You may have noted that at the foot of most of ST articles or news reports is a rating guide.
ONE (1) for poor through to FIVE (5) for excellent.
Two things you will notice.
First, not too many people bother rating the articles/write-ups and I wonder how many read them in any case.
(Some, sadly, still feel they have to subscribe to the ST,because where or what else is the alternative?)

And second, when they do, invariably the articles and news stories are never rated higher than say..ONE or TWO. only. Rarely, THREE ..er..sometimes.

Which brings me to ask.. does the Editor do anything to ensure the writer comes up with a better piece?
To be blunt, there does NOT seem to be an improvement in the quality of the articles or write-ups since it was introduced.
Okay, I know that there are some readers who will swallow anything.
But I am more discerning.
Aren't you?

I love your articles Ms Lee. Do continue to write your mind!

@ashes: My point exactly when the Online Editor said without heart..."when you got to go, you got to go."..and at the same time, her showing off, indulging in business class luxury.
It's ST's contempt for its readers.

strangely ms lee seems to be relieved at the expense of another's tragedy, it's like walking past a carnage and saying, phew, i was in that bus yesterday, now thank god i'm not and i shall blog about it to the world for what purpose? what is the aim of this entry anyway? count your blessings?gloat about them? -baffled-

@Danaris: You seem to be a reasonable intellect. Still blinkered, but nonetheless open to fair argument.
Think the following through before you post a reply, please.

It would be great, in our 44th year as a nation, that the Straits Times also makes a pledge to its long suffering readers.

Maybe it should be along these lines..(add as you wish)

*We will NOT continue to treat our readers with contempt, but with empathy.
*We will NOT continue to only publish what WE like. But what our readers should read and want to read.
*We will print the whole news and nothing but the news. We promise that Singaporeans should NOT have to read news about Singapore in other newspapers or on other websites.
*We will NOT bin the letters we receive that WE do not want to print. We will publish them.
*We will give any reasons or answers for our doing. That as you can understand is new to us, to be answerable, but we will try.
*We promise to listen to our readers views (if it makes you happy to hear it) and NOT to just to listen.
*We understand fully we have a license to print money but that means we have to give back even MORE to the community. Not just lip service but real money.. even more to the ST Money Box and a car a year (no doubt bought at a knock-down price in exchange for press ads)
*We remain a monoply, (thank goodness) but we have to act as if we are not. But you know, really thats how we survived so successfully and profitaby these last 164 years. So, one small step at a time, please.
*We understand that Singaporeans have no choice of any other newspaper. That's it. No argument.
*We remain committed to our advertisers who by the way have absolutely no other newspaper publication choice.
*We will endeavour to provide value for money to our advertisers so long as it suits us, first. After all, they have no where else to go. And we do have shareholders and highly paid Editorial executives.
*We must be seen to be concerned about the social..oops..we mean..municipal issues of Singaporeans. Our writers must be trained to write about them. Not easy, but we will try, hard. Maybe we should read the AsiaOne forums to feel the pulse of what our readers are crying about.
*Our writers must learn to blog about the social...oops..we mean...municipal issues confronting Singaporeans. But, in the first place, we have to learn and listen from our readers. Forgive us, we have since 1845, been so mindset that changes are difficult.
*We will employ and encourage more Singaporeans to join the ST as writers (heaven help us) and not be too dependent on foreign staff.
*We must NOT be hesitant in apologising to our readers. Saying sorry, you can understand, is the hardest word.
*We will re-train our writers NOT write what WE want them to write and say, within fair reason. You will agree,its a new beginning for us. Because for as long as we have been, our writers are taught to only write what we tell them to write. But, we realise change happens but please dont expect any changes to happen overnight, or at all.
*We will continue to add to this pledge, as we see fit.
Lest you forget, after all, WE are The Straits Times.
ALL THIS WE PLEDGE AND PROMISE.


NOW, hands up....anyone....who believes that the ST should NOT give us this pledge?