Local and global reportage figures dip

A year-on-year comparison of stories written in the first three months of 2006 and 2007 found a significant decrease in the number of stories appearing in local and global media in 2007.

In 2006, a total of 216 stories were written by the Singapore media, while global media churned out 487 stories. In the same period of 2007 however, there were only 192 recorded mentions of companies by local media, while global media mentions dropped to 373. This translated to a percentage drop of 11.1% and 23.4% respectively. Monitored companies in the Marketing Brand Influence League remained the same during both periods.

Company-wise, articles involving DBS and its CEO Jackson Tai made a strong showing up the ranks for the month of March 2007 - in relative terms, the company saw an increase of 220% in local press mentions over February. This meant it was second only to CapitaLand-Liew in terms of the most press mentions to date. In February, the bank had been ranked fifth. Overall though it was Keppel-Choo that recorded the largest increase in local stories, with a 600% month-on-month increase.

Internationally, Keppel-Choo saw an increase of over 300%, while both Singapore Airlines-Chew and UOB-Wee saw a 450% rise in articles.

Companies who currently occupy the bottom ranks of total local press mentions to date include Flextronics (0), STATS ChipPAC (1), Great Eastern (1), Jardine Cycle & Carriage (2), SMART (3), Singapore Post (3), Venture Corporation (4), and Asia Pacific Breweries (4). For international media, the companies with the least mentions are Flextronics (1), Jardine Cycle & Carriage (2), SMRT (3), Venture Corporation (4), STATS ChipPAC (4), Great Eastern (4), and Singapore Post (5).