Media Portrayal of Ex-offenders in Singapore Part 1 of a 2-part project in collaboration with the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE)

Abstract

This paper is a review of the media portrayals of ex-offenders in local news media platforms such as The Straits Times, Today and Channel NewsAsia. This paper analyzes the voices represented in the media on the issue of reintegration of ex-offenders into society. From the analysis of n=182 media articles, three key themes arise in local media discourse that emphasize the role of  key players —  the government, the ex-offender and the community — in reintegrating ex-offenders into society. These themes raise several questions on the media framing of ex-offenders, the order of prioritization in voices and the erasure of some voices from the discourse. Through delving deeper into the questions, this paper offers valuable insights into the media discourse of ex-offenders in Singapore and the fundamental question of what ‘reintegration’ means.