STOMPing into the 21st century

STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile and Print) is allowing Singaporeans all a chance to act as citizen journalists. An offshoot of the island’s primary media outlet, it generates all its content from contributions of everyday people who snap photos/video or would like to bring an issue into discussion. The innovation, commented upon by Stephen Quinn in “Citizen journalism gets things done in Singapore as digital revolution moves forward” is having quite an effect, with government moving to alter grievances of the public. It appears there is also quite a demand for it with social networks sprouting up. The site is upbeat and casual with photos, polls, gossip and discussions. For Singapore, whose media was once rigid and controlled, this is a massive step forward and proceeds other countries adaptation of convergent media on the internet. It is almost the ultimate Facebook friend whom everyone chats to daily.