{{Short description|Singaporean digital news magazine}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Today | logo = Today SG 2023.svg | image = | type = National free newspaper (10 November 2000 to September 2017)<br/>National online newspaper (September 2017 to 2024) | format = Digital newspaper | founded = {{Start date and age|2000|11|10|df=yes}} | owners = Mediacorp | editor = Walter Fernandez | language = English | ceased_publication = {{End date and age|df=yes|2024|9|30}} | circulation = 300,000 (in 2013) | headquarters = Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507 | oclc = 46474542 | website = {{URL|www.todayonline.com}} }}
'''''Today''''' was a Singaporean digital news magazine published by Mediacorp. It was originally established on 10 November 2000 as a free print newspaper, competing primarily with Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) ''Streats''.
In 2004, SPH announced an agreement to take stakes in Mediacorp's publishing and television businesses, resulting in the discontinuation of ''Streats'' and the sale of its two SPH MediaWorks channels to the company. In 2017, ''Today'' ended print publication, continuing as a digital publication. In October 2024, ''Today'' was merged into CNA, becoming a weekly digital news magazine devoted to long-form journalism.
==History== ''Today'' launched on 10 November 2000; it was established as a rival to ''Streats'', another English-language freesheet published by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). Initially, the newspaper was available only on weekdays. It was a partnership between MediaCorp, Singtel, and SMRT. DelGro was also announced as a partner in the paper, but dropped out of the venture shortly before launch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abdul Rahim |first1=Zackaria |date=10 November 2000 |title=TODAY is here |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20001110-1.2.5.3 |access-date=23 September 2019 |website=Today (retrieved from NLB)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2000 |title=DelGro pulls out of new newspaper |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20001109-1.2.6.3 |access-date=1 August 2019 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)}}</ref>
In 2002, ''Today'' launched a weekend version, ''WeekendTODAY'', which was also distributed to homes as a free newspaper but also available for sale at newsstands for 50 cents.
On June 5, 2004 it added Sunday TV listings.
In September 2004, SPH reached an agreement to sell its SPH MediaWorks television channels to MediaCorp. As part of the agreement, ''Streats'' ceased publication, and SPH took a 40% stake in MediaCorp's publishing business, and a 20% stake in its MediaCorp TV Holdings business.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 September 2004 |title=Media rivals strike deal to curb losses |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes20040918-1.2.2 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=The Straits Times (retrieved from NLB)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=18 September 2004 |title=DETAILS OF THE DEAL: |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20040918-1.2.4 |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Today (retrieved from NLB)}}</ref>
On 6 July 2006, ''Today'' suspended a weekly opinion column by mrbrown (real name Lee Kin Mun), a satirical blogger, after the government criticised an article he wrote in his column discussing the rising cost of living in Singapore.<ref>[http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18208 "Daily Newspaper ''TODAY'' Sacks Blogger 'mr brown' after Government Criticism"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609163050/http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18208|date=9 June 2009}}. Reporters Without Borders. 6 July 2006.</ref>
In 2010, ''Today'' launched the ''Today—New York Times International Weekly'', covering international affairs, social trends, arts and culture as well as business and finance.<ref>{{cite web|title=TODAY launches weekly newspaper with The New York Times|url=http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4246002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022044912/http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4246002|archive-date=22 October 2013|access-date=29 July 2010}}</ref>
In May 2011, the paper launched a Sunday edition, ''Today on Sunday''.<ref>{{cite web|title=TODAY launches new Sunday edition - TODAY on Sunday|url=http://mediacorp.sg/en/media/EDC110527-0000136/TODAY%20launches%20new%20Sunday%20edition%20-%20TODAY%20on%20Sunday|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623011634/http://mediacorp.sg/en/media/EDC110527-0000136/TODAY%20launches%20new%20Sunday%20edition%20-%20TODAY%20on%20Sunday|archive-date=23 June 2011|access-date=27 May 2011}}</ref> In June 2012, the Sunday edition ceased publication.
In 2013, the newspaper had a digital revamp of its website, mobile and tablet applications. It also ceased its afternoon edition. That year, ''Today'' had a circulation of 300,000, with more than half of its readers being professionals, managers, executives and businesspeople.<ref>{{cite web |title=TODAY Circulation & Distribution |url=http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/Documents/067/For%20Advertisers/NRP/Today_Rate_Card_.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111060159/http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/Documents/067/For%20Advertisers/NRP/Today_Rate_Card_.pdf |archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref> It was the second-most-read English-language newspaper in Singapore, after ''The Straits Times''.<ref>{{cite web |title=TODAY is Singapore's Second Most Read Daily |url=http://www.sg.nielsen.com/site/NewsReleaseNov062011.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109051304/http://www.sg.nielsen.com/site/NewsReleaseNov062011.shtml |archive-date=9 January 2012 |access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref>
In April 2017, ''Today'' discontinued its weekend edition, publishing only on weekdays. In September, it then ceased print publication of its weekday edition, continuing as a digital publication only.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=TODAY's journey from print to fully-digital |url=http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/todays-journey-print-fully-digital |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826073020/http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/todays-journey-print-fully-digital |archive-date=26 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017}}</ref> SPH concurrently divested its stakes in Mediacorp.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=30 September 2017 |title=SPH completes sale of Mediacorp stakes |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/sph-completes-sale-of-mediacorp-stakes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320051106/https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/sph-completes-sale-of-mediacorp-stakes |archive-date=20 March 2021 |access-date=30 December 2017 |work=The Straits Times |language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 28 August 2024, Mediacorp announced that ''Today'' would be merged into its CNA division effective 1 October 2024, with all staff retained. ''Today'' would be relaunched as a "digital long-form weekend magazine" published by CNA, focused on its "The Big Read" features, human interest stories, and opinion columns.<ref>{{cite news|date=28 August 2024|title=TODAY to merge with CNA, become digital long-form weekend magazine|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/today-merge-cna-become-digital-long-form-weekend-magazine-4571806|publisher=CNA|access-date=28 August 2024}}</ref>
==Editors== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Appointment<ref>[http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/journalist_room/media_guide/detail.html?cat=2 TODAY | For Media - Media contacts of all] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022092934/http://www.news.gov.sg/public/sgpc/en/journalist_room/media_guide/detail.html?cat=2|date=22 October 2013}}</ref> |- | Walter Fernandez || Editor-in-Chief |- | Loh Chee Kong || Deputy Chief Editor |- | Jason Tan || Executive Editor |- | Jiamei Lin || Supervising Editor |- | Razali Abdullah || Supervising Editor |- | Karen Lim || Supervising Editor |- | Yasmine Yahya || Supervising Editor |}
==See also== {{portal bar|Journalism|Singapore}} *Media in Singapore *List of free daily newspapers *List of newspapers in Singapore *Censorship in Singapore *''The Straits Times''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.todayonline.com TODAYonline], Official Website *[https://archive.today/20131021094459/http://www.mediacorp.sg/en/corporate/print mediacorp.sg/en/corporate/print], MediaCorp Print Overview *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060329141808/http://www.sph.com.sg/news/archive/press_040917_002.html SPH press release: "MediaCorp And Singapore Press Holdings Merge Their TV And Free Newspaper Operations"]
{{MediaCorp}} {{Singapore Press Holdings}}
Category:2000 establishments in Singapore Category:English-language newspapers published in Asia Category:Free daily newspapers Category:Online newspapers with defunct print editions Category:Mediacorp Category:Newspapers published in Singapore Category:Newspapers established in 2000 Category:2024 disestablishments in Singapore Category:Newspapers disestablished in 2024 Category:Defunct daily newspapers