Latest news with #Jom
The Review Geek
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
My Sweetheart Jom (Thai BL) – Season 1 Episode 1 Recap & Review
The Young Chief of Baan Pho Chai Episode 1 of My Sweetheart Jom starts at Pho Chai village with Chief Jom handling official duties like discussing projects, helping push a truck stuck on the road, and just leisurely driving around, meeting with villagers. Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Yotin secretly sneaks into a club to meet an older idol, Mixx. Yotin asks Mixx to be his girlfriend. Mixx does not give him an answer since her company prohibits her from dating. Regardless, Mixx asks Yotin to come for an answer the following day. Someone overhears their conversation in Mixx's dressing room and informs Mr. Sack. Back at Pho Chai village, the villagers gather to make Baan Pho Chai's ancient recipe kayasarat. It is part of Jom's initiatives to create jobs and opportunities in the village. Jom receives a call from Todd, who tells him to hurry home since his grandmother has fallen down the stairs. It was actually all part of his grandmother's matchmaking scheme to pair Jom with Koi, Gum's daughter. Jom hurries home and finds his grandmother in the backyard. She leaves Jom with Koi after some conversation so they can get to know each other. Outside the gate, Granny tells her worker, Sert, not to take all the vegetables to the market. Some villagers are in distress after a bridge broke, and they cannot travel back and forth. Todd feels guilty since grandmother used him to lie to Jom. He is afraid that Jom will be mad at him, so he asks Toei and Oat to come up with an idea to help Jom out. Toei's idea is that they pretend to be Jom's children from different mothers. The plan works since Koi angrily storms out of the chief's home, thinking that Jom is married. Granny is angry that Oat, Todd, and Toei keep chasing away any of the girls he introduces to Jom. Jom tells Granny that he believes in true love. He believes that if people are destined, they will find each other no matter how far they have to travel. Until then, Jom plans to stick with his grandmother. Next, Yotin meets up with his friends at their university during a hazing ceremony. We learn that Yotin never finished 12th grade because he stood up for his friend against a teacher. Teacher Yak tried to harass Toy sexually. When Toy rejected him, Yak beat him up, but Yotin and Bank showed up in time. The three ganged up on the teacher, and he ended up in the hospital, badly hurt and in a coma. Since there was no evidence to prove what the teacher did to Toy, Yotin took the blame and was expelled. Mixx goes to the same university as Yotin's friend and has a politician's son as her boyfriend, Sack. Yotin sees Mixx and Sack kissing, and Mixx realises that Yotin knows about Sack. Sack also has Mixx followed, and knows about Yotin. Mixx tries calling Yotin later, but he does not answer. She sends Yotin a video faking suicide, so Yotin rushes over to her place. However, he has come to end things with Mixx since she has a boyfriend, Sack has Mixx's place watched, so he knows when Yotin arrives, and he arrives soon after with his men. Sack is here to kill Yotin. He cocks his gun and shoots. Mixx knocks Sack's hand, he misses and drops the gun. Yotin tries to escape, but Sack's man is blocking the door. Sack rains punches on Yotin. When Yotin gets a chance, he knocks Sack on the head with a vase. Sack's men are distracted as he is lying on the floor, bleeding. Yotin manages to escape. Yotin tries sneaking back home, but his parents are already waiting. He has a mask on to hide the wound on his face and fakes a cold. However, his father sees through his tricks and lies to hide the truth. Yotin has no choice but to be honest. His father calls someone to ask about Sack's situation and learns he is at the hospital. Yotin's father is well-connected and can find a way to negotiate with Sack's father since he is the sponsor of Mr. Sira's political party. However, Sack's pride is hurt, and Yotin's father is sure he will come after Yotin. Therefore, the only choice is for Yotin to hide away. Yotin's father has connections to Pho Chai village. He makes plans for Yotin to go there and resume his studies since he has been out of school for two years. He will stay with Granny Ja, Jom's grandmother, and will be under the care of Chief Jom. On the way to Pho Chai Village, Yotin's dad tells him that another reason he wants Yotin to stay in the village is that Chief Jom runs the place. If Sack's people come to cause trouble, Chief Jom can easily deal with them. Yotin imagines Chief Jom as a ruthless man who will tie him to the stick and shoot him dead if he tries to run away from the village. Therefore, he fakes having a stomachache and forces them to stop the car so he can use the bathroom. Yotin escapes from his parents, but he cannot find a taxi. He is forced to walk until he gets to a shop where he buys some water. Just then, Jom shows up at the shop. He has come to deliver kayasarat. Yotin asks for his help, and Jom offers to drop him at a junction where he can get a ride to the city centre and take a bus to Bangkok. Along the way, Jom realises that Yotin is the person his grandmother had said would be staying with them to hide away from Sack and his men. Jom tries telling Yotin his name, but Yotin goes on and on about the ruthless and cold-hearted village chief, Jom. Therefore, he tells Yotin that he will drop him off at the city centre, but drives them home instead. Yotin's mother and father have already arrived. Granny Ja and Headman Kla welcome them. Jom then introduces himself. They are shocked at how young he is. They assumed he would be older with a beard, given that they were told he's in charge, but Jom makes light of it. Kla warns them not to be deceived by Jom's good looks. He is the protector of the village, and if Sack's men want to get to Yotin, they have to step over his dead body. At the end of the episode, Yotin's parents