Howard Lee

Amid the tightening media restrictions in Singapore, this presentation discusses the innovation practices of Singapore’s independent news startups that challenge the status quo and contribute to the development of a counter-infrastructure that resists the country’s regulatory infrastructure. Contrary to common perceptions of direct censorship and repression of journalists, Singapore’s regulatory strictures instead indirectly curtails the growth of news startups by restricting funding sources, and influencing market principles that affect reputation management. In response, news startups have innovated their funding models, technology use, and reportage that differentiate them from the mainstream media. Drawing on the approaches of three news startups, this presentation examines how their innovations, both editorially and in seeking funding, give rise to infrastructural tensions and the development of a counter-infrastructure. Consequently, we assess the implications that these news startups and their innovations have on the country’s media environment, focusing on social justice issues, journalistic independence, and media plurality.