Singapore election: podcasts, memes, ‘chiobu’ – a look back at hustings colour
On top of bread-and-butter debates over an intense nine days of political campaigning, here’s a recap of other side issues
Here’s what voters may have been thinking of as they stamped their political choices on the ballot paper:
Pod boom
Voters were spoiled for choice when it came to catching their would-be MPs on podcasts in this election. While the last election in 2020 saw the early stages of the medium gaining prominence during the country’s first online campaign amid Covid-19 restrictions, cabinet ministers and prominent opposition figures alike chose platforms like Yah Lah BUT, The Daily Ketchup and Political Prude in this election to convey their messages.
Echoing his sentiments, Tracy Loh, a senior lecturer in communications at the Singapore Management University, said the more “relaxed” format provided viewers a different perspective of politicians.
“It allows politicians’ personalities to shine through especially if there are off-the-cuff moments during the podcast. Hence politicians can come across as more authentic and transparent,” she said.