In the world of journalism, maintaining the integrity of news reporting is paramount. A breach of embargo on a significant announcement can have far-reaching consequences. Mothership, a prominent local media outlet, recently found itself in hot water for breaking an embargo on an announcement by the national water agency PUB. This breach has led to the suspension of their press accreditation, marking the second time such an incident has occurred in just two years.
The Embargo Breach
The saga began when Mothership decided to publish an article on its website and share a Facebook post regarding the revision of water prices. The catch, however, was that they did so a day before the official embargo was set to be lifted at 5pm the following day. This move did not go unnoticed, and it raised eyebrows at the Ministry for Communications and Information (MCI).
Immediate Consequences
In response to The Straits Times’ inquiries, the Ministry for Communications and Information (MCI) swiftly took action. They announced that Mothership’s press accreditation would be suspended with immediate effect. While the ministry did not specify the duration of this suspension, the implications were clear. Mothership’s representatives would no longer have access to government agency briefings and press conferences.
A History of Embargo Breaches
This incident isn’t the first time Mothership has found itself in such a predicament. In February 2022, the media outlet disclosed details about staggered goods and services tax (GST) increases before it was officially announced during the 2022 Budget. This breach resulted in a six-month suspension of Mothership’s press accreditation.
Acknowledgment and Actions
In the face of media inquiries and public scrutiny, Mothership did not shy away from acknowledging the gravity of the situation. They described the incident as “a serious breach,” acknowledging that the information released had a significant impact on every individual in Singapore.
Mothership took swift action to rectify the situation. They removed the embargoed material as soon as they became aware of the breach. Subsequent investigations revealed that a member of their editorial team had failed to follow established protocols and had also breached additional safeguards put in place in 2022. Unfortunately, the specifics of these additional safeguards were not disclosed.
In a Facebook post, Mothership’s Managing Editor Martino Tan said:
“This is our second breach of embargo in two years, in spite of our commitment and efforts to prevent such a situation from occurring again. While this may have been an error on the part of an individual colleague, as Managing Editor I assume personal responsibility for not adequately ensuring and enforcing the standards that we had set for ourselves. We are particularly devastated by this and are deeply disappointed with ourselves. Our spirits have hit rock bottom, but my colleagues and I vow to get to the core of these lapses and resolve these operating issues once and for all.
We unreservedly apologise to Singaporeans, our stakeholders — especially PUB and MCI — and our industry colleagues for this matter, and for causing such unnecessary trouble at a time when there are more pressing priorities to focus on. I hope our audiences and stakeholders will give us some time to improve, and to once again serve them and their best interests with all our hearts.”
A Sincere Apology
In a statement, Mothership offered a heartfelt apology to Singaporeans, their stakeholders, especially PUB and MCI, and their industry colleagues. They expressed remorse for causing unnecessary trouble, particularly at a time when there are more pressing priorities to address.