Singapore Press : Launch of The Straits Times e-zines for overseas Singaporeans

SINGAPORE, 2 JUNE, 2017- Singaporeans who are living or studying abroad can now enjoy special digital publications to keep themselves informed of major happenings and policy changes in their home country.

The Straits Times will create two monthly e-zines - one for adults and the other for students -- detailing major current affairs and interesting stories about Singapore and Singaporeans. These digital newsletters will be transmitted by the Overseas Singaporean Unit (OSU) to all Singaporeans based abroad who are registered with the unit.

The two newsletters are:

Singapore Heartbeat,designed for professionals working overseas, which will include content on Singapore policy and business changes, investment opportunities and news about other overseas Singaporeans and

Singapore Pulse, which will reach out to overseas students. They can read stories on happenings in Singapore, developments in the education sector, inspiring stories about young Singaporeans, internship opportunities and entertainment-related stories.

The two monthly newsletters will be released in the first week of every calendar month.

Overseas Singaporeans wanting to read more can also visit a special page titled Singapore Connect set up by The Straits Times for them here: www.straitstimes.com/singapore-connect

This will be regularly updated with new stories.

The Straits Times and the Overseas Singaporean Unit are launching this initiative in the hope that Singaporeans living abroad will not only be able to stay closely in touch with their country but also find it easier to return home one day.

Mr Wong Kan Foo, Director of the Overseas Singaporean Unit at the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, said: 'We engage fellow citizens all around the world so that Singapore remains close to their hearts. We do this through a variety of programmes such as Singapore Day and the Singapore Speaker Series, as well as through our online channels.

'Our partnership with SPH will provide overseas Singaporeans with an additional avenue to stay updated on the latest developments in Singapore. We hope that this will bring a slice of home closer to our fellow Singaporeans, wherever they may be.'

The OSU was set up to engage overseas Singaporeans and keep them connected with the Republic.

There are currently over 200,000 Singaporeans working, living and studying abroad, with the majority residing in the United States, Britain, China and Australia. A significant number are students studying in various overseas universities, with many expected to return after their studies.

To keep them engaged, The Straits Times will curate special and targeted content, based on feedback and inputs from the OSU, which has been in touch with overseas Singaporeans over several years through various activities and seminars.

One of the major annual events by the OSU, which is now part of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, is the Singapore Day celebrations, which will be held in Melbourne, Australia, later this year.

All overseas Singaporean students and working professionals on the OSU mailing list will receive either the Singapore Pulse or Singapore Heartbeat.

Those receiving either of the newsletters will have the option of subscribing to the other newsletter and to opt out of the free service. The newsletters will continue to be sent every month for all others.

Mr Warren Fernandez, Editor-in-Chief of SPH's English, Malay and Tamil Media group and Editor, The Straits Times, said: 'Singaporeans living or travelling abroad often miss home. The best antidote to this is to stay connected to home, and The Straits Times helps many do so with our digital editions. Through this partnership, we will be able to serve more people through our website as well as by curating content specially for those overseas who want to keep abreast of all the action back in Singapore and the region around us.'

In addition to the free newsletters, The Straits Times is offering a special digital subscription, giving unlimited access for overseas Singaporean readers for free, for the first three months.

CapitaLand, Mitsubishi Estate Asia and Shimizu Corporation are the key sponsors of this project.

Readers interested in Asian developments can also download their free copy of the latest issue of The Straits Times Asia Report magazine, from Singapore Connect.

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For media enquiries, please contact:
Sharon Lim Ling (Ms)
Senior Manager (Business Development), EMTM,
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Tel: 63191975
Email: limls@sph.com.sg

Deror Wong (Mr)
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1226
Email: derorw@sph.com.sg

ABOUT THE STRAITS TIMES

The Straits Times, the English-language flagship daily of Singapore Press Holdings, is the most-read newspaper in Singapore and is followed widely in the region for its comprehensive coverage of local, regional and world news, provided by its correspondents in 20 bureaus in major cities worldwide. Launched on July 15, 1845, The Straits Times underwent a major redesign across all platforms in July 2015, when it celebrated its 170th anniversary. This revamp is part of its continuing efforts to refresh its products, maintain quality and stay relevant to the changing needs of its readers. Its integrated newsroom operates round-the-clock, providing readers with news as it happens on all platforms, from its website at www.straitstimes.com, Apple and Android apps to social media. The Straits Times is a member of two media networks -- the Asia News Network and the Impact Journalism Day alliance of newspapers and it has won multiple international media awards, including from the Society of Publishers in Asia, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association (Panpa), Society of News Design and Wan-Ifra. Its revamped paper won a gold medal for overall newspaper design by the World Association of Newspaper at the Asian Media Awards in Manila in 2016.

ABOUT SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS LTD

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms, ranging from print, digital, radio and out-of-home media.

SPH owns award-winning newspapers, magazines and best-selling books in both print and digital editions, as well as online classified businesses in the region. In addition, SPH has two English radio stations and one Chinese radio station, an out-of-home digital advertising unit, a regional events and conferences arm, and runs a chain of modern retail convenience stores. SPH also has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.

SPH REIT comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall. SPH's latest retail development is The Seletar Mall located in Sengkang.

SPH is in the healthcare sector, operating private nursing homes under Orange Valley.

For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg