GEORGE TOWN, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Media students must be prepared to navigate the fast-paced evolution in technology shaping the industry while honing their media literacy skills to think critically and filter out misinformation.
Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer, Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, emphasised that media students should develop their skills and maturity to understand, analyse, and evaluate information from diverse platforms such as television, radio, newspapers, and social media.
"During today’s 2024 HAWANA (National Journalists’ Day) tour, Bernama hosted knowledge-sharing sessions focused on current journalism topics and online media safety. These included sessions on Mobile Journalism and Fact-Checking by Bernama, followed by Klik Dengan Bijak by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
"We recognise that communication students must be equipped to meet the challenges of rapid technological advances. Educating them on smart internet use is essential to help them avoid potential negative impacts," she told reporters at the 2024 HAWANA northern zone campus tour at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
In her speech earlier, Nur-ul Afida highlighted the substantial challenges the media industry faces as evolving technologies and digitalisation reshape information creation and sharing—from typewriters to the internet, social media, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI).
She noted that AI has become a transformative force across sectors, especially within the media industry, enabling more creative and engaging news content, particularly on social media.
She added that rapid AI innovation brings various ethical, social, and regulatory considerations, requiring media practitioners to uphold high accountability standards, respect individual rights, and adhere to legal boundaries.
She elaborated that the communication and media sector remains in demand, playing a vital role in driving digital economic growth and developing a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
"Based on a recent report from the Ministry of Communications, Malaysia’s communication and multimedia industry contributed RM140.38 billion, or 8.1 percent of the total market capital on Bursa Malaysia as of Dec 31, 2023, reflecting its significance as a driver of technological progress and digital transformation," she said.
Over 500 students and lecturers from USM, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), and Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) participated in today’s campus tour.
In conjunction with HAWANA this year, the Ministry of Communications, through Bernama as the secretariat, has provided high-performance computers and 65-inch smart televisions to the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies across 14 public universities to support student learning.
Also present at today’s event were USM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed and Bernama editor-in-chief and 2024 HAWANA project director, Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.
— BERNAMA
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