Straits Times is number 1. Do Singaporeans have a choice?

Singapore Media Watch on the latest readership figures of Singapore's newspapers such as The Straits Times and Today and asks do Singaporeans have a choice? From Singapore Media Watch:

In a market where the print media industry is monopolized completely by a single company - the Singapore Press Holdings, such rankings of readership figures serve little useful purpose other than an internal QC of the chief editors of the various dailies.

Do Singaporeans have a choice? Given the absence of variable alternatives, Singaporeans have no where else to turn except the mainstream media for their daily news. Only by topping the readership charts in a free market with real competitors can the Straits Times claim to be the most popular newspaper read by a majority of Singaporeans.

Are readership figures alone an accurate reflection of the success of a newspaper? Without the inclusion of other parameters such as report authencity and objectivity, press freedom and quality of analyzes, this figure is meaningless and cannot be used as a barometer for press rating.