Today (website) explained

TODAY
Type:National free daily newspaper (2000 to 2017)
National online newspaper (from 2017)
Format:Digital newspaper
Owners:Mediacorp
Editor:Walter Fernandez
Language:English
Circulation:300,000 (in 2013)
Headquarters:Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507
Oclc:46474542

Today is a Singaporean news website owned by Mediacorp. It was originally established in 2000 as a free newspaper, competing primarily with Singapore Press Holdings' Streats.

In 2004, SPH took a 40% stake in MediaCorp's publishing division and Today, discontinuing Streats in the process. In September 2017, Today ceased print publication and transitioned to being a digital publication. SPH divested its stake in Mediacorp at this time.

History

Today launched on 10 November 2000; it was established as a rival to Streats, another English-language freesheet published by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). Initially, the newspaper was available only on weekdays. It was a partnership between MediaCorp, Singtel, and SMRT. DelGro was also announced as a partner in the paper, but dropped out of the venture shortly before launch.[1] [2]

In 2002, Today launched a weekend version, WeekendTODAY, which was also distributed to homes as a free newspaper but also available for sale at newsstands for 50 cents.

In 2004, SPH reached an agreement to sell its SPH MediaWorks television channels to MediaCorp. As part of the agreement, Streats ceased publication, and SPH took a 40% stake in MediaCorp's publishing business, and a 20% stake in its MediaCorp TV Holdings business.[3] [4]

On 6 July 2006, the newspaper suspended a weekly opinion column by Lee Kin Mun (alias: mr brown) after the government criticised an article he wrote in his column discussing the rising cost of living in Singapore, which he depicted in satirical style.[5]

In 2010, Today launched the Today—New York Times International Weekly, covering international affairs, social trends, arts and culture as well as business and finance.[6]

In May 2011, the paper launched a Sunday edition, Today on Sunday.[7] In June 2012, the Sunday edition ceased publication.

In 2013, the newspaper had a digital revamp of its website, mobile and tablet applications. It also ceased its afternoon edition. That year, had a circulation of 300,000, with more than half of its readers being professionals, managers, executives and businesspeople.[8] It was the second-most-read English-language newspaper in Singapore, after The Straits Times.[9]

In April 2017, Today discontinued its weekend edition, publishing only on weekdays. In September, it then ceased print publication of its weekday edition, continuing as a digital publication only.[10] SPH concurrently divested its stakes in Mediacorp.[11]

Editors

NameAppointment[12]
Walter Fernandez Editor-in-Chief
Loh Chee Kong Deputy Chief Editor
Jason Tan Executive Editor
Jiamei Lin Supervising Editor
Razali Abdullah Supervising Editor
Karen Lim Supervising Editor
Yasmine Yahya Supervising Editor

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abdul Rahim . Zackaria . 10 November 2000 . TODAY is here . 23 September 2019 . Today (retrieved from NLB).
  2. Web site: 9 November 2000 . DelGro pulls out of new newspaper . 1 August 2019 . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB).
  3. Web site: 18 September 2004 . Media rivals strike deal to curb losses . 14 September 2023 . The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB).
  4. Web site: 18 September 2004 . DETAILS OF THE DEAL: . 14 September 2023 . Today (retrieved from NLB).
  5. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18208 "Daily Newspaper TODAY Sacks Blogger 'mr brown' after Government Criticism"
  6. Web site: TODAY launches weekly newspaper with The New York Times. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022044912/http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4246002. 22 October 2013. 29 July 2010.
  7. Web site: TODAY launches new Sunday edition - TODAY on Sunday. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110623011634/http://mediacorp.sg/en/media/EDC110527-0000136/TODAY%20launches%20new%20Sunday%20edition%20-%20TODAY%20on%20Sunday. 23 June 2011. 27 May 2011.
  8. Web site: TODAY Circulation & Distribution . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131111060159/http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/Documents/067/For%20Advertisers/NRP/Today_Rate_Card_.pdf . 2013-11-11.
  9. Web site: TODAY is Singapore's Second Most Read Daily . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120109051304/http://www.sg.nielsen.com/site/NewsReleaseNov062011.shtml . 9 January 2012 . 6 November 2011.
  10. Web site: TODAY’s journey from print to fully-digital . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170826073020/http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/todays-journey-print-fully-digital . 26 August 2017 . 25 August 2017.
  11. News: 2017-09-30 . SPH completes sale of Mediacorp stakes . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210320051106/https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/sph-completes-sale-of-mediacorp-stakes . 20 March 2021 . 2017-12-30 . The Straits Times . en-GB.
  12. http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/journalist_room/media_guide/detail.html?cat=2 TODAY | For Media - Media contacts of all