SPH Media merges The New Paper with Stomp under refreshed digital brand

SINGAPORE: SPH Media announced on 30 October 2025 that The New Paper (TNP) has merged with Stomp, forming a unified online platform under a refreshed Stomp website.

The move, the company said, reflects its strategy to continuously adapt to changing reader habits and strengthen engagement with younger audiences.

The new site will retain the Stomp masthead but incorporate features and editorial depth that draw from TNP’s heritage.

SPH Media described the refreshed product as “real, vocal and impactful”, combining Stomp’s community-driven approach with TNP’s reputation for bold, quality journalism.

The company stated, “With TNP launched in 1988 and Stomp introduced in 2006, it is timely for us to reshape them to better resonate with our younger audience and reach out to newer readers.”

Joy Fang, who rejoined SPH Media in April 2025 and now heads the refreshed outlet as editor, said that leading with the Stomp brand was a natural choice as it had become the stronger digital brand.

Fang previously served as editor of MS News and held editorial roles with SPH Magazines and My Paper.

Fang confirmed that all TNP staff would join the Stomp team, with no change to the total number of employees.

“The team has been reinforced by fresh talent,” she said, adding that the new platform would feature in-article polls, an artificial intelligence summariser, and sections for top-performing stories.

The revamped Stomp will also enhance its presence on social media, including Instagram and TikTok, offering more original and youth-oriented content.

Fang said the platform will continue to encourage public submissions of stories, photos and videos, staying true to Stomp’s tradition as a ground-up content channel.

A dedicated TNP News section will preserve the legacy of TNP’s investigative and feature reporting, covering viral news, lifestyle, entertainment and sports.

The site will also introduce a Deep Dive section offering explainers and community features reflecting TNP’s commitment to persistent and rigorous journalism.

The site’s new tagline – “Real. Vocal. Impactful.” – underscores its goal of being a vibrant yet trustworthy space that blends community perspectives with credible reporting. Fang described the initiative as an effort to “build a platform that still feels like home, but with a fresh spark.”

The TNP website will close on 1 December 2025, with its archives accessible through the new Stomp portal under the TNP News section.

First launched in 1988, The New Paper was known for its innovative visual storytelling, bold headlines, and coverage of sports, crime and entertainment. It transitioned to a freesheet in December 2016 and went fully digital in December 2021.

The merger follows broader changes in Singapore’s media landscape.

In February 2022, the government announced funding of up to S$900 million over five years for SPH Media Trust (SMT), which operates The Straits Times, Stomp, The New Paper, as well as Malay-, Tamil-, and Chinese-language newspapers.

The support, capped at S$180 million annually, aimed to sustain quality journalism amid declining advertising revenues and audience migration to digital platforms.

The funding came after SMT’s restructuring in 2021, when it was separated from Singapore Press Holdings to become a not-for-profit entity.

The shift was designed to ensure that Singapore’s flagship news outlets could adapt to the challenges of digital disruption while maintaining credibility and public trust.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders on 2 May, Singapore ranked 123rd out of 180 countries.

The report criticised Singapore as an example not to follow, citing a severe lack of editorial independence and little respect for press freedom. RSF noted that independent political journalism is scarce, with outlets like The Online Citizen forced into exile.