press Freedom Index ranking to mean is that Singapore's press is 154th in the world when actually it's Singapore's press freedom that's ranked 154th. It is an important distinction.

While you may argue that the lack of press freedom leads to a lousy press, let's not confuse the two as the same thing.

In fact, I would argue that what the low ranking shows is not how bad Singapore's press is, but how hard it is here to be a journalist at all.

It's like being a fireman in a volcano. The odds are stacked against you, but you still got to do your job the best you can.

On the other hand, if you want to use the ranking to bash the Government for creating such an environment, that's perfectly fine.

Rui En walked out of an audition with me: 'Do you know who I am?'

Back in the 90s, when I was still sort of a journalist, I was asked to interview a boss of some company for a profile piece.

I was told that the boss would be expecting my call.

So I called the number I was given and someone I assumed was the boss's assistant answered.

I introduced myself and asked to speak to the boss.

The assistant said the boss was busy.

That was when I said: "Do you know who I am?"

I realised almost right away that was a mistake.

What I meant was "I'm told he is expecting my call". Instead I came across as "Do you know how important I am? So don't fuck with me."

I left my number with the assistant, but the boss never called back and I never got the interview.

I can imagine the assistant telling the boss: "This asshole just called and wanted to speak to you. I told him you were busy and he said 'Do you know who I am?'"

Boss: "Really? Who the hell does he think he is?"

Assistant: "You want to call him back?"

Boss: "Fuck him."



So I can believe that when Rui En said "Do you know who I am?" to the guy whose motorbike she knocked over, she didn't mean "Do you know what a big star I am? So don't fuck with me."

On the other hand, I have met Rui En.

It was maybe 10 years ago when I was working at MediaCorp. I was auditioning actresses for the lead in a new Channel 5 TV pilot I was developing.

I remember Belinda Lee, who really put a lot of effort into the audition, but she was too "drama" and not comedic enough for the role. Still, I liked her.

And then there was Rui En.

I have auditioned many actors and actresses before, but Rui En was the first to walk out of an audition.

My guess is that there was some misunderstanding about what she was doing there. I never found out exactly what happened.

I was in the middle of giving her direction in the audition room when she just decided she wasn't doing it anymore and walked out. She never explained why.

But judging by her haughty attitude at the audition, if she were to explain, I suspect what she would say is: "Do you know what a big star I am? Why should I audition for you?"

In other words: "Do you know who I am?"

I went to North Korea & ran 10k in the Pyongyang marathon

I first read about the Pyongyang marathon late last year via the Just Run Lah Faceboook page.

I immediately wanted to join - if I could get my Korean-speaking sister to go with me. I did by offering to pay for the whole trip for both of us.

Which was how I ended up in North Korea on Sunday morning getting ready for my 10km run in the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon.

It would be my first race overseas.

Here I am on the tour bus pinning my race bib on my ugly T-shirt given by the travel company that brought us to DPRK:





Flag-off was 9.30am inside the May Day Stadium, but first, we have to wait for the opening ceremony.

Here we are posing with our tour group in the stadium tunnel:



The video below shows us going into the stadium onto the field for the opening ceremony. This was the best part of the trip for me:



Another video, taken by my sister:



After the opening ceremony, we had to rush back into the tunnel and change into our running gear for the flag-off.



Below are photos of the 10km route taken with my Autographer camera:

















Yes, I did get to high five (or low five) the Korean bystanders along the way, especially the kids.

















One major disappointment about the race is that the 10km finish line is just mats. You can barely tell that it's the finish line.



There was no one giving out finisher T-shirts or medals because only the top finishers in the various categories get medals during the closing ceremony.

Although there were drinks station along the way, there was no one giving you water after you finish. That's why I was saving my water from the last drinks station, knowing it was almost 10km. You can see me holding a cup after crossing the mats in the photo below.







After the race, my sister spoke to these children to find out whether they were actors hired to be there for our benefit. She concluded that they weren't.



Don't believe everything you see in The Interview.



I don't know why my marathon certificate says I'm female.



I kind of wished I had signed up for the half marathon so that I could've seen more of Pyongyang and its people on foot, and made the trip more worthwhile.

Because of the cooler-than-Singapore weather, I think I might have been able to make the two-and-a-half-hour cut-off time for the half marathon.

Maybe next year?


EARLIER:

I went to North Korea & asked for the Kim Jong Un haircut (and lived)

I went to North Korea & took lots of selfies



NEWS REPORTS:

Strictly no selfies with Kim Jong Un! 1,000 foreigners flock to North Korea for the world's strangest marathon

More Than 1,600 Runners Take Part in Pyongyang Marathon

An American in North Korea: What it's like to run the Pyongyang marathon