leave him under Jom's care. Jom shows him to his room and tells him not to unpack all his clothes since he will not be staying long. When Granny Ja asks why Jom told him that, he says that Yotin is stubborn. He knows Yotin will try to escape. The Episode Review It is always a blessing to have Saint back on our screens again. He will be acting while also producing the show. We get to see more of his talents, and so far, the first episode is okay. The aesthetic of the village is beautiful, and it was a wise decision to focus on the scenery. It helps the viewers get a sense of the beauty of the village as well as understand the close, interdependent nature of the villagers. This is Poom's first lead role, and it will be interesting to see how he portrays this role. As for Saint, we know he always delivers on his roles. It is a welcomed change of pace to see him take up a more mature role. The chemistry between the two leads is also great, and we expect it to only get better. We can't wait to see what unfolds in the next episode. Next Episode
Online Citizen
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Singapore blocks Jom articles on Meta over election ad rules, citing unauthorised paid promotion
SINGAPORE: On 30 April 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) confirmed that three articles published by the Singapore-based digital magazine Jom were blocked for local users on Facebook and Instagram. The action, carried out by Meta, followed a directive issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on 23 April. It came amid concerns that the articles constituted unauthorised third-party paid Online Election Advertising (OEA) during the general election period. Jom, which describes itself as an independent magazine covering culture, politics, and society in Singapore, had promoted these articles through paid advertisements on Meta's platforms. According to MDDI, the three articles in question were titled: These pieces, which either praised or criticised political figures and policies, were deemed to meet the legal definition of OEA under the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA). The PEA defines OEA as any online material that could reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success or standing of a political party or candidate, regardless of other intended purposes. Singapore law permits only political parties, candidates, election agents, and authorised third parties to publish paid OEA. Such activities must also be declared to the returning officer. MDDI stressed that these rules are in place to ensure accountability and prevent circumvention of election expense limits. Unpaid OEA remains legal outside the campaign cooling-off period, which runs from midnight on 2 May until polling closes on 3 May. In response to media queries, MDDI reiterated that unpaid OEA on Jom's website remains accessible. The ministry noted that other online commentators had complied with these rules. Jom contests classification of journalism as political advertising Jom expressed strong disagreement with the government's classification. In statements issued on its social media platforms, the publication said it had only sought to promote journalism to new readers through standard digital marketing practices. Jom called the order 'shocking' and argued that its content was not designed to influence voter behaviour, but to inform and analyse, as journalistic work typically does. 'Our work was never 'intended' to promote or prejudice anybody, but simply to analyse and report,' Jom said. The magazine specifically cited the housing article, noting that it was first published 18 months ago. It contended that describing public policies from multiple perspectives should not be viewed as electioneering. Jom reported that, after consulting legal counsel, it contacted IMDA via the designated email for election-related issues, requesting clarification within 48 hours due to the urgency of the situation. The agency responded on 29 April, stating that Jom had contravened section 61K(1) of the PEA. Jom said it was not provided with further substantive clarification. Additionally, the outlet revealed that a fourth article, Inequality and your vote, had also been restricted from promotion on Meta, though this was not mentioned in the government's initial announcement. Concerns over press freedom, competition, and public discourse Jom raised concerns about what it views as broader implications for press freedom, democratic engagement, and competition in Singapore's media landscape. 'This order undermines our integrity as journalists,' the publication stated, arguing that it was being unfairly penalised while state-affiliated platforms and influencers operated without similar constraints. It also noted that the ruling hinders the viability of small media firms trying to build readership through legitimate digital channels. 'Our ability to grow our readership and business through social media is vital,' Jom said. 'Far from nurturing media entrepreneurs, IMDA cripples us.' Meta defines boosted posts as advertisements and requires them to follow applicable advertising laws. According to the platform, even if a post is originally published as standard content, paying to increase its reach classifies it as an ad. This distinction played a key role in the enforcement of Singapore's election laws in this case. Jom acknowledged that the order only barred the promotion of its articles on Meta, and that the content remains freely accessible on its own website. Jom questioned whether the decision was a bureaucratic misstep or a politically motivated move aimed at silencing independent commentary during the election season. 'Are [readers] only supposed to hear mainstream media and PAP-influencer views?' Jom asked. Despite the controversy, Jom stated its commitment to continue reporting on Singapore's general election and other pressing national issues. 'We will not succumb,' the statement read. 'We will continue to do our honest work.'
CNA
30-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Online publication Jom flouted online election advertising rules by boosting articles' access on social media
SINGAPORE: Three articles posted on social media by online publication Jom were blocked in Singapore by Meta because they are considered as unauthorised third-party paid online election advertising (OEA) and Jom had "amplified access" to these articles, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said. During the election period, Jom had paid for advertisements on Facebook and Instagram to boost the reach of those articles. Meta is the parent company of these social media platforms. The advertisements containing links to the articles violated regulations for OEA, the ministry said on Wednesday (Apr 30) in response to queries from CNA. It stated that Singapore citizens and entities are allowed to publish OEA that are not paid and other articles on Jom's website that constitute such unpaid OEA are still accessible to the public. OEA is defined under the Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA) as any information or material published online that "can reasonably be regarded as intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success or standing of a political party or candidate, even though the information or material can reasonably be regarded as intended to achieve some other purpose as well", the ministry said. The three articles by Jom that criticised or praised political parties, candidates and their policies satisfy the legal definition of OEA, it added. The articles are titled: Is Shan a good bad cop? The system has stopped evolving: why Harpreet Singh joined the opposition Affordability in the lion city: is Singapore's public housing model built to last? The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), as the assistant returning officer of this election, issued Meta corrective directions on Apr 23 to disable access for Singapore users to Jom's related advertisements. "The rules on OEA apply to everyone, including online commentators such as Jom. These rules have been observed by other online commentators," the ministry said. Under the law, only political parties, candidates, election agents and authorised third parties can publish paid OEA and this must also be declared to the returning officer. MDDI said that this rule is in place to ensure transparency and accountability and prevent the use of paid advertisements to bypass the election expense limits for political parties and candidates. The publishing of unpaid OEA is also prohibited during the cooling-off period for election campaigning, which lasts from midnight on May 2 until polling closes on May 3. Jom said in its Facebook and Instagram posts on Tuesday that it was informed by IMDA that its articles flouted the PEA regarding OEA and that it was barred from "promoting ('boosting') our work on Meta". It also said that it reached out to Meta and was informed of the same thing. On its social media accounts, Jom states that it is a weekly digital magazine "covering arts, culture, politics, business, technology and more in Singapore". It said on Tuesday that its ability to grow its "readership and business through social media is vital". "To be clear, the order only prevents Jom from promoting (boosting) it through Meta. All four articles are still on our website," it added. Meta states on Facebook that users who want to advertise on its platforms may do so by boosting a post or creating an advertisement. A boosted post is an advertisement created from an existing piece of content that the users have published on their Facebook Page or Instagram account and this will help the post to reach more people on Facebook or Instagram.
Independent Singapore
30-04-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Jom's Content Misclassified as Election Advertising — Singapore News
SINGAPORE: Singapore digital magazine Jom has raised serious concerns over what it calls an 'unjust' restriction on its ability to boost some of its content on Meta's platforms, during the ongoing 2025 general election period. In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the alternative media outlet revealed that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, had barred four of its articles from being boosted as paid content. The blocked articles include policy analyses and political profiles linked to the GE. According to Meta, the restriction stemmed from a breach of Singapore's Parliamentary Elections Act (PEA), specifically its provisions on Online Election Advertising (OEA). Expressing disbelief at the classification of its journalism as equivalent to partisan political messaging, Jom said, 'Essentially, the G had classified Jom's journalism as election advertising, of the sort that political parties engage in. We were shocked.' The magazine's editorial team noted that promoting or 'boosting' stories on social media was a standard practice used to reach new audiences. In this instance, however, their boosted posts had been flagged under Section 61K(1) of the PEA, which defines OEA as any online material that could reasonably be regarded as intending to promote or prejudice a political party or candidate during the election period. Among the articles affected were two political profiles and two issue-based features, including one on inequality and another on housing that had originally been published 18 months ago. Jom questioned whether the move was the result of a bureaucratic overreach or something more deliberate. 'Was it an overzealous civil servant? Did an order come down because somebody doesn't want us discussing Harpreet and Shan? Or because they feel the HDB issue may cost them votes?' the magazine asked. It noted that it had reached out to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for clarification. The statutory board reiterated the alleged breach but offered no new explanation. In the statement, Jom also argued that journalism should not be lumped together with campaign materials. The team asserted, 'We are journalists, not politicians. Our work was never 'intended' to promote or prejudice anybody, but simply to analyse and report, as journalists do.' The outlet added that the inability to promote its work on social media hinders both its growth and the broader democratic conversation in Singapore. 'Our ability to grow our readership and business through social media is vital,' it said, adding that such restrictions disproportionately affect small, independent outfits like theirs competing against 'state-supported behemoths.' While the barred content remains accessible for free on Jom's website, the editorial team said the incident diverted time and resources away from their core election coverage. 'We had to sacrifice GE coverage time — and frankly, rest, mental health — over the weekend to deal with this,' the statement read. Beyond commercial concerns, Jom framed the issue as one of democratic importance. 'Yes, the HDB issue and inequality are political hot potatoes. Yes, Harpreet and Shan are two politicians very much in the limelight during this GE. But why shouldn't we be able to promote independent journalism about them?' The magazine vowed to press on with its work despite what it described as an escalating 'politics of fear.' 'We will not succumb,' the team declared, 'We'll continue to do our honest work. We hope this helps you understand the system in which you live.'
