What is The Straits Times and its historical significance?

The Straits Times is a prominent English-language newspaper established on 15 July 1845. It began as a weekly publication aimed at providing commercial information for the bustling port community and later became a daily paper in 1858. Over time, it has grown to be the most widely circulated newspaper in its country and holds significant regional influence.

Historically, The Straits Times has played a crucial role in the region’s media landscape. It was founded by Robert Carr Woods and Catchick Moses, initially distinguishing itself by including humour, short stories, and foreign news. The paper survived challenges such as financial difficulties, wartime censorship (renamed The Shonan Times during Japanese occupation), and modernization efforts including computerized typesetting in the mid-20th century.

Its significance extends beyond journalism: under early 20th-century editor Alexander William Still, it championed local causes such as higher education for diverse ethnic communities. It also expanded regionally by establishing a Malaysian edition, The New Straits Times, in 1956, reflecting its broader influence in Southeast Asia.

Celebrating over 180 years of publication, The Straits Times remains a key source of news and a historical record of the region’s social, political, and economic developments.