BY FASIHA KHUSHIRI & VIVYNNA ANN CHABU
KUCHING: Sarawak will host the media conference and National Journalists Day (HAWANA) 2024, marking an important step in elevating journalism in the state.
This event aims not only to appreciate the contributions of journalists but also to strengthen the collaboration between media practitioners and the government.
For 2007 KAJAI Award—the highest journalism award in the country—winner Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri, major programmes like Hawana provide opportunities for Sarawak’s youth to shine in the field of journalism, which may have previously received less attention.
New Sarawak Tribune spoke to Shahren about his experiences as a reporter and his insights on HAWANA.
Q: Can you share a bit about your time as a journalist?
From 2005, I wrote about 1,000 reports, not just only the “Perisik Kosmo Bongkar”.
I’ve also done news. News is a must, including political reports and follow-up stories.
Q: Regarding HAWANA, maybe you can share your views.
Media still has a big role in influencing and educating the public about various topics.
Back then, I started with Utusan Sarawak, from practical right up to being a stringer.
Utusan Sarawak is one of the popular newspapers in Sarawak. So, everyone wanted to get their news from Utusan Sarawak as they provided current information about the government or current issues. Nowadays, it is still important but the medium is different.
Newspaper is a business that is not like before because people prefer social media nowadays. Whatever the medium, newspaper is still relevant.
The stories by journalists to readers are solid stories…stories that have credibility.
Compared to social media, maybe they’re from ordinary blogs that are not true.
Journalists have to have a high integrity. Their news reports must be true and have facts.
Q: For you, there is a very big difference between media practitioners now and before, especially in this digitised era.
Very big difference. When I was a journalist, if there were three assignments, the first and second were near the place. In the past, I was in Kuala Lumpur. It was far away. It was hard. We had to go back to the office. Even though it was already evening, because we had to write on the laptop, not on the phone.
Because in the paper, I do not know now, the editor would sit (call a meeting) for at least three times (to decide the news for the day).
At 4 or 5pm, then 8pm and another time before midnight or 11pm to decide whether or not to change the front page because of certain happenings.
So, we have to follow the deadline. Journalists now, after sending in their stories, they go back directly.
Attitudes among reporters have changed now. I see young reporters nowadays, when I go to functions, they do not ask questions. From, say five reporters, only one would ask questions.
(During my time) you have to stay back until the editor is satisfied that you have done your due diligence regarding the news you submitted.
Q: In terms of reporters in social media, what do you think? Reporters that use social media organisation and individual accounts.
Firstly, what is good about today, even though earlier I pointed out some negative things, it is not that bad. It’s just different. What’s good now, digitalisation has given us an opportunity to churn out stories much faster than back in my time.
Back then, we used notebooks. You know, if we went to a function, a political function, or a news function, I already knew what I wanted to do. I just wanted to get the statement, the facts of the day. I know what the introduction is, I know what the middle part is, I know what the key points are. The middle part is important. What do you want to highlight? That is what I leave blank.
And I am always ready, if I go back to my office, I have already typed the introduction.
But, if it is digital, it’s easier. You can do it on the spot.
Like today, you create a story, you can publish it. You can do it elsewhere, where the story can be published quickly, you do not have to wait for it to be printed. That is a good thing.
Reporters on social media, they have a good impact, it is fast, and you do not have to wait.
So, they can be a lead. A lead, people say, in this field of journalism, ‘I lead, you follow,’
That is the field of journalism. Remember, media organisations need to think, I lead, you follow. It means, I make the story, other people will follow me. That means, you are the best.
So, in social media, it is good that you lead, I lead, you follow. But, in social media, journalism now, maybe, there are information that maybe is not enough.
For example, a story…we do not have enough information, we release it the next day. Because it is fast, it leaves room for gossip, it leaves a perception that maybe, eh, that story is not complete. That is the issue.
In the past, if there was social media, we would have to go back and discuss with the editor, this story, that story, get the facts, strengthened the story.
Q: What do you hope for the future of journalism, especially in Sarawak?
We talk about comprehensive journalism. Journalism is a good field for us to be close to the community because journalism is the beginning of a situation where in the old times, reporters become the middle person for us to spread the ideology or patriotism related to independence and so on. So, even now, it is necessary to continue. Journalists are the middlemen who convey what is happening in the world.
The young generation or current journalists, I understand, some become journalists because they don’t have a job elsewhere. It’s not their field.
But, when we become journalists, there must be a sense of responsibility. I hope that the current journalists have that important attitude, which is responsibility.
That is why, forget about working from 8am to 5pm, 9am to 6pm.
You must forget that when you become a journalist. Do not go back until your editor says so. If possible, sit together with the editor to finetune your story.
Especially in the age of social media, where things can be distorted. So, that is why we must have a sense of responsibility, and there must be high integrity. And in the future, I hope that the current journalists will come up with stories that are closer to the people. We see a lot of political stories, news stories. I don’t see in Sarawak, there is a column that can address social issues, especially.
Reporters also need be creative and not just follow what the editor wants them to cover. Reporters nowadays just know how to follow directions; you guys need to have creativity and must know how to find interesting stories to help your organisation increase sales.
Q: Your opinion of HAWANA being held in Sarawak after all this time being organised in the Peninsular.
For the past two to three years, various programmes have been held in Sarawak. Looking at the strength of the name Sarawak itself, the Sarawak administration, which is strong now, so, various programmes have been held for the purpose of raising, not just the press, but to highlight important collaborations with the Sarawak government. That is how I see it.
It gives an opportunity for Sarawakians to bask in the limelight, that we are also important in various fields, especially in journalism. So, it is a good platform for us to showcase ourselves, especially in journalism.
During my time, I did not see journalists from Sarawak winning any award in the Anugerah KAJAI. So, I hope we use this opportunity as best as possible.
