KUALA LUMPUR: Come Monday (May 29), the journalists' fraternity in Malaysia will celebrate the National Journalists Day 2023 (HAWANA 2023) amid the rapidly evolving media landscape and a new benchmark that indicates the improvement of press freedom in the country.
Although the definition of press freedom can be highly subjective for many, felicitations have been pouring in from regional and international counterparts who are happy to note the country has moved up in the press freedom index.
And while they commended the new press freedom index, they also noted that there is still room for improvement, and pointed to the numerous challenges ahead - including that posed by citizen journalism and social media, dwindling revenues and growth of media outfits, fake news and disinformation, and the never-ending digital disruption.
They cited the change in the country's political scene over the last few years including the change of government, the rise of social media, and the reformist agenda of the government of the day as being among the contributors to the improvement in the press freedom index in Malaysia.
In the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, Malaysia rose to 73rd position with 62.83 points out of 180 countries compared to the 113th spot with 51.55 points in 2022. The annual index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recently also showed that Malaysia ranked the highest among ASEAN countries in press freedom - ahead of Thailand (106), Indonesia (108), Singapore (129), the Philippines (132), Brunei (142), Cambodia (147), Laos (160), Myanmar (173), and Vietnam (178).
The Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM) is encouraged to be part of the press corps in a country that is making gains in terms of press freedom, as evidenced in the recently-released World Press Freedom Index 2022 by Reporters Without Borders.
FCCM welcomed this achievement and hoped there will be continued improvement under a reformist government to the regulatory framework that governs the press, which includes laws such as the Sedition Act, Communications and Multimedia Act, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
"FCCM and its members are keen to play a role in this process and hope to engage all stakeholders, including the authorities, on the way forward," it said in its written reply to Bernama.
HAWANA PROOF OF GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO MEDIA FREEDOM
Meanwhile, Indonesian editors and senior journalists described the celebration of HAWANA for the third time as proof of the government's commitment and determination to ensure media freedom in Malaysia continues to flourish.
President of the Indonesian branch of the Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists' Association (ISWAMI) Asro Kamal Rokan said the cooperation of media organisations in both countries is also encouraged by the government to overcome all issues related to the media, including fake news, and to overcome the extreme challenges in the era of digitisation and globalisation.
"The government cannot function well when the media is not critical," said the former editor of the Republika newspaper and head of the ANTARA news agency.
"Happy Malaysian Journalists' Day to all those who never stop fighting for the interests of the people and stand up for the people in voicing their conscience," said Asro.
The head of the Indonesian Journalists' Association, Atal Depari, praised the government's consideration in giving freedom to journalists to establish the Malaysian Media Council, just like the relatively free Dewan Pers (Press House) in Indonesia.
Atal, who is unable to attend the ceremony this time due to work commitments, believes the celebration will continue to be a platform to promote the development of media freedom in Malaysia.
CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND GLOBAL PLATFORMS
Meanwhile, the Head of the Indonesian Editors' Forum Arifin Asydhad believes the media in Indonesia and Malaysia are almost equally marginalised following the dominance of social media in the community as well as global platforms in the mass media's ecosystem.
He said journalists are responsible for releasing accurate information with various rules and codes of ethics while social media produces information to the public without limitations, and therefore journalists need to continue to push for social media to be accountable.
"In Indonesia, regulation on global platforms to support quality journalism is being fought for. The next step is to regulate social media. This regulation can protect the public's right to get true and accurate information," he said.
"What the community of journalists in Indonesia is doing is very important for Malaysia to practice. In conjunction with HAWANA 2023, journalists should see this issue more clearly and reform the existence of social media and global platforms," said Arifin, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Kumparan news portal.
DOMESTIC POLITICAL SCENE AND PRESS FREEDOM
Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) World Executive Advisor Thepchai Yong said the promising improvement in press freedom in Malaysia reflects the positive transformation in the country's media landscape due to the change in political leadership.
