Media Practitioners Must Ensure Authentic, Quality News Amid Prevalence Of Fake News

BANGI, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Media practitioners must ensure that news reported to the public is accurate and high-quality, especially amid the growing prevalence of fake news and disinformation.

Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin emphasised that journalistic ethics should be the cornerstone of every media practitioner’s work, highlighting the importance of maintaining integrity in news delivery.

“Media is a highly influential platform, and it is crucial that we uphold the trust placed in us by reporting the truth without being influenced by pressure or bias,” she said.

“Maintaining credibility is crucial for journalists to earn the trust of readers or viewers, and this principle is paramount at Bernama,” she said at the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2024 campus tour at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), today.

Disinformation is defined as the intentional dissemination of false information, designed to mislead.

In February, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil introduced a revised version of the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists, which outlines eight key principles, including journalists' responsibilities to represent a diverse society, being transparent, having integrity and acting fairly in conveying information.

Other ethical principles include reporting which is free from personal interests; validity and accuracy of information; respecting the confidentiality of sources; understanding laws, acts, and policies relevant to media assignments; and continuously improving journalism skills.

Also present were Ministry of Communications secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa; ministry’s senior under secretary (Management) Mazlan Abd Mutalib; UKM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International Affairs) Prof Dr Abdul Halim Abdul Gafor; Bernama editor-in-chief and HAWANA 2024 project director Arul Rajoo Durar Raj; and UKM FSSK dean Prof Dr Kadaruddin Aiyub.

Also present were Bernama deputy editor-in-chief (News Service) Nasriah Darus; head of Management Services and Finance Sharifah Zaini Syed Zain; and head of TV and Radio Broadcasting, Mohd Shukri Ishak.

Explaining further, Nur-ul Afida, who is also the chairman of the HAWANA 2024 Working Committee, emphasised the need for media practitioners to adapt to current technological advancements by mastering various new skills, including digital marketing, data management, media analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

She also encouraged students interested in pursuing a career in communication and media to leverage existing technologies, to enhance their media literacy skills.

“Media literacy requires the ability to think critically and filter information, to distinguish between facts, opinions, and misinformation. Take the opportunity to explore various branches of media, continue learning, innovate, and don't hesitate to try new things,” she said.

At the programme, the Ministry of Communications, through Bernama as the HAWANA Secretariat, also presented a donation of high-capacity computer and 65-inch smart television sets to the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at seven public universities in the Central Zone, in conjunction with this year's HAWANA celebration.

The universities receiving the donations, valued at RM20,000, are UKM; Universiti Malaya; Universiti Putra Malaysia; International Islamic University Malaysia; Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam; Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia; and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

In addition, Bernama also organised three presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions on current topics related to journalism and online media security awareness, covering Mobile Journalism, Fact Check and Klik Dengan Bijak.

The HAWANA 2024 campus tour programme at UKM is the third edition, after Sarawak on May 25 and Sabah (Oct 25). Upcoming sessions will be held in Melaka (Southern Zone), Terengganu (East Coast Zone) and Penang (Northern Zone).

HAWANA 2024 is organised by the Ministry of Communications, with Bernama as the implementing agency.

-- BERNAMA