S. Rajaratnam is Singapore's greatest journalist. He never edited a daily newspaper. He did not care much about the economics of publishing. Most of his career, he was a politician, not a scribe. He was a journalist from 1948 to 1959, and a Cabinet minister from 1959 to 1988. But in his short tenure in media, he made an impact far greater than any other Singapore journalist has ever been able to do. He had a powerful pen. He also had vision, deeply held ideals, and the courage to act on them. Rare is the newsman who wielded his pen, or typewriter in his case, with such powerful effect, helping build a nation. We will not see another journalist quite like him ever again.

After he left journalism for politics, he found time to help journalists. Two pieces of advice I found invaluable. Long before newspaper readership surveys became an industry, he gave us this insight: Most readers do not read beyond the headline and the first three paragraphs. Readership surveys now confirm Mr Rajaratnam was spot on. What that taught me was the need for accuracy and clarity in what we publish. Second, Asean. He passionately believed in it, and advised The Straits Times to cover it well. Not just the capitals, he would advise. Tell your readers what is also happening in the countryside. Asean was -mad still is -largely agricultural country. His reason was simple: Asean is crucial to the future of Singapore, and Singaporeans had better know it well. I am glad that today The Straits Times has an extensive Asean network of correspondents, no other English language newspaper in the World can match. As competition intensifies in the digital age, this will be one of the paper's most strategic assets.

Mr Cheong Yip Seng is the Editor-in-Chief
of Singapore Press Holdings' English and
Malay Newspapers Division

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