"I am glad to witness the positive transformation in Malaysia's media landscape as the change of government has brought about a more tolerant media environment. There is no more tight control or intolerance towards criticism.
"Malaysia stands out as a good example of how the media environment has experienced remarkable improvements," he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, Senior Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Dr Oh Ei Sun, attributed Malaysia's improvement in the press freedom index to the domestic political scene in the country over the past few years.
He noted that the Malaysian media scene has been much liberalised partly as a result of frequent changes of government which rendered political interference timider.
"It could only be hoped that this liberalising trend could continue. But this is an outstanding performance by the increasingly bold Malaysian journalists," he said when contacted by Bernama.
However, the analyst opined that the development may be disrupted if the conservative and regressive forces dominate the political scene once again.
May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists' Day in conjunction with the publication of the first newspaper in Malaysia, Utusan Melayu, on May 29, 1939, which became the first media platform in the country.
The HAWANA 2023 celebration will be held in Ipoh, Perak, from May 27-29 with the theme 'Free Media, Pillar of Democracy' to re-emphasise the issue of media freedom for journalists in carrying out their duties. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 28.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri May 26 2023
Felicitations have been pouring in from regional and international counterparts who are happy to note the country has moved up in the press freedom index. - BERNAMA/Filepic
Paris 2024: Ariana Nur Dania 'bidik' pengalaman atau podium?
Ariana Nur Dania akan menjalani latihan pecutan akhir di Korea Selatan ditemani dua rakan lain, Nurul Azreena dan Syaqiera.
WEF #AMNC24: Memperkukuh ekosistem syarikat pemula Asia Tenggara
Ketua ESG & Ekonomi Sirkular, Gobi Partners, Carlo Chen-Delantar mengupas cabaran semasa, unjuran masa depan serta usaha menambah baik ekosistem syarikat pemula di Asia Tenggara.
AWANI Ringkas: Korban konflik Israel-Palestin terus meningkat
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Prospek dan cabaran ekonomi Malaysia separuh kedua 2024
Kerajaan optimis Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) Malaysia berada pada kedudukan yang baik dan akan berkembang pada kadar unjuran rasmi antara 4.0 peratus dengan 5.0 peratus bagi 2024, didorong pertumbuhan suku pertama yang lebih tinggi daripada jangkaan. Apakah faktor-faktor yang menyumbang kepada prestasi ekonomi Malaysia dalam tempoh enam bulan lalu dan apakah yang akan menjadi perhatian di kalangan pelabur untuk prestasi separuh tahun kedua 2024?
Prestasi FBMKLCI: Unjuran enam bulan akan datang
Setakat 31 Mei 2024, Indeks Komposit FBMKLCI ditutup pada 1,596.68 mata, mencatatkan peningkatan kukuh sebanyak 1.3% dari bulan ke bulan. Ini merupakan kenaikan mengagumkan sebanyak 9.3% dari awal tahun. Indeks ini menunjukkan prestasi yang kuat dengan mencapai tahap signifikan 1,600
mata pada pertengahan bulan, menonjolkan ketahanan dan potensi pertumbuhannya. Adakah indeks ini akan meneruskan momentum ini dalam tempoh enam bulan akan datang?
mata pada pertengahan bulan, menonjolkan ketahanan dan potensi pertumbuhannya. Adakah indeks ini akan meneruskan momentum ini dalam tempoh enam bulan akan datang?
30 remaja Korea Utara dihukum mati, penjara kerana tonton K-drama
50 sehingga 60 remaja berusia sekitar 17 tahun di Korea Utara diketahui menonton drama Korea Selatan.
F1: Hamilton menangis selepas menang GP Britain
Juara dunia tujuh kali itu menangis ketika bercakap melalui radio pasukan pada pusingan akhir.
