Dirty Old Media Men is a fun and salacious read about misogyny in workplaces and the realities of working in Singapore media.
After winning a scholarship to work at a leading media company in Singapore, 22-year-old Millie Lee believes she’s on track to her dream job. However, her six-month probationary period proves more treacherous than she anticipates. To become a journalist, she’ll first need to survive reticent interviewees, ethical dilemmas and the dirty old men in her company.
Dirty Old Media Men - a fictional memoir by Millie Lee (a pseudonym) who works in Singapore’s media industry - highlights the misogyny faced by women in the workplace and society. While the book blurb emphasises the inappropriate behavior she encounters, the story also sheds light on the realities of working in local media.
As a former journalist (albeit not with Singapore media), I found the news chasing anecdotes (“The problem is Singaporeans don’t like to share their honest opinions with a wide audience. They save them for small audiences at reunion dinners.”), behind-the-scenes of radio and TV, and the sad truth about compromises journalists sometimes have to make in editorial work due to commercial and political pressures, particularly relatable and engaging. I had many laugh-out-loud moments reading this.
This is a fun and salacious read (the blurb a bit sensationalised, in my opinion). I enjoyed it most for the acerbic voice, truths about news writing, and its scathing commentary on journalism in Singapore.
“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach idealistic Mass Comm students about the virtues of pure reporting. And they’re right, until they work with politicians who want to sign off on every press release. Or advertisers who demand everything or take their money to Facebook. Or readers who whack us every day for being government lackeys. So what do we do? Give up? No lah. We pick our battles.”
I reckon this adult fiction is one teenagers and those older can enjoy. Thanks, Definitely Books (Pansing), for sending this newly-released book for my review! This book is now available at all good bookstores.
Disclaimer: The book was provided by Pansing for my review. As always, all opinions are mine.
©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.
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