Mediacorp’s news brand seeks to engage audiences in the West with insights on China, Japan, and Korea.
SINGAPORE: Mediacorp’s news and current affairs brand CNA will soon be introduced in North America and the United Kingdom.
This move will be rolled out through a mix of platforms, including television streaming services, YouTube, and a specially curated edition of the CNA website, with the launch occurring in phases throughout this year. The expansion aims to cater to audiences in these regions interested in breaking news and insightful documentaries about Asia, particularly focusing on China, Japan, and Korea.
This announcement was made by Mediacorp chairman Niam Chiang Meng during CNA’s 25th anniversary celebration at Capella Singapore on Tuesday (Mar 19).
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who attended the event as the guest-of-honor, spoke of the challenges CNA would face as it builds on its solid foundation. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high standards in an increasingly fragmented media landscape:
“In this highly-contested and fragmented media landscape, there will be pressure to compromise somewhat, create click-bait, sensationalist content just to attract eyeballs. You have to resist that temptation and continue to maintain your high standards,” said Mr. Wong. He added, “It is even more important for CNA to tell stories that bridge divides, educate us on different perspectives, and ultimately keep our society strong.”
Mr. Wong, who also serves as Finance Minister, commended CNA for its dedication to quality journalism and stressed the importance of continual evolution, new capabilities, and investment in its people to stay relevant.
NEW TV BULLETIN, BAHASA INDONESIA WEBSITE
At the event, Mr. Niam also announced a new one-hour bulletin, East Asia Tonight, which will air on CNA every weekday at 6pm, starting from April. The bulletin will combine ground reporting, in-depth features, and expert analysis to help global audiences “Understand Asia,” as stated by Mediacorp in a media release.
In line with its expansion strategy, CNA will open a new bureau in Shenzhen to deepen its coverage of China-related news. The organization is also considering stationing additional correspondents in its Beijing and Shanghai bureaus.
To tap into a larger regional audience, CNA launched cna.id, a new website in Bahasa Indonesia. Furthermore, it has partnered with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) to create an AI-driven English-to-Bahasa Indonesia translation tool. A dedicated team of Bahasa Indonesia editors ensures the accuracy of the translated news reports before publication.
CNA has also introduced AI-generated summaries (FAST) for articles on its app to provide quick, accessible news content to its readers.
Mr. Niam concluded, “We aim to be present at every touchpoint in a person’s life, engaging them through a combination of our own platforms as well as third-party platforms. This multi-platform approach is anchored on the understanding of how people today consume news content, across platforms, devices, languages, and genres.”
