{"id":8215,"date":"2025-11-02T00:15:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T16:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=8215"},"modified":"2025-11-02T00:15:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T16:15:44","slug":"young-adults-meet-the-teams-shaping-sts-youth-content-at-fifth-conversations-with-st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=8215","title":{"rendered":"Young adults meet the teams shaping ST\u2019s youth content at fifth Conversations with ST"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Young adults got a behind-the-scenes look at how The Straits Times connects with younger readers at the fifth edition of Conversations with ST.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">During the event held at the SPH Media News Centre in Toa Payoh on Nov 1, participants between the ages of 18 and 30 interacted with the people behind three of ST\u2019s young audience initiatives \u2013 G&amp;M Explain TikTok channel, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/tags\/the-usual-place-podcast?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">The Usual Place Podcast<\/p>\n<p><\/a> and the Unpacked newsletter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Journalists Wong Yang and Christie Chiu, who front G&amp;M Explain, explained how they break down complex current affairs topics into digestible explainers on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Usual Place Podcast host Natasha Zachariah spoke about engaging young Singaporeans through candid conversations on issues that matter to them, while Ms Goh Yan Han, co-creator of Unpacked, discussed how <a href=\"https:\/\/unpackedbyst.substack.com\/?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">the weekly newsletter<\/p>\n<p><\/a> offers readers fresh perspectives on politics and policy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/third-conversations-with-st-discusses-the-role-and-relevance-of-media-with-40-young-professionals?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">the third session held in May<\/p>\n<p><\/a> for young professionals, this event for young adults was also open to the public. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Conversations with The Straits Times at SPH Media\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aSy3DLBCsCE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Earlier sessions in the year-long Conversations with The Straits Times series were by invitation only. The first event in <!-- -->January<!-- --> brought together individuals from non-profit organisations, while the second in March engaged junior college students. The<!-- --> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/business\/sme-leaders-executives-discuss-how-to-enhance-their-media-visibility-at-st-engagement-series?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">fourth in July<\/p>\n<p><\/a> featured business executives. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These sessions aim to facilitate candid discussions between ST and its audiences, offering readers a chance to interact directly with the newsroom and gain insights into its work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">One of the participants, Mr Trevor Thai, 28, who works in the social services sector, said that he has been reading ST since his secondary school days, and is happy to see how ST has evolved to better engage with younger audiences through its digital offerings. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThere\u2019s a lot more online content now, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. For most young people, news is primarily consumed digitally or through social media, so branching out into different formats and programmes is a good way to reach more young people and get the message out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Thai added that he especially enjoys the G&amp;M Explain videos, which present complex topics in a palatable way. \u201cI enjoy the visual cues they use in the videos. I find it\u2019s easy to digest. They take topics that tend to be more dry, more serious, and turn it into something relatable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Thai, a politics enthusiast, said the videos have deepened his understanding of current affairs. He believes they hold the potential to spark greater interest and awareness of local politics among young Singaporeans. \u201cWhen they cover the history behind policy decisions&#8230; I think younger audiences will be more inclined to understand issues from these bite-size videos rather than reading long-form news updates,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base tiktok tiktok-embed\" title=\"tiktok embed\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed\/v2\/7559435043651767572\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;falseclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"eager\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Usual Place Podcast\u2019s Ms Zachariah said it was encouraging to hear from the young audience about how they liked the way topics were framed on the programme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Feedback on how to improve the podcast was also useful, she said, with some of it aligning with ongoing discussions about future episodes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThey want to hear from people who are under-represented. Someone also suggested having a biographical podcast where they hear about a person\u2019s life in a podcast format instead of reading about it in a book,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/cc50688cd759c5e995aaaa37241001d536e39639287767dc955ee88a2500e30c?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/cc50688cd759c5e995aaaa37241001d536e39639287767dc955ee88a2500e30c?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/cc50688cd759c5e995aaaa37241001d536e39639287767dc955ee88a2500e30c?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/cc50688cd759c5e995aaaa37241001d536e39639287767dc955ee88a2500e30c\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-screen tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">ST editor for newsroom integration Elizabeth Khor (left) and podcast host Natasha Zachariah (second from left) speaking to participants at the fifth edition of Conversations with ST.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Sean Chiu, 25, a fifth-year medical student, said he enjoys ST\u2019s young audience initiatives, which cater to digital natives, who often consume news more passively through social media and their peers rather than actively seek it out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">During the focus group discussions, he learnt about the Unpacked newsletter, and how it seeks to break down the biggest stories of the week, providing insight and context for readers who may not have the time to delve into each story individually.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said younger audiences would appreciate more of the writer\u2019s opinions and voices coming through to foster trust and an ongoing relationship. \u201cIt\u2019s not a scarcity of facts or reporting, but more so the relationship. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to connect personally with a news source, through their voices and opinions&#8230; It makes things more authentic and engaging,\u201d said Mr Chiu.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/38c1001cdce48436cebfe6e14b5514d450b4c3fbbe926439bc9bcfd7267bb1a4?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/38c1001cdce48436cebfe6e14b5514d450b4c3fbbe926439bc9bcfd7267bb1a4?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/38c1001cdce48436cebfe6e14b5514d450b4c3fbbe926439bc9bcfd7267bb1a4?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/38c1001cdce48436cebfe6e14b5514d450b4c3fbbe926439bc9bcfd7267bb1a4\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-screen tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">ST assistant news editor Goh Yan Han (right) speaking to Mr Sean Chiu during a focus group discussion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Goh, an assistant news editor at ST, launched Unpacked with correspondent Ng Wei Kai in <!-- -->February<!-- -->. She said it was heartening to hear that readers enjoyed the more casual tone of the newsletter in explaining the bigger picture behind local politics and policy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cOne person said reading it feels like you have a friend who happens to also be a political journalist telling you why you should care about the news while taking you on this journey in local politics,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Goh added that the discussions were also helpful in planning for the newsletter\u2019s next phase of growth and outreach as participants shared where they get their news from, and how they get drawn into reading topics that may seem dry at first.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWe got feedback that they would like to access our content more through social media, and get to know us more personally through events like these,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The sixth and final session of Conversations with ST, involving parents, is slated to be held in <!-- -->December<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:1140 \/ 466\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/24bc187474412a2b39febf5fcc2517c093bc65ba2f05c831be2d0171e8628d9c?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/24bc187474412a2b39febf5fcc2517c093bc65ba2f05c831be2d0171e8628d9c?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/24bc187474412a2b39febf5fcc2517c093bc65ba2f05c831be2d0171e8628d9c?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/24bc187474412a2b39febf5fcc2517c093bc65ba2f05c831be2d0171e8628d9c\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-screen tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"tags-test-id\">\n<p><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for ST180\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">ST180<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for The Straits Times\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">The Straits Times<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Straits Times apps\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Straits Times apps<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for The Usual Place Podcast\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">The Usual Place Podcast<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/young-adults-meet-the-teams-shaping-sts-youth-content-at-fifth-conversations-with-st\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Young adults got a behind-the-scenes look at how The Straits Times connects with younger readers at the fifth edition of Conversations with ST&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8215\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}