Introduction
The Straits Times Interactive is the Internet version of Singapore's premier 157-year-old newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings. As the print edition is only available to local and regional readers, demand for this publication from overseas readers has led this content provider to provide an online version in 1995 and becoming subscription website from March 2005, offering both paid and free and content.
Features
This “Business to Consumer” (B2C) e-Commerce website targets all individuals and organisations who need news instantly at their fingertips. The website is accessible on any electronic device that can connect to the Internet such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants as well as on the conventional personal computer.
Cheaper subscription plans are available to readers who already subscribe to the print edition. Non-print edition subscribers need to pay $12, $10 or $8.50 a month for subscription for six months, twelve months or 24 months respectively. Print edition subscribers are given a 50% discount.
Organisations which subscribe to this website are charged per user instead. Annual subscriptions are at about $1080 for 10 to 19 users, $1920 for 20 to 34 users, $2940 for 35 to 49 users and $3600 for 50 to 74 users. Further discounts are available for the organisation should they want to subscribe for more users. Fees are charged annually.
Online payment can be made through VISA only.
The free content offered on the Straits Times Interactive include all news from the print edition, 7-day archive of past editions, breaking news, photo galleries, web specials, discussion board and interactive graphics. There is also a web widget displaying the activity on the Straits Times Index. Video webcasts, or vodcasts and podcasts are unique content that is also offered on the website. Paid content offered are reader polls, RSS feed, news widget and news alert.
Cheaper subscription plans are available to readers who already subscribe to the print edition. Non-print edition subscribers need to pay $12, $10 or $8.50 a month for subscription for six months, twelve months or 24 months respectively. Print edition subscribers are given a 50% discount.
Organisations which subscribe to this website are charged per user instead. Annual subscriptions are at about $1080 for 10 to 19 users, $1920 for 20 to 34 users, $2940 for 35 to 49 users and $3600 for 50 to 74 users. Further discounts are available for the organisation should they want to subscribe for more users. Fees are charged annually.
Online payment can be made through VISA only.
The free content offered on the Straits Times Interactive include all news from the print edition, 7-day archive of past editions, breaking news, photo galleries, web specials, discussion board and interactive graphics. There is also a web widget displaying the activity on the Straits Times Index. Video webcasts, or vodcasts and podcasts are unique content that is also offered on the website. Paid content offered are reader polls, RSS feed, news widget and news alert.
Characteristics
The Straits Times Interactive is linked to other Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) websites such as BT Stocks, The Business Times, STOMP, The School Pocket Money Fund, Radio 91.3 FM and AsiaOne. The Business Times is another SPH Newspaper website which also offer subscribed content to readers where it provides comprehensive and concise package of corporate, financial, economic and political news, analysis and commentary. It was also the first English –Language newspaper in Asia to go on the World Wide Web. Other online publications for newspapers brought the SPH includes The New Paper, Lianhe Wanbao, My Paper, Berita Harian and Tamil Murasu offer fully free content on the websites.
Simple links on tables and columns is the choice made by the webmaster to layout the website. This allows for easy navigation for readers. Photo headlines and short excerpts on stories link readers to the full stories. A video player is embedded on the Vodcast page for streamed viewing of the videos made available. The podcasts are also available for both download and live streaming.
Strength and Weaknesses
The Straits Times Interactive offers convenient access to news anywhere where an Internet connection is available. Overseas readers are also able to keep up with the current affairs and trends in Singapore. The interactive discussion forum available 24 hours allows for real time discussions, eliminating the wait and approval time of writing snail-mail to the forum of the print edition.
However, there is very minimal extra content offered to subscribers. Other online versions of widely-read newspapers such as the New York Times and The International Herald Tribune offer fully-free content on their websites. Subscribers are only allowed to make online payments using VISA. Should they want to make payment through other means, they would have to go through the hassle of calling up the SPH subscriptions department.
In conclusion due to ever-changing technology advancement, The Straits Times Interactive provides other alternative forms of media to reach the readers. The future of The Straits Times Interactive will be more successful as more readers will use the internet to receive news.
However, there is very minimal extra content offered to subscribers. Other online versions of widely-read newspapers such as the New York Times and The International Herald Tribune offer fully-free content on their websites. Subscribers are only allowed to make online payments using VISA. Should they want to make payment through other means, they would have to go through the hassle of calling up the SPH subscriptions department.
In conclusion due to ever-changing technology advancement, The Straits Times Interactive provides other alternative forms of media to reach the readers. The future of The Straits Times Interactive will be more successful as more readers will use the internet to receive news.
1 comment:
Well written article.
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