Media Development Authority (MDA)
Features | Information & Communication

Revolutionising The Media Landscape

Singapore’s media industry is making new strides in recent years. With Hollywood blockbusters shot in Singapore such as Agent 47 and collaborations with world-class partners such as 20th Century Fox and HBO Asia, there are growing opportunities for local media talent to produce compelling and quality content for an international audience. The Media Education Scheme (MES) is one of the Media Development Authority’s initiatives to groom aspiring talent in the media sector to be the next generation of leaders in creativity and innovation.

More than 190 scholars have been supported by the MES, with some successfully establishing careers in media-related fields as film or TV directors, game developers, music producers, journalists, authors or even visual effects artists. Notable scholars include Anthony Chen, director of Ilo Ilo and founder of Giraffe Pictures; Wong Hock Hian, who was involved in Dreamworks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon; popular children’s author Adeline Foo, with her best-selling series titled The Diary of Amos Lee; as well as up-and-coming filmmaker Kirsten Tan, whose film "Popeye" was recently selected for the 11th Cinéfondation's L’Atelier at Cannes Film Festival.

Two MES scholars, Yunita Ong and Sydney Anastasia Yeo, share how the scholarship is taking them a step closer to achieving their dreams and goals.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THE MDA MEDIA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP?

Yunita Ong: There were actually several scholarship offers on the table for me, but I was set on a career in the news industry. While I was interning at The Straits Times, the Human Resources manager at the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) informed me of the MDA Media Education Scholarship. I hadn’t heard about it then but I decided to go for it – and I can say that I have never looked back. It was the perfect fit for me, because it was a scholarship that gave me the opportunity me to study journalism in university and work in the news industry after graduating.

Sydney Anastasia Yeo
MDA Media Education Overseas Scholar

Studying: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Recorded Music,
New York University, US

"Savour the new, hold yourself to the highest standards, and create every day."

Sydney Anastasia Yeo: When I started looking for a scholarship, I’d already gotten my acceptance letter from New York University’s (NYU) Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to study music production and engineering. It was such an unconventional course, so I knew it was going to be difficult to find an organisation to sponsor me. When I found the MDA scholarship page, I immediately jumped at the application process. A scholarship that allowed me to pursue my passion, and create a career around it, was simply too good of an opportunity to pass up.

SHARE WITH US SOME INTERESTING HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR SCHOLARSHIP JOURNEY SO FAR.

Yunita: Northwestern University has one of the best journalism schools in the US, and I’ve had so many opportunities there. The most notable experience I had was when I interned at Forbes Magazine in New York City – my duties there involved conducting research on big businesses in Asia. It was then that I realised my interest in reporting on international economies.

Sydney: The biggest highlight would definitely be my time at the Clive Davis Institute. I learned so much about the ins and outs of the music industry there. I grew as a recording/mix engineer through using state-of-the-art studio facilities, became much more critical of my own song-writing process, and surrounded myself with incredibly talented and creative people.

I was lucky enough to be mentored by amazing professors who are well-respected and still active in their fields. I got to learn from engineers, managers, songwriters, journalists, and lawyers, and gained exposure to all the different aspects and perspectives of the music industry. They were always willing to do everything within their power to help me, be it by giving me the push I needed to move ahead or helping me get in touch with the right people.

HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IN YOUR MES JOURNEY?

Yunita: I’ve grown a lot as a journalist at Northwestern University. The Forbes internship I did allowed me to figure out the direction I wish to take in my career. Studying journalism in the US has also allowed me to observe and participate in their media industry, giving me new perspectives especially on issues in Singapore. I feel that living abroad has helped me become more independent and resilient as well.

Sydney: I’ve learnt a lot at my various internships at record labels, music blogs, award-winning recording studios, and established PR firms. These experiences have helped me cultivate many skills across sectors in the field. I’ve also learnt more about developing and maintaining a brand. As a musician or writer, I’m much more consistent now because I put more thought and care into editing and presenting the project. Sometimes this results in me second-guessing myself, so some projects never come to light, but I’d rather be stringent than prolific.

Yunita Ong
MDA Media Education Overseas Scholar
(co-sponsoring organisation
Singapore Press Holdings Limited)


Studying: Bachelor of Science (Journalism),
with Double Major in Economics,
Northwestern University, US

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA SCENE IN THE FUTURE?

Yunita: I hope to pursue my interest in business journalism focusing on international markets – specifically, emerging Asian economies and their growth stories. My Forbes internship really helped solidify my interest in the region. I think Singapore is an ideal position to watch the Asian growth story from since we’re sitting at the confluence of East and West.

Sydney: There are a number of independent Singaporean publications and record labels that I would be happy to contribute work to. If there were no suitable open positions or if I had the capital, I might start my own magazine or video series. For my senior year project, I conceptualised a magazine called Homefound that I never got the chance to follow up on. It was based on finding home no matter where you are, a concept that could easily be translated to Singapore’s market.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING MDA MEDIA EDUCATION SCHOLARS WHO WISH TO FOLLOW YOUR PATH?

Yunita: Definitely demonstrate your interest in journalism as a career. You get bonus points if you have some writing and experience under your belt. The media industry is dynamic, innovative and exciting. A career within it will be challenging but also lots of fun!

Sydney: Represent your talents as an artist honestly. Think carefully about your brand and your identity: Where are you now? Where do you want to take yourself in the future? What have you already learned from your current experience and how can you make yourself better? What may change in the short term or long term? Consider if the schools or programmes you are applying for are right for you and convey how you see yourself growing through the programme.

Also, keep your senses open for beauty. Savour the new, hold yourself to the highest standards, and create every day.