The merger of Today, an online publication, with CNA is likely to make financial sense amidst rising competition in the media landscape, but it may also reduce diversity in local media, experts told The Straits Times.

From October 1, Today will no longer operate as an independent site and will merge with CNA to form a weekend long-form magazine. Walter Fernandez, editor-in-chief of Mediacorp, attributed the move to global trends of “news fatigue” and active avoidance, exacerbated by changes in social media algorithms deprioritizing news content. Additionally, he cited audience overlap between CNA and Today.

Media analysts, commenting on the merger, noted that it had been expected, with rumors circulating for years after Today went fully digital in 2017. In 2020, the publication tried to rebrand, shifting focus to a younger audience, but these efforts were not enough to sustain its operation.

Dr. Carol Soon of the Institute of Policy Studies noted that while Today had differentiated itself with in-depth features and human interest stories, this was insufficient to keep the newsroom afloat. She emphasized that with influencers and content creators shaping public discourse, traditional media faces pressure to maintain relevance and keep readers engaged.

The consolidation of newsrooms might streamline resources and improve financial sustainability, but it also raises concerns about reduced options and diversity for readers. As part of the merger, Today’s website and app will no longer be updated, and all content will be migrated to CNA’s platform.

Dr. Wu Shangyuan, from the National University of Singapore, cautioned that Singapore’s media landscape, already dominated by SPH Media and Mediacorp, could become even less competitive with Today’s closure. She expressed concern that the lack of competition might reduce journalists’ drive to pursue challenging stories or innovate with their coverage.

Natalie Pang, a researcher in digital civics at NUS, added that with fewer media outlets, publicists and freelance journalists will have limited options. However, she pointed out the growing presence of non-mainstream media as a positive contributor to diverse viewpoints in Singapore.

Professor Terence Lee of Sheridan Institute, based in Australia, noted that Singapore’s media landscape has never been highly competitive, with two dominant players. However, he suggested that having more media players could improve journalistic standards, and the impact of this merger on reporting quality remains to be seen.

Despite the economic rationale behind the merger, Dr. Howard Lee from Murdoch University suggested that newsrooms will need to diversify their content through varied perspectives in feature stories or in-depth commentaries to stand out. Dr. Soon added that publications should focus on audience engagement through different formats, such as podcasts or documentaries, to make a deeper impact.

Today was the last surviving “freesheet” launched in the 2000s to cater to commuters, following the earlier merger of SPH’s Streats with Today in 2004.