AWANI Pagi: Banci Pertanian: Kukuhkan Rantaian Data Pertanian Negara
Banci Pertanian 2024 berlangsung di seluruh negara bermula 7 Julai. Apakah impaknya terhadap rakyat untuk jangka masa panjang dan data rantaian makanan negara?
Ikuti huraian lanjut bersama Pesuruhjaya Banci Pertanian 2024, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin bersama #AWANIPagi
Ikuti huraian lanjut bersama Pesuruhjaya Banci Pertanian 2024, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin bersama #AWANIPagi
EURO 2024: Barcelona menantikan wang pampasan ekoran kecederaan Pedri
Pedri mengesahkan dia akan kekal bersama skuad itu, namun tidak akan bermain lagi dalam kejohanan tersebut.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [08 Julai 2024]
Fokus Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Farhan Hakimi
- Maal Hijrah: Jangan jadikan media sosial tempat berbalah, sebar aib - Agong
- LKAN: Jabatan kerajaan perlu beri keutamaan aspek tatakelola, kebertanggungjawaban
- Analisis kerjasama BN dan PH untuk PRU-16
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
- Maal Hijrah: Jangan jadikan media sosial tempat berbalah, sebar aib - Agong
- LKAN: Jabatan kerajaan perlu beri keutamaan aspek tatakelola, kebertanggungjawaban
- Analisis kerjasama BN dan PH untuk PRU-16
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
Analisis: Forum HAWANA tidak buahkan penyelesaian kukuh pecahkan monopoli media sosial
HAWANA 2023 gagal menghasilkan satu rangka kerja untuk meraih pendapatan daripada kandungan yang ditawarkan oleh organisasi media.
Tiga wartawan veteran Perak terima bantuan Tabung Kasih@HAWANA
Tiga wartawan veteran Perak menerima bantuan Tabung Kasih@HAWANA sempena sambutan Hari Wartawan Nasional (HAWANA) 2023.
HAWANA 2023: PM terima kad media, simbolik hargai sumbangan media
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini menerima Kad Perakuan Media Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia kategori emas, bersempena kemuncak sambutan Hari Wartawan Nasional (HAWANA) 2023.
Wartawan mengajar saya jadi manusia berani, bertanggungjawab - Datuk Lat
Menurut Datuk Lat, kerjaya wartawan disifatkan satu cabaran, kerana mereka perlu mengharungi bahaya termasuk merisikokan diri demi tugas.
HAWANA 2023: Media tradisional harus bekerjasama dengan pengiklan untuk cipta lebih banyak peluang
Media tradisional harus bekerjasama rapat dengan pengiklan untuk mencipta dan menginovasi lebih banyak peluang untuk meningkatkan kesedaran jenama sebagai salah satu alat pemasaran dalam era digital.
HAWANA 2023: Majlis Media perlu bebas daripada campur tangan kerajaan
Taufiqurrahman berkata badan itu penting dalam memastikan media negara berkenaan bebas daripada campur tangan kerajaan.
HAWANA 2023: Surat khabar masih punyai peranan penting - PM Anwar
Surat khabar tetap mempunyai peranan penting dalam menyalurkan maklumat dan berpotensi untuk bertahan jika mengekalkan mutu dan integritinya, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
HAWANA 2023: Pandangan kritis, idea bernas media bantu tambah baik pentadbiran kerajaan
Media memainkan peranan penting sebagai medium untuk melontarkan pandangan kritis dan idea bernas bagi penambahbaikan dalam urusan pentadbiran kerajaan.
HAWANA 2023: Kerajaan bincang dengan platform media sosial isu plagiat laporan berita
Kerajaan sedang mengadakan siri perbincangan dengan syarikat-syarikat penyedia platform media sosial termasuk berkaitan isu hak cipta bahan berita yang diterbitkan.
Malaysia perlukan media yang bebas, berani untuk bersuara - Fahmi
Media bertujuan memastikan bahawa suara semua pihak dapat didengar dengan jelas dan diberi perhatian.