Mainstream media under siege...not unless

Its been more than a year since the Acid Flask days... and folks in Singapore - from food-lovers to top-level politicians - no less our PM - are starting to take note. Blogging - the phenomena that just won't go away (at least for now) - as Hugh hewitt argues, is the next big information revolution that will change the world - in a manner no less catalysmic than the Gutenberg revolution some five hundred years ago.

Yeah, maybe Hewitt's exaggerating (after all that's how authors sell books)... but is there some truth in his words? It is my opinion that for digital media to challenge or even replace mainstream media, the following scenarios (in paralleling the present with the past) must first be seen:

1. The Presence of a Meta-Authority.

Throughout the Middle-ages, the Church (Roman Catholic) was the final governing authority. Even the coronation of a king had to be done in the presence of the Pope - who was seen as the Vicar of Christ on earth. The sanctions of the church were final- to the extent that excommunication from the church meant the straight road to hell.

In extrapolating this example to SG society, the Government plays the role of the PAPacy (no pun intended), its Bhavani commandments are etched in gold. The media cringes at the thought of being struck by (divine) lightning... as folks like Catherine Lim, Mr Brown and even Cherian George can testify to.

2. The Monopoly over Truth

Truth was what the Pope, or his representatives claimed. The papacy was infallible, its pronouncements were the propositions of absolute truth.

Similarly, the PAPacy in SG, to quote a certain senior member, "is incorruptible". Its verdict and decisions often stood as final truth.

3. The Ability to Censure

The Church had the power, or so they claimed, to excommunicate a member for various reasons. A person who was excommunicated by the church means that he was going to hell. Needless to say, thousands trembled...

The version of censorial mechanisms in SIngapore can take place in two forms: the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act and the Bhavani Commandments.

4. The Indulgence in Excesses

To make matters worse, the Roman Catholic Church (note: this does not mean all RCC churches then were equally guilty) started to indulge themselves in excesses and added extra-Biblical prescriptions to their dogma. For instance, the collection of indulgences for the construction of churches, the using of Church sacraments as a foundation of grace etc...

The NKF scandal brought to light the possibility of deeds done in the dark and the possibility of "legalized corruption" (as some critics put it). While most members of the ruling party remain generally innocent of misdeed; knowing human nature, it is not entirely impossible...

5. The Pain of the People

As the power of the Church grew, its enforcement powers grew too - to the extent that the common folk placed under the anvil of punishment, for fear of transgression. Human freedom was only allowed - as far as it did not contradict the rules of the papacy.

In Singapore, the Weberian iron-cage continues to grow; economic progress comes at a price...

6. The Character of Revolution

Finally in 1517, a certain individual - Martin Luther - nailed his 95 theses to the gate of Wittenberg Church, thus beginning the Reformation that would change church history.

The presence of such an individual as yet to emerge. From JBJ to Tang LH to CSJ, their actions have been limited.

Which brings me back to my original point:

Any media student should be able to tell you that paper was actually discovered long before

Gutenberg (by the Chinese, no less), however what catalyzed the revolution were cultural factors, not technological ones.

The birth of the Renaissance was followed by the challenge to the authority of the Church (Roman Catholic) which resulted in the common folk wanting to read for themselves the Word of God (and not blindly follow church dogma).

It is my opinion that in SIngapore, points one to three are largely fulfilled. Mainstream media - if it continues to align itself with the pro-Government stance - would find itself increasingly being isolated and Stomped out of relevancy once the dynamics of power changes