The Straits Times celebrates its 160th anniversary

It has been a rewarding experience for the English flagship daily published by Singapore Press Holdings, and also a very special privilege, to serve its 1.3 million readers, as Singapore's most widely-read and respected newspaper.

Throughout these 160 years, The Straits Times has not been afraid to innovate and improve to meet the changing needs of its readers. In the last two years it undertook a complete makeover of both The Straits Times and The Sunday Times, adding new features and sections to both papers.

Its dedication to serve readers better has not gone unnoticed by fellow professionals abroad. ST has won some of the industry's most prestigious awards, including those conferred by the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association (Panpa), Ifra, the Society of Newspaper Design (SND) and the Society of Publishers Asia (Sopa).

It has served the Singapore public in more ways than one. The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, launched in 1999, has raised more than $14 million to support more than 10,000 needy students each year, providing them with a meal during recess or transport to school. The Fund received the National Volunteers and Philantrophy Centre Award for Innovative Fund-raising last year at the Istana.

"Our greatest satisfaction comes from serving our readers well and earning their respect and loyalty. We have become a part of their lives, telling their stories, sharing their hopes and aspirations, and helping to build a sense of community," said Straits Times Editor Han Fook Kwang.

"Our readers are the most important part of the paper and we want to dedicate our 160th anniversary to them."

Over the next six weeks, The Straits Times has lined up many fun-filled activities for them, prizes to win and super-value deals in the paper.

"We also want to showcase the journalism we are capable of with a photo exhibition to be held at several locations, the launch of a primary school newspaper, and the publication of an ultimate guide to Singapore distributed free with the paper on August 9. We promise that there will be something for everybody," added Mr Han.

This is what Straits Times readers can look forward to:

• A Singapore Voices concert on July 3 at the Botanic Gardens, featuring some of the best local entertainers. Make it a family outing with food and beverages sold at a special price of $1.60. The money raised will go to the The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. Guest-of-honour is President S R Nathan.
  
  
• Launch of a new newspaper for the young called Little Red Dot - Small in Size, Big on Talent, on July 5. It is the second newspaper ST is launching this year for the young. In January, it launched IN for secondary students.
  
  Little Red Dot is for primary students. ST wants to continue to focus on building up young readership and on engaging them through these two publications, the ST Media Club, and through visits like the June trip to KL. It wants to be part of younger readers' lives too.
  
  
• Win a Mazda 6, 2.3-litre car as the top prize in the "The Straits Times 160th Anniversary Car Hunt". This is a word puzzle with clues in the paper from July 1 until July 16.
  
  
• "160 Years of The Straits Times in Pictures" - a photo exhibition of the most significant photographs by some of the best photojournalists in Singapore which will travel the island, starting July 8. It begins at Paragon and then moves to various Capitaland shopping malls and the National Day Celebration @ Tampines.
  
  
• In the run-up to the photo exhibition, ST will be running a weekly reading promotion called "The Great ST People Search", a search for people spotted in some of these pictures.
  
  
• Value deals galore in the paper. There'll be diamond pendants, computer printers, special spa packages, hotel stays, fine dining, luggage, wine sets all being offered at never before discounted prices of $160.
  
  
• For movie enthusiasts, Life! will offer movie tickets at an amazing $1.60 on July 15 and 16! To get these deals, just buy that day's issue of the ST.
  
  
• The ST School of Rock semi-finals on July 24 and finals on July 31. Over 200 bands have signed up, showing that there is no shortage of young talent out there. The mission: to uncover and showcase the best of Singapore youths.
  
  
• Free with the ST, the ultimate guide to Singapore, on August 9. It will be a bumper issue with everything you wanted to know about this place, from where to enjoy fine dining in HDB estates to places where the rich and famous hang out. It's a very special gift to ST readers to round up the ST's 160th anniversary celebrations and salute the nation's 40th National Day.

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Co. Regn. No: 198402868E

For more information, please contact:

Peter Khoo
Vice President
Editorial Projects and Branding
DID: 6319 5512
Email: pkhoo@sph.com.sg

About The Straits Times
The Straits Times, the English flagship daily of SPH, has been serving readers for 160 years. Launched on 15 July 1845, its comprehensive coverage of happenings in Singapore, the region and beyond, makes it the most-read newspaper in Singapore. It has a daily circulation of 390,000 and readership of about 1.3 million. The Straits Times' key strength is in its world class coverage of news outside Singapore. With 10 bureaus in major cities around the world, The Straits Times correspondents bring world news to readers on a Singapore platter, helping them appreciate world events from a Singaporean perspective