Opening my eyes to Asia

2009-06-17T22:29:00Z

Brodie Kane compares reporting the news in Singapore and New Zealand.

I'M INCREDIBLY grateful that the New Zealand Government has spent quite a lot of money to send me to Singapore for the last month.

I'm here to get a better understanding of the country, its media and to establish a wider perspective of South East Asia — a region that in fairness, is probably under-reported back home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with the Asia New Zealand Foundation wants to change that, and launched an initiative a couple of years ago to send journalists to Southeast Asia to learn more about the region. Considering we have a very healthy relationship with countries like Singapore, and trade is incredibly important too, it was a good choice.

So it seems obvious that more journalists — and perhaps the ordinary New Zealander should take a bit more time to visit the region — because honestly, in the last five weeks that I've been here, and with a brief visit to Bangkok, my eyes have been opened dramatically.

Southeast Asia is a place that has so much to offer, so much to take in, and I definitely see it as a region that is important on a global scale — therefore, I will hopefully be returning.

I've been working at a nationwide New Zealand radio station called RadioLIVE for 19 months — it's a 24-hour talkback and news station. It also provides news to other stations under our company and our news is broadcast to about 1.5 million listeners a week.

A radio newsroom the structure is quite different to that of a newspaper environment. You have hourly bulletins, a small team, you have to do everything — from business to health to crime. Sometimes you might have to do a bit of sub-editing and, hey, don't be surprised if you have to rush into the newsbooth and read the news off-the- cuff if a newsreader hasn't turned up for their shift.

It's a fast-paced, exciting environment and no one day is ever the same (that doesn't mean there aren't any of those incredibly slow, slow news days I think all newsrooms dread.)

But if my newsroom back home is ever quiet there can only be two reasons: The first would be because it's five minutes before a bulletin; the second — if everyone had their mouths taped shut.

Sometimes, I think it resembles a circus with a bunch of crazy animals let out of their cages — especially if a big story hits. But I wouldn't trade that environment for a second. Sure, there are tense times, but I think that's the same in any newsroom. After all, you've got a group of people who have to back themselves to do the job and have an element of an ego — so it's bound to get messy.

When I arrived at The Straits Times, there were a few things I noticed immediately that were different from New Zealand.

First off, the place is so organised! There are good structures and work flow in place — and every one has their own desk! I know that sounds odd, but at home, it’s first-comes-first-served, and sometimes you have to battle with another journalist to get a seat.

The other thing I noticed that was in stark contrast my New Zealand newsroom is how quiet things are.

Now it might be because everyone is busy and getting on with things but, wow, it's quiet, peaceful and somewhat resembles how a library should be. I have to say it took a while to get used to it.

I think the main difference in news content between New Zealand media and coverage in Singapore is that news back home is very localised.

Most of our leading stories are almost always national or even regional. Newspapers, radio and television coverage tends to put the world news further down the news schedule.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing, because I genuinely believe we have some exciting and interesting news, but it's clear that international news plays a much bigger role in Singapore's news coverage.

I think it's made me realise that New Zealand is a very small country a long way from where a lot of the action happens, and the focus is therefore somewhat different.

The global recession, and more recently the H1N1 global pandemic have, however, shifted the coverage because both stories are having a worldwide effect.

Looking back at the time I have had here, I've made a few decisions: I'm going back to New Zealand with a much broader world view and interest in what's going on around the world - particularly Southeast Asia.

I will slug it out for maybe three to five years to become a better journalist and then I'm out of there and into the wider world - and definitely back to Southeast Asia.

I think this region is going to be one of the most interesting places to work as a journalist over the next 10 years. Of course, I will go back home to settle down later on, but I've still got a few more years on my side!

There are many differences to how the media works in Singapore but there is, and always should be, one thing that stays the same: No matter where you go we are trying to achieve a similar goal, to get the latest news and information out to the people with balance, fairness and accuracy.

Brodie Kane has been on exchange in The Straits Times newsroom for four weeks as part of a New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Asia New Zealand Foundation programme.

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Opening my eyes to Asia