Newspapers, one of the oldest mediums of mass communication, now receives a tribute at every local’s favourite study spot, the National Library along Victoria Street. Opened on Mar 14, The News Gallery: Beyond Headlines is the latest permanent exhibition by the NLB, and features the perspectives and influences that lie behind important news articles, as well as touching on issues like fake news in the digital age.
It’s not a huge, artsy exposition, but it’s still worth a visit. On level 11 of the National Library building, find multimedia displays, a fake news buster game, carefully preserved newspapers from decades ago and more.
There are a total of five zones, including the Early Editions that display some of Singapore’s oldest and rarest newspapers like The Singapore Free Press, Mercantil Advertiser and Nanyang Siang Pau, many of which have since shuttered. Then there’s Behind Every Story, that allows guests to rediscover several polarising events in Singapore’s history like the Maria Hertogh Riots and Hock Lee Bus Riots through different articles.
Also check out Fact or Fake?, an interactive installation that encourages all to separate fact from fiction with a quiz that pits you against the Fake News Monster.
Play on at Extra! Extra!, where other traditional sources of entertainment are showcased, like sudoku, crosswords, caricatures and more. Feel free to try your hand at the other games presented too.
Finally, just browse the NLB’s largest collection of historical and current newspapers that has been digitised for easy access at Read All About It.
And before you make a move, don’t forget to snap a quick pic at Make Headlines News!. Simply pose for the camera, and download a photo of yourself making the covers of a newspaper via a QR code.
So the next time you’re hanging around Bugis or picking up a book at the National Library, just pop over to The News Gallery; you just might learn something new.
The News Gallery: Beyond Headlines is a permanent exhibition at the National Library.
