Today (website)

Last updated
Today
TypeNational free newspaper (10 November 2000 to September 2017)
National online newspaper (since September 2017)
Format Digital newspaper
Owner(s) Mediacorp
EditorWalter Fernandez
Founded10 November 2000;24 years ago (2000-11-10)
Language English
HeadquartersMediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507
Circulation 300,000 (in 2013)
OCLC number 46474542
Website www.todayonline.com

Today is a Singaporean digital news magazine published by Mediacorp. It was originally established on 10 November 2000 as a free print newspaper, competing primarily with Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) Streats .

Contents

In 2004, SPH announced an agreement to take stakes in Mediacorp's publishing and television businesses, resulting in the discontinuation of Streats and the sale of its two SPH MediaWorks channels to the company. In 2017, Today ended print publication, continuing as a digital publication. In October 2024, Today was merged into CNA, becoming a weekly digital news magazine devoted to long-form journalism.

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 September 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, Today 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]

On 28 August 2024, Mediacorp announced that Today would be merged into its CNA division effective 1 October 2024, with all staff retained. Today would be relaunched as a "digital long-form weekend magazine" published by CNA, focused on its "The Big Read" features, human interest stories, and opinion columns. [12]

Editors

NameAppointment [13]
Walter FernandezEditor-in-Chief
Loh Chee KongDeputy Chief Editor
Jason TanExecutive Editor
Jiamei LinSupervising Editor
Razali AbdullahSupervising Editor
Karen LimSupervising Editor
Yasmine YahyaSupervising Editor

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Abdul Rahim, Zackaria (10 November 2000). "TODAY is here". Today (retrieved from NLB). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "DelGro pulls out of new newspaper". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 9 November 2000. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  3. ↑ "Media rivals strike deal to curb losses". The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB). 18 September 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "DETAILS OF THE DEAL:". Today (retrieved from NLB). 18 September 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Daily Newspaper TODAY Sacks Blogger 'mr brown' after Government Criticism" Archived 2009-06-09 at the Wayback Machine . Reporters Without Borders. 6 July 2006.
  6. ↑ "TODAY launches weekly newspaper with The New York Times". Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "TODAY launches new Sunday edition - TODAY on Sunday". Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  8. ↑ "TODAY Circulation & Distribution" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-11.
  9. ↑ "TODAY is Singapore's Second Most Read Daily". Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  10. ↑ "TODAY's journey from print to fully-digital". Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "SPH completes sale of Mediacorp stakes". The Straits Times. 2017-09-30. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  12. ↑ "TODAY to merge with CNA, become digital long-form weekend magazine". CNA. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  13. ↑ TODAY | For Media - Media contacts of all Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine
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