PBAKL: AKHMA Workshop Promotes Reading Through Creative Use Of Print Media

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Bernama) --  In an age where information is readily available at the touch of a button, students from across the country are proving that newspapers and magazines still have a place in education by turning them into creative and interactive learning tools.

At the Newspaper and Magazine (AKHMA) Workshop, held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today, nearly 200 students produced a variety of reference and learning materials using old newspaper and magazine clippings.

Nurafidah Mohd Khalid, a teacher-librarian and media teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Putrajaya Presint 9(2), said the programme aimed to optimise the use of newspapers and magazines supplied to schools while making them more relevant to today’s generation.

“Sometimes the newspapers supplied to schools are not fully utilised. We transform them into more engaging formats that encourage students to read.

“The material remains the same, but when presented in a creative and interactive way, students become more interested in exploring and reading it,” she told Bernama.

Nurafidah, who also facilitated the workshop, said the approach not only promotes newspaper reading but also helps students compile information on selected topics and current issues for future reference.

She said exposure to newspapers is particularly important at a time when social media is flooded with unverified content, as it helps students distinguish factual information from misinformation.

“We do not want students to rely solely on social media. They need to understand that newspaper reports are written by professional journalists based on verified facts and include details such as dates, times, locations and the people involved.

“Through newspapers, they can learn the 5W1H concept and apply it in news-writing exercises, which are still taught in schools,” she said.

Nurafidah added that although creating materials from newspaper clippings may appear simple, students must learn to organise information effectively to ensure important facts are not overlooked.

Participants of the three-hour workshop also took home their completed projects as a reflection of the knowledge and creativity gained during the programme.

The AKHMA workshop was organised by the Educational Resources and Technology Division (BSTP) of the Ministry of Education and marked the second edition of the programme.

The initiative demonstrates that print media continues to play an important role in nurturing reading habits, strengthening information literacy and fostering critical thinking among young people.

-- BERNAMA