Media observations

Two days ago on the MRT I spotted a front page headline on Singapore's leading tabloid 'Today', which read something like: Job Losses are Up, but it's OK, People Found Work Again Quickly.

This would have any visiting Brit tittering into their char siu pau*. Mainly because in the UK the spin on the same story would be:

Job Losses are Up, and We're All Doomed! DOOMED I tell you! Aargh!

And it might well be followed by:
p2: Grim forecasts and stats, and how it will take at least five years for even the country's top law graduate to scrape a role in Starbucks
p3: "Kate Middleton wears nice frock but it's from Argos, because we're all going to lose our jobs"
p4: The whole world is losing its job (with real life tales of woe) and it's not going to get any better.

You get the picture.

In fact when I listen to the radio here in Asia I can immediately tell which station is the BBC World Service - partly from the accents, but partly from the content of 'The Whole World is in Recession and Will Never Recover, We're All Doomed! Aargh!'

Incidentally, I enjoy the World Service, but what's with the British media's obsession with doom? Two or so years ago, when most of us in London were trundling along minding our own business, the 'Mega Ruin' headlines started appearing. After a few months of this, some of us started thinking: 'Hold on, maybe things really are going to get bad?' so we stopped spending; just in case. Retail spending is down.. uh oh. Then employers followed suit, and the normally rich source of work with SMEs dried up for many people. Now people really were losing jobs and going on benefits... employer purse-strings tighten further - We're All Doomed! Aargh!

(I make light of it here, but know many people who are genuinely suffering in the current - now depressingly full-blown - UK squeeze.)

Of course Singapore's media is controlled. Either directly, or indirectly through various government shareholdings. But I am beginning to think it might not be such a bad idea! Sometimes.

What would have happened, I wonder, if two years ago the British media had reported: "Oh Look, Small Hillock Coming Up: but it's only a blip!"?

There may be legalities about reporting certain economic trends in the UK. And of course the situation is far more complex, with banks and other geezers having crucial parts to play. But the shovelling of media gloom and panic can surely be tempered? It's just not helpful. And some ignorance is definitely bliss.

* FYI, you are not allowed to eat char siu pau (or any other food) on Singapore transport.^^