This codebook is divided into two sections. Section A is on what the press should be and do in society while Section B is on what the press should not be or do in society.
A. Please quote from the press laws regarding what the press should be and do in society. Use the original words or phrases but do not paraphrase in any case. Use dots to indicate the omitted words or phrases.
A.1 Legal statements regarding what the press should be and do in society (actor specific)
Radio
1) Matters pertaining to race and religion should be handled sensitively.
2) Should exercise due cauton when featuring the views, beliefs, practices, or activities of racial and religious groups.
3) Songs broadcast do not contain lyrics which are vulgar or may in any way promote wrong moral values and lifestyles.
4) Must exercise care and judgement when handling content which may not be suitable for children
5) Provide advisory notices for programme content which may be potentially disturbing or upsetting so as to enable listeners to make an informed choice.
6) Contents pertaining to sex and nudity (including programmes on AIDS, sex education, childbirth, etc) should be treated with discretion and consideration so as not to offend against good taste and decency.
7) Factual programmes such as news, current affairs or documentary programmes should present information in an objective, accurate and balanced manner.
8) Must ensure that due impartiality is observed in programmes dealing with matters of public policy or controversial issues of public importance in Singapore
9) References to race and religion should be presented accurately and in a dignified and sensitive manner.
10) Broadcasters must bear in mind the main religious faiths practised in Singapore whenever they carry programmes which make reference to or touch upon religious views or beliefs. In featuring any religious view or belief, broadcasters should ensure such views do not in any way disparage or cast other faiths in poor light.
11) Must exercise sensitivity and avoid humour which offends against good taste and decency.
12) References to mental or physical afflictions should be handled with caution to avoid offence or anxiety to sufferers.
TV
1) Matters pertaining to race and religion should be handled sensitively.
Internet
1. Contents to include material that has intrinsic medical, scientific, artistic or educational value
B. Please quote from the press laws regarding what the press should not be or do in society. Use the original words or phrases but do not paraphrase in any case. Use dots to indicate the omitted words or phrases.
B.1 Legal statements regarding what the press should not be or do in society (actor specific)
General 1. (not actual words) no publication of defamatory statements
2. Under the maintenance of religious harmony act(also applies to media):
a. Causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups
b. Carrying out activities to promote a political cause, or a cause of any political party while, or under the guide of, propagating or practicing any religious belief
c. Carrying out subversive activities under the guise of propagating or practicing any religious belief
d. Exciting disaffection against the President or the Government of Singapore while, or under the guise of, propagating or practicing any religious belief, he may make a restraining order against that person…
Broadcasting
(general) 1. (not actual words) no publication of defamatory statements
Radio
1. Programmes should not undermine public security interest or public confidence in the law and its enforcement in Singapore
2. Programmes should not be of a proselytic value
3. Programmes on crime and violence should not be trated in a cycnical, frivolous or callous manner. Such programmes should not incite, glamorize or in any way promote violence or other types of anti-social behavior
4. Radio programmes should not promote values and attitudes which are contrary to national interest
5. Programmes should not present information or events in such a manner likely to mislead or cause alarm to the public
6. Programmes should not contain propragandist and ideological messages on behalf of any foreign country, group or organization
7. Programmes should not contain extremist or anarchic messages, including the incitement of violence for political ends or other purposes
8. Programmes should not sensationalise the treatment of any issue whether local, nationalistic or foreign in nature.
9. Programmes which denigrate or are likely to offend the sensitivities of any racial or religious group should not be broadcast.
10. Programmes which incite or are likely to incite racial and/or religious intolerance, or misunderstanding, should not be broadcast
11. No programmes should encourage, promote or in any way offer instruction on gambling even with regard to legitimate forms of gambling.
TV
1. Programmes should not undermine public security interest or public confidence in the law and its enforcement in Singapore
2. Radio programmes should not promote values and attitudes which are contrary to national interest
3. Programmes should not present information or events in such a manner likely to mislead or cause alarm to the public
4. Programmes should not contain propragandist and ideological messages on behalf of any foreign country, group or organization
5. Programmes should not contain extremist or anarchic messages, including the incitement of violence for political ends or other purposes
6. Programmes should not sensationalise the treatment of any issue whether local, nationalistic or foreign in nature.
Print (general)
1) (not actual words) no publication of defamatory statements
2) It shall not be lawful to print or publish, or cause or procure to be printed or published in relation to any judicial proceedings any indecent matter or indecent medical, surgical or physiological details being matter or details the publication of which would be calculated to injure public morals
3) It shall not be lawful to print or publish, or cause or procure to be printed or published in relation to any judicial proceedings fro divorce, dissolution of marriage, nullity of marriage, judicial separation or restitution of conjugal rights, any particulars …
4) (not actual words) no publication with seditious tendency such as:
a. To bring hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government
b. To excite the citizens of Singapore, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established
c. To bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Singapore
d. To raise discontent or disaffection amongst the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore
e. To promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore.
5) no publication containing any incitement to violence
6) counsels disobedience to the law or to any lawful order
7) is calculated or likely to lead to a breach of the peace, or to promote feelings of hostility between different races or classes of the population
8) is prejudicial to the national interest, public order or security of Singapore …
9) no publication containing false statements likely to cause public alarm …
Newspaper
1) (not actual words) no publication of defamatory statements
2) (not actual words) no publication with seditious tendency such as:
a. To bring hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the Government
b. To excite the citizens of Singapore, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established
c. To bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Singapore
d. To raise discontent or disaffection amongst the citizens of Singapore or the residents in Singapore
e. To promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Singapore.
Internet
1. No inclusion of prohibited content such as
a. Material that is objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public morality, public order, public security, national harmony, or is otherwise prohibited by applicable Singapore laws
b. Material depicts nudity or genitalia in a manner calculated to titillate
c. The material promotes sexual violence or sexual activity involving coercion or non-consent of any kind
d. Material depicts a person or persons clearly engaged in explicit sexual activity
e. Material depicts a person who is, or appears to be, under 16 years of age in sexual activity, in a sexually provocative manner or in any other offensive manner
f. Whether the material depicts detailed or relished acts of extreme violence or cruelty
g. Material glorifies, incites or endorses ethnic, racial or religious hatred, strife or intolerance
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