In a media landscape where attention spans are shrinking and video-first platforms dominate, Singapore's newsrooms are rethinking how they engage younger audiences. On September 28, 2026, The Straits Times (ST) hosted a 90-minute workshop at its News Centre in Toa Payoh North, bringing together 41 lecturers from polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to explore how news is produced for youth. The session was part of the ST News Literacy Champions programme, a free, year-long initiative designed to equip educators with tools to integrate current affairs into their classrooms.
The workshop offered a behind-the-scenes look at ST's youth-focused content, from satirical TikToks to viral videos covering Parliament and the 2025 General Election. For educators, the event underscored a broader regional challenge: how to make news literacy relevant in an era of fragmented media consumption.
Why News Literacy Matters for ASEAN's Digital Generation
Across Southeast Asia, young audiences are increasingly turning to social and video platforms for news, bypassing traditional formats. This shift has significant implications for governance, civic engagement, and media trust. In Singapore, the ST News Literacy Champions programme aims to address this by helping lecturers bridge the gap between classroom teaching and real-world media consumption.
Journalist Wong Yang, known as 'Gerry' from ST's 'Gerry and Mandy' short-form video series, highlighted the changing demands of younger viewers. 'The demands have really changed. Younger audiences want their news to be fast, engaging, relatable, and digestible. News might also be something they prefer to watch rather than read,' he said. 'It's made me think about telling stories visually and in a way that speaks to viewers more sincerely, instead of telling them here's what you need to know.'
Adapting Content Strategies for Short-Form Video
Executive producer Farzanah Friday emphasized the need for newsrooms to stay agile. 'Creating content for our young audiences requires us to stay updated on fast-evolving trends and the topics that matter most to our young, while also experimenting with different content styles helps us identify what fits best,' she noted.
This approach reflects a broader trend in ASEAN media, where short-form video is becoming a primary news gateway. For educators, the challenge is twofold: teaching students to critically evaluate information while also engaging them through formats they naturally gravitate toward.
Educators See Value in Video-First Teaching
Lecturers who attended the session said they found the insights practical and actionable. Charlotte Char, a lecturer at Republic Polytechnic's Centre for Foundational Studies, said, 'It was a great opportunity to find out more about how to engage young people with the news. We already use some video content in our classroom, but we may want to have another look at the type and length of the videos that we use as a hook for our lessons.'
Rebecca Lim, a lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic's School of Humanities and Social Sciences, observed that her students often struggle with long-form articles. 'Sometimes, it's a struggle for our students to read long-form articles, so I really liked the suggestion of using videos as a hook so our students engage with different forms of media,' she said.
For James Sharpe, a lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Film and Media Studies, the session reaffirmed that 'the direction that the industry is headed in is in line with the young journalists in the mass communication diploma and the content they want to create.' He also valued the opportunity to connect with peers, noting that 'educational institutions tend to be quite siloed, so being able to come together and hear questions from like-minded educators is very fascinating and positive.'
What This Means for Media Governance in the Region
ST editor Jaime Ho framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to foster informed citizenship. 'We've been working with polytechnic and ITE lecturers over the past year with the aim of making news and current affairs more relatable to younger people,' he said. 'We're of course deeply aware that as with others, younger Singaporeans will get their news from a wide variety of sources and formats, especially on social and video platforms. We're therefore collaborating with these lecturers to help young people evoke an interest in the world around them, and to understand how to engage on each of these platforms through which they get their news.'
For policymakers and media leaders across ASEAN, Singapore's approach offers a useful case study. By investing in educator training and adapting content to platform-specific realities, newsrooms can play a proactive role in building media literacy. The model also aligns with broader regional goals of promoting stable, well-informed societies, where citizens can navigate complex information ecosystems with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ST News Literacy Champions programme?
The ST News Literacy Champions programme is a free, year-long initiative by The Straits Times that supports lecturers in polytechnics and ITE by providing curated resource packages, free ST subscriptions, and workshops to help integrate current affairs into classroom teaching.
Why are Singapore newsrooms focusing on short-form video?
Younger audiences increasingly prefer video content on social platforms over traditional long-form articles. Newsrooms like ST are adapting by producing formats such as TikTok-style videos to remain relevant and engaging for Gen Z viewers.
How does news literacy benefit ASEAN societies?
News literacy helps citizens critically evaluate information, understand complex issues, and engage meaningfully in civic life. For ASEAN's rapidly digitalizing societies, this is essential for maintaining informed public discourse and stable governance.