When the dust settles, we will still be judged by our stories, our content, and how we go about doing our work, so I hope we keep our focus on that even with what's going on, said Mr Wong.
On Monday, SPH Media said that daily circulation numbers of its titles have been found to be inflated by between 85,000 and 95,000, including instances where copies were printed, counted for circulation and then destroyed.
There was double-counting of subscriptions across multiple instances, and a project account was injected with additional funding over the period of time to purchase fictitious circulation. A number of senior employees have been taken to task or left the news organisation after an internal review found problems with the reporting of its circulation data.
The audit of its circulation numbers, after its separation from Singapore Press Holdings, began based on certain observations and the review period reached before the split, according to Mr Wong.
Even though the review was in progress, we rebased our numbers when it becomes clear that the historical bases may be inaccurate. Both ST and BT The Business Times rebased their figures, because this affected us materially. All this was painful but necessary to put right what was once unknown, but now known, he wrote.
Mr Wong said that the company had no choice as it can't continue reporting numbers that would now be questioned.
He wrote: However, with the rebasing and the steps taken, it is important to note that the numbers we report now will bear up to scrutiny. We will be getting a lot of stick going forward, and more things may come out, and we know how it will be. According to Mr Wong, for those of us who have walked through the ups and downs, and knew and worked with those affected, this is hard to take as many existing and former staff may feel saddened by the news of the inflated circulation numbers.
Whatever we say, we have taken a blow to our reputation and credibility, the values that drive news organisations. Wong believes that rules, standards of practice and audits can only take an organisation so far, adding that it is more important to build culture and values and leadership.
Ms. Teo Lay Lim, SPH Media's chief executive officer, sent an internal memo to staff on Monday to address the matter.
On Mar 1, 2022, the former chairman of Accenture Singapore, who took over the helm, said that the organisation will continue to review protocols as we hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders. SPH staff members who spoke to TODAY on condition of anonymity said that they were confused and disappointed, even though they mostly work from home.
There was little chatter about it, especially since it did not come as a shock to some who heard it through the grapevine a few weeks ago.
One staff member who was in her 20 s said it was disappointing that the higher-ups only addressed it after it was reported in other news sites. A journalist in her 30s, said the news was also disappointing, given that the integrity of the news profession has been something that many readers and non-readers question.
She said that it was a blow to journalists who continue to bring the news every day, but they also have to put up with questions from inquisitive news makers who want to know the backstory to this, and whether we'll be inflating circulation numbers in our reports.
The journalists will face the brunt of the scepticism of the reading crowd because they don't stand for this.