BY EDWINNIE EINSTEIN UNJI
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Faculty of Education, Language and Communication at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) hosted an engaging mini forum on Wednesday (Oct 23) at the PeTARY Auditorium.
The forum featured prominent figures in the nation’s media industry, namely Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, and chief executive officer Ainol Amriz Ismail.
The session focused on the new digital age in journalism, highlighting how many news outlets are now leveraging technology by launching news portals and introducing subscription models for readers.
“Newspaper outlets have adapted to the rise of the internet by charging readers for daily news. This allows readers to access content from various newspapers around the world.
“Readers should broaden their perspectives instead of relying solely on local newspapers to become more globally informed”, said Yong during his discussion.
The forum also discussed how digital journalism differs from conventional media, noting that viewers today tend to consume more digital news due to its accessibility.
Meanwhile, Ainol said it is crucial to attract viewers with engaging articles alongside compelling photos and visuals especially in digital journalism.
He stressed that for videos, it is essential to plan out the storyboard in advance to effectively convey the message.
“You can’t just simply present your article without your photos, or present your visuals without your articles, it does not work like that. Your videos must have a motive and explanation behind it”, he said.
Additionally, Ainol touched on the importance of researching and understanding video algorithms, which differ significantly from the practices of conventional newspapers in the past.
The forum proved to be an engaging experience, with both practitioners actively interacting with students and responding to their questions in an informative and gracious manner.
This exchange of ideas highlighted the evolving landscape of journalism and the skills needed to thrive in the digital age.
