SPH equipped to succeed

MEDIA group Singapore Press Holdings, with its 25 years track record, is well equipped to succeed in the new publishing climate, said President SR Nathan on Monday.
He said SPH has made a name for itself as a leading media group and an authority on news and information in the Asean and the greater China region.
"It offers high quality content not only through the print media, but through online and mobile platforms as well," said Mr Nathan at the SPH's 25th anniversary celebrations at its News Centre in Toa Payoh North, where he unveiled the company's new logo with SPH chairman, Dr Tony Tan.
In his address, he paid tribute to all "who toil to produce the SPH publications," including those who were part of SPH past.
Mr Nathan, who was Executive Chairman of The Straits Times Press from 1982 to 1988 and an SPH Director from 1984 to 1988, recalled the emergence of SPH, following its merger 25 years ago.
"There were many concerns about the new company, not only among the staff but also the general public alike," he said. "Would the newspapers be able to compete with each other now that they were under the same management? Would they be able to keep their own independence and identity, yet at the same time, share a common bond and company culture?"
"Those were some of the questions asked. Despite such doubts and the odds, SPH emerged a successful and stronger media organization, meeting all the challenges head-on."
He described his six years with The Straits Times Press and SPH as a "unique experience for me."
"When I accepted the job of heading Straits Times Press, I had no prior experience with the workings of newsrooms and other aspects of the production and distribution of newspapers," he said.
"The day before I started work, the then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, told me: 'Nathan, I'm giving you The Straits Times. It has something like 150 years of history. It is like a bowl of china. You break it, I can piece it together again, but it will never be the same. Try not to."
"I am proud to say that the bowl that was handed to me and passed on to successor leaders of SPH remains unbroken -- in fact it has achieved a better glow with successive years."
On the new challenge SPH faces in the publishing industry, with competition from the electronic media and its wider critical reading public; their new lifestyles, preoccupations and demands, Mr Nathan said: "I am confident SPH with its 25 years of track record is well equipped to succeed in this new climate."

Source: The Straits Times