The Online Citizen
Encyclopedia
The Online Citizen a community blog of Singaporeans, has been said to be one of the most important socio-economic blog
s in Singapore
and at the forefront of political activism in the city-state. It was gazetted as a political association in February 2011.
is to report on topics that are not covered by the mainstream media. The blog invites average Singaporeans to share their opinions through articles and comments. Besides publishing articles on its website, the members of the blog have participated in the anti-death penalty campaign and organized the Face-to-Face forum on 16 December 2010 to which all political parties in Singapore were invited and only the People's Action Party
abstained.
On January 10, 2011, the Online Citizen was informed that the blog is considered a political association and will have to register as such. The gazetting of the Online Citizen primarily excludes the group from receiving funding from foreign sources under the Political Donations Act. The blog was informed that it has 14 days to reveal the identities of its owners, editorial team and administrators. Moreover, the new group has to designate a president, treasurer and secretary, which will be responsible for the preparation and accuracy of the donations reports.
On January 25, 2011, TOC announced that it would organize a party and a fund-raiser on January 29, 2011. The Singapore police immediately required three licenses for the event, the Public Entertainment License for holding the event, the house to house and street collections license for the fundraising, and a notification to conduct a lucky draw under the house gaming rules. As a result, the organisers made the party a private invitation-only affair.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and at the forefront of political activism in the city-state. It was gazetted as a political association in February 2011.
Mission
The aim of the self-described advocacy journalistsAdvocacy journalism
Advocacy journalism is a genre of journalism that intentionally and transparently adopts a non-objective viewpoint, usually for some social or political purpose. Because it is intended to be factual, it is distinguished from propaganda...
is to report on topics that are not covered by the mainstream media. The blog invites average Singaporeans to share their opinions through articles and comments. Besides publishing articles on its website, the members of the blog have participated in the anti-death penalty campaign and organized the Face-to-Face forum on 16 December 2010 to which all political parties in Singapore were invited and only the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
abstained.
History
TOC started in December 2006 as a community blog. On January 10, 2011, the site was forced to register as a political association. The government asserted that the blog was gazetted because the editors of the website "organized polls on political issues and a forum for politicians, and mounted online and offline campaigns to change legislation and government policies."On January 10, 2011, the Online Citizen was informed that the blog is considered a political association and will have to register as such. The gazetting of the Online Citizen primarily excludes the group from receiving funding from foreign sources under the Political Donations Act. The blog was informed that it has 14 days to reveal the identities of its owners, editorial team and administrators. Moreover, the new group has to designate a president, treasurer and secretary, which will be responsible for the preparation and accuracy of the donations reports.
On January 25, 2011, TOC announced that it would organize a party and a fund-raiser on January 29, 2011. The Singapore police immediately required three licenses for the event, the Public Entertainment License for holding the event, the house to house and street collections license for the fundraising, and a notification to conduct a lucky draw under the house gaming rules. As a result, the organisers made the party a private invitation-only affair.