The taxi driver claimed he accepted the interview thinking it was a feature on young taxi drivers. Instead his words were taken out of context and the news angle suggested taxi drivers can earn big bucks. The journalist claimed she reported the information as given by her interviewee because he showed no signs of exaggeration. Which side of the story do you believe? I have my own views and I¡¯ll leave it to you to decide your own.
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Taxi Driver¡¯s story
ST reporter¡¯s story
Let¡¯s read more into the latest Straits Times article by the journalist who wrote the story. The said objective
The journalist clearly stated the purpose of the interview. To find how why younger Singaporeans were choosing to be taxi drivers. The first thing that comes to mind would be interviewing a sample size of this group of young Singaporeans to find out what are the factors that got them started as taxi drivers, such as a change of environment, flexible working hours, the money, a bad employment market or no direct boss to report to, etc.
Strangely, however, the journalist later ended up admitting her selection bias:
and straying away from the objective she set to focus on just one thing: the monetary aspects of the job:
So what is the objective of her report?To find out the reasons why younger Singaporeans chose to turn to cab driving or to tell Strait Times readers that taxi driving is lucrative by presenting the unusual accounts that cannot represent the average? This is confusing.
Passing the buck
Neither the Straits Times nor the journalist who wrote the story is taking responsibility of the misleading untruths they had splashed all over town last week. The journalist hinted that the taxi driver may have lied.
Confirmationbias
Despite the public outcry over her inaccurate reports, the journalist took extra care to mention not once but twice in her rebuttal column that to suggest that there is validity in her report because the other interviewee, Mr Leow, was not disputed.
Reinforced Claims
¡°Earning $7,000 is not an impossibility, but earning $5,000 or more a month may not be unusual.¡± Despite her step down in figures, her stand remains steadfast: Cabbies make big bucks.
And she roped in a bigwig to reinforce her point. According to this journalist, Mr Lim Biow Chuan apparently thought because he met cabbies who earn $5,000, he believes earning $7,000 is not impossible. This should further mystify citizens who has been asking all week about the purpose of presenting a near-impossible, unsustainable career feat in mainstream media. The question remains unanswered.
Help for low earners
Miss Maria, the journalist then stated the investigative findings had spawned a new meaningful purpose.
To find out how other cabbies could earn more than the current $2,000 average. Wait! Let¡¯s recap. As far as I¡¯m concerned, ¡°may not be that unusual¡± suggests ¡°average¡±. So which is the truth Miss Maria? How much does a cabbie
For those who believe taxi drivers are earn big bucks, well resign from your job immediately, get the vocational licence and start driving.
Than they will know who is right if not who to curse.
Points to note. This $7K cabby left his $5K/m job as a security manager and ST headline said he is earning $7K/m as a cabby. (somebody must have told him that TD can earn more that $5K/m) Got his TVL in March and is earning $7k in May impressive !!! Well done.