World Press Freedom Day 2017

By: Safwan Salleh

“work and think like a journalist” -Steven Gan

“checking, double checking and triple checking the fact” -Annette Gartland

This quotation show to us about the importance of the news content and the accuracy must be confirmed before published. In World Press Freedom Day 2017, held in Auditorium Sinