KOTA SAMARAHAN: A framework should be established to protect members of the media in terms of their welfare and wellbeing.
In stating this, New Sarawak Tribune online editor Nazmi Suhaimi said this is because media personnel are working in a high-risk environment.
“We are asked to travel to places that people would not go, and like it or not, we have to take the risk,” he said.
He also said ensuring the welfare of media practitioners are crucial given the increasing number of journalists working until old age.
“There are those who are 50 to 60 years old, they are still working as journalists on the streets.
“Therefore, there should be a certain system of assistance, in which the welfare of those journalists is being taken care of,” he said, adding that this is in line with the current trend of ageing population nationwide.
He said this during a forum titled “Newspaper as a Medium Inclusivity – Stories from Sarawak Tribune” in conjunction with International Conference on Media and Society (iC-MAS2022) at DeTAR Putra University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in Kota Samarahan on Wednesday (December 21).
Nazmi was commenting on an earlier statement by Federal Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil who said the establishment of the Malaysia Media Council is being studied by the federal government.
The Federal Minister was reported to have said that he needed to get details regarding the proposed establishment of the media council from media industry players, especially journalists’ associations, besides giving an assurance that press freedom and the welfare of media practitioners would be given priority.
Earlier, it was announced that Fahmi will organise a meeting with various media organisations to study the need for the establishment of Malaysia Media Council.
Meanwhile, Nazmi said with greater access to information by the society, there is a need to conduct fact-checks when coming across reports of news of dubious nature.
“At the same time, reporters too must play their role in being neutral and not having vested interest that could affect the authenticity of their reporting.
“They are duty bound to deliver the truth – inform and educate the members of the public. As for Sarawak, I hope that we can foster a discussion that is based on policies in the future. Only by doing this can we progress as a society,” he said.
