By FASIHA KHUSHIRI and VIVYNNA ANN CHABU
KUCHING: National Journalists Day (HAWANA) 2024,which Sarawak is hosting this year, is an opportunity for local media to up their game.
It is a platform for them to gain the all-important exposure to excel in the industry, something which may have eluded them in the past.
These observations come from 2007 Kajai Award winner Mohamad Shahren Mohamad Yusri who said it will be particularly meaningful for young talents in the business.
Besides HAWANA the state will also host the inaugural media conference, both of which, will not only serve to appreciate the contributions of journalists but also to strengthen the collaboration between media practitioners and the government.
“Big programmes like these gives opportunities for Sarawak’s young talents to elevate themselves. So, it’s actually a good thing,” he said.
He said the programme is expected to provide good exposure to Sarawakian journalists and open doors for them.
“I am not sure what the content in HAWANA will be, but it will provide good exposure for Sarawakian journalists about the world of journalism. Perhaps after gaining this exposure, they can participate in various competitions,” he said.
Shahren, who is also currently the General Manager of Centexs Commercial, stated that Sarawakian journalists are now gaining more recognition, unlike in the past when journalists from the peninsula dominated prestigious journalism awards like the Kajai Award.
“It wasn’t like this before. These days, I see TV Sarawak (TVS) winning several awards.
“Therefore, I hope the organisation of HAWANA 2024 in Sarawak will lead to more opportunities and inspire local journalists to continue excelling in the field of journalism,” he added.
