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The 'gahmen bloggers' More data would be reassuring
Chinese thrift: A saving grace for now
They are an informal gathering of civil servants who blog or are interested in new media, displaying
qualities highlighted by PM Lee at Sunday's National Day Rally, when he urged the Government to Sweating out the truth in Iran
consider new media in its dealings with Singaporeans. Lynn Lee speaks to three of these techsavvy
Foundation work must begin now
officers who are helping their agencies embrace the digital media age
Khairy's dilemma: To speak or not to speak
Hitting right note with quality content Insight
The 'gahmen bloggers'
Vanessa Tan
Senior Executive Conscious effort to ensure humanspeak
Health Promotion Board Not Victoria Secrets, but read what's going on
MS VANESSA Tan remembers the moment well. It was an email from a colleague Narrowcasting to narrowmindedness
last August that sparked her idea that has since become a breakthrough of sorts
among government agencies. Best message? Know sex, no sex and safe sex
AVID BLOGGER: A selfconfessed The Health Promotion Board (HPB) was introducing a radio programme in which
Editorial
techie Ms Tan, 28, plays the piano Hong Kong actress Nancy Sit would give tips and advice on health issues in
and is part of a fusion jazz band. Iran: Absence of options
Mandarin.
LIM SIN THAI
Ms Tan, a senior executive at the board, was convinced the 56yearold star, who
Related stories is popular with older Singaporeans for her fiesty roles, would be a big draw.
Not Victoria Secrets, but read what's However, the 13part series was being broadcast at 3pm on Mondays, as it was
going on
aimed at housewives and retirees.
Conscious effort to ensure
humanspeak 'I felt it would be a pity if working adults would miss it, as it was a oneoff
broadcast,' says the 28yearold.
'So I thought, why not do a podcast? The recording could be archived, then
listened to whenever a person wants to,' she adds.
Ms Tan is a member of HPB's new media unit, that looks at how the board can
use new media to promote a healthy lifestyle.
A selfconfessed techie who has worked as a Web designer/journalist, she
researched online on the howto of making a podcast and in about a month, she
and her colleagues had it ready.
Its introduction on the board's website, www.hpb.gov.sg last December marked
a first in HPB and possibly among government agencies too.
It caught the attention of international news websites, which touted it as a
'government' service for people with MP3 players.
However, Ms Tan was quick to play down any suggestion of it being a resounding
success.
'I won't call it a smash hit. But it had a symbolic impact. It opened us up to the
idea of how new media could complement 'static' forms of information, like
websites.'
Since the broadcast went online, the series, with subjects that range from
depression to cervical cancer has been sought more than 10,000 times.
She feels Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a timely call at the National Day
Rally, when he urged government agencies to experiment with new media.
However, while it works as an additional form of outreach, she cautions against
its indiscriminate use.
'It shouldn't be tech, for tech's sake,' she says.
Content and the target audience are critical factors of consideration.
'For example, when talking about breast selfexamination or cervical
cancerscreening for middleaged women, a letter or pamphlet with a guide on
how it is done would work best.
'They might not want to read about it on a blog.'
She adds with a laugh: 'Also, if we show how to do a breast selfexamination on a
flash video recording online, we may end up drawing the wrong crowd.'
The HPB is now toying with the idea of having a blog for youngsters to discuss
healthrelated issues and programmes.
Ms Tan, who is single, is an avid blogger whose love affair with new media began
more than six years ago when she was a law undergraduate at Bristol University
in England.
She started her personal homepage which was then a trend and later, learnt the
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The 'gahmen bloggers' http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/portal/site/STI/menuitem.70300a1778...
basics of web design.
Today, her blog (www.vantan .org) presents her thoughts about music she
plays the piano and is part of a fusion jazz band 'tentatively called the Moon
Jumpers' restaurants she has been to, gizmo and gadget reviews, and her
travels.
At work, she and her colleagues are working on the Health Promotion Board's
second podcast, to be launched in a few weeks.
Declining to disclose the topic, she says no effort is spared in ensuring that it is a
scripted, highquality recording, that sounds 'like a radio programme' and won't
be too big a file to download.
Similarly, its content. 'This is an attentiongrabbing medium so you can't get away
with any lousy content. Quality content is what will keep people subscribing,' she
adds.
lynnlee@sph.com.sg
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