After decades in public service, SPH Media chief executive officer (CEO) Chan Yeng Kit found himself on Stomp\u2019s hot seat \u2014 literally.<\/p>\n
Seated on a camping chair in front of Stomp\u2019s Jimny, the 61-year-old gamely answered Stomp\u2019s questions in his first-ever interview with the publication since becoming CEO of SPH Media in July 2024.<\/p>\n
The former civil servant<\/a>, who oversaw Singapore\u2019s Covid-19 response as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health from 2019 to 2024, told Stomp he took on the role with SPH Media because he is a firm believer of what he calls \u201cpublic service media\u201d.<\/p>\n There was another reason too.<\/p>\n \u201cCompared to the Covid pandemic, everything is easier,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n That said, Chan pointed to two trends that he believes pose challenges to his role and that of the media industry:<\/p>\n His biggest concern? \u201cThat people no longer find truth to be important,\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n So where does Stomp fit into today\u2019s crowded media landscape?<\/p>\n According to Chan, Stomp occupies a unique position by offering content that is lighter and more accessible, while remaining grounded in facts. This appeals to Singpaoreans who want \u201cless serious\u201d news.<\/p>\n He also highlighted Stomp\u2019s unique selling point: the user-generated content that drives its Singapore Seen<\/a> pillar. It gives people a platform to share stories and raise concerns from the ground. Chan believes this is still of value today, as people want to feel seen and heard.<\/p>\n Chan added that SPH Media is not a single-product company.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we see ourselves as a national company, then I really don\u2019t think that it\u2019s a one-size-fits-all, that we have one product that will fit the information needs of all Singaporeans.\u201d<\/p>\n Chan speaking at the Asia Economic Summit 2026.<\/p>\n PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n That, to him, is why Stomp remains relevant today.<\/p>\n Even in a saturated media landscape filled with individual voices from content creators and alternative news sources, Chan believes audiences still value fact-based journalism.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not going to put up something that\u2019s fake. We\u2019re not going to put up something that\u2019s made up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The numbers appear to support that view: a recent Reuters Institute report revealed that 17 per cent of 2,000 survey respondents in Singapore used Stomp to access news<\/a>, up from 15 per cent in 2025 and 2024.<\/p>\n The Straits Times, which is part of SPH Media, was ranked this year\u2019s second most trusted news source, with a trust score of 77 per cent \u2014 two percentage points higher than the year before.<\/p>\n Despite his demanding schedule \u2014 \u201cIs there anything outside of work?\u201d he joked \u2014 Chan still tries to find ways to unwind.<\/p>\n \u201cNowadays, I listen to music to relax or in between when I\u2019m free,\u201d he said, admitting that he does not have much time for movies and shows, but hopes to immerse himself in them when he eventually retires.<\/p>\n Asked what he would be doing if he were not working in media or public service, Chan replied without hesitation: “Travelling the world.”<\/p>\n With a chuckle, Chan revealed that he has been planning a round-the-world trip with his wife for some time.<\/p>\n Despite having travelled extensively for work, Chan said he has deliberately saved many of the tourist attractions and experiences for future trips with his wife and family.<\/p>\n Until then, Chan remains focused on his mission: serving the public by giving Singaporeans a local source of news that they can trust.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Stomp\u2019s enduring legacy<\/h2>\n
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Travelling the world \u2013 after retirement<\/h2>\n
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