As all of you should have known by now, Singapore will be hosting the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 August to 26 August this year. As the inaugural event is drawing near, have you noticed the increased exposure about the YOG by the media? This, my friends, is an example of the agenda setting function.Through repeated news coverage, the importance of YOG is etched in the public’s mind, forcing us to anticipate the arrival of the actual event.
What makes the media successful in setting their agenda, in this case, highlighting the importance of YOG? One of the reasons is the unobtrusive nature of this issue. Although Singapore is the host for this said event, not all Singaporeans are taking part in the preparation of it. As such, whatever news coverage that mentions YOG, most Singaporeans will tend to believe it wholeheartedly as they have no direct experience with the mentioned issue. Furthermore, the amazing amount of news coverage on YOG also contributes to the agenda setting. There is a wide variety of media that covers YOG, such as online journals, blogs, official website, newspapers and radio. The abundance of news coverage further highlights the importance of this event. As most political persons are involved in YOG and have in one way or another promoted the event, the public are more inclined to be “moved” by what the government officials do/say. For example Ministers like Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Mr Masagos Zulkifli played a part in this agenda setting function by giving speeches at separate events related to YOG (here, here). As such, the public will view YOG as something that is important as “important people” are promoting it.
Not only the politicians, but schools and other organisations are also promoting the event, helping in the success of the agenda setting function. For example, SIMGE has been raising awareness by asking for volunteers to help out in YOG. Organisations like the NTUC and Girl Guides Singapore are also asking for volunteers and of course, they will be sending in their own batch of volunteers. Through the massive coverage and the huge number of assistance needed for this upcoming event, the public will definitely see the importance of YOG and the amount of effort put in by everyone to make it successful
As media represents the view of the powerful elite and by promoting and providing extensive coverage on YOG, clearly, it is to remind us that YOG is taking place in Singapore and the importance of it relative to our overall status.
I am most definitely looking forward to this inaugural event as, agenda setting or not, YOG is obviously a respected event and for it to be held in Singapore is something to be proud of. And! Micheal Phelps is the ambassador for it, so of course I’m excited!
YOG is a super exciting event to look forward to!! aside from phelps being the ambassador ahah!
ReplyDeletei find that media has played an active role in helping to 'pimp' this sporting event to the general public. the sports show sports@SG and that tv programme where they show national interschool sports competitions [C Div, B Div, A Div], is a stepping stone that was taken to ignite the interest in the local sports scene. the media wants us to be interested in what is happening in our local sporting scene.
while we are familiar with international athletes, we know little about our own sportsmen. this is also the reasons why i think that for the past couple of years, team singapore has been a major selling point for any games/competition singapore participates in. we need to know about our local sports scene too. we rally support for team singapore so that everyone will know that singapore is as committed to sports scene as she is for every other field there is.
with us being the hosts of YOG, an international event, this is the chance for us to showcase the best of singapore's talents
Singapore must be very proud to host this event! I do notice the media is trying to use agenda setting function to bring the awareness that the event is coming! TV shows showing the trainings and interviews of the YOG athletes. By asking Micheal Phelps, the fastest swimmer on earth to be the ambassador of the event, might also serve the purpose of attracting viewers who support Phelps.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that there should be a lot more involvement from the people. I am surprised that as a secondary school student, I have not been asked to somehow contribute or help out. In fact, none of my peers in other secondary schools have been asked.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I feel amazingly proud of Singapore. A small country like ours beat out Moscow, and I think this is something Singaporeans need to stand up and shout out to the world. We are slowly taking progressive steps towards making our mark on the sporting arena. What better way than to host the world's first YOG?
Also, Phelps! Exciting! But *cough* Where is Park Tae Hwan?! Alright, that was just to prove a point that a lot of us support other athletes. I hope that when the YOG rolls in, and we see our counterparts from other countries cheering their athletes on, it will encourage us to support our own athletes. I think Singaporean youths do not have such a strong sense of nationalism. Hopefully, this will help to foster one. :)
i think Singapore is rather proud that they are hosting this rather prestigous event as being a 'small dot' that we are, any type of HUGE events hosted in our country would be a gift in itself to increase recognition for our country and to let people know that we can also considered for future extravagant events which would even help in helping our country's economy.
ReplyDeleteThis is why i think singaporeans should come forward and more people should be involved in the event as they should know how much this kind of events would help our country's standard improve, which inturn effects each one of our lives.
Plus, michael phelps is an added advantage! Who wouldnt want to be in the presence of such amazing talented people like him? (:
I am looking forward to the Youth Olympics as well. I believe giving the event extensive news coverage is necessary to 'excite' the people about what we are about to host. It is a BIG event after all, and hosting it is a great opportunity to show what we are all about. Keeping the people aware, updated and hyped up about the occasion is crucial.
ReplyDeleteChina did a fantastic job 2 years ago. We as an Asian country need to attest to Asian power :)
I'm really looking forward to this event. It can only help the country's image as well as its economy. But lets face it theres a 'hiccup' in any of the event it would be able to seen world wide since its broadcasted live. But its funny how they chose Phelps as an ambassador, wasnt he caught with a bong pipe a while ago?
ReplyDeleteIt's really cool how YOG is taking place in your country, and with Phelps there, -squeals-!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, agenda setting function is really common especially when the government wants to "promote" something or when they want to "brainwash" us into thinking that something is important. In Korea, deaths by suicide is really high not because it's been repeatedly covered but because frequency of it makes it seem like it's "part of the culture". but it's NOT.
In your case, the media does coverage on YOG because it's such an important event that countries taking part are looking forward too. I guess in a way, Singapore is pressured to wow the guests with their "hosting skills".
By hosting the YOG, Singapore government is also trying to promote Singapore to be better known by other countries. It is one of the government effort to put Singapore in the better known on the world map. Hence, the is a specific agenda here, which is to promote Singapore. However, it not done explicitly by setting an agenda for the YOG news coverage.
ReplyDeleteYes, the media clearly keeps reminding us about YOG's soon to be appearance. Through the news on television, as well as the big count-down clock in town.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Perhaps because it is such a grand event and Singapore's honored to have it held on its soil. The agenda setting function seems to want us locals to acknowledge about how big this event's going to be. Or maybe, the hype isn't quite there, and not too many of us are raving about it and the media's reminder to us, is aimed to create more hype about it.
No matter, the power is owned by the media. They dictate what they want us, the receptive viewers and listeners, to think about.
It's really an honour for Singapore to be hosting such an important event, that's anticipated throughout Asia. With the clock in town and websites popping up everywhere, clearly, the media wants us to KNOW that it's coming and it wants us to be part of it. By constantly doing coverage on it, it obviously wants the public to grasp the importance of this event in our country.
ReplyDeleteIt is a highly anticipated major event, so that is why much effort is put into it to prepare and get things done. Of course, media helped by reporting it, getting first hand information and updates about the ongoings on this event. They are the ones who know everything and expected to provide accurate and reliable information in the shortest time. Agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThe media do play a part in telling us the importance of this event. I guess every country would do the same since hosting the event is really something to boast about.
ReplyDeleteWe can't really blame them for promoting YOG as really, you'd do the same if you're in power too.
since YOG will be a huge inaugural international event, it is no surprise that its gonna be a media circus.
ReplyDeletefurthermore its held in singapore. the only other huge scale sporting event i remember would be the F1 night race.
so i guess singapore need all the support to make YOG a successful one
i'm actually super excited for this! too bad i can't be in singapore :/
ReplyDeleteall the media coverage will help me monitor how the athletes from country are doing so i say pimp more on YOG please!
I'm not exactly a big fan of Phelps. Ian Thorpe baby!
ReplyDeleteYOG's really something to look forward to in Singapore! With participations from the members of parliaments and constant coverage on it, it's deeply etched in every Singaporean's mind that YOG's happening here and we should anticipate it.
What Salha said made sense cos really, if the event is not all that important, the media and MPs won't really bother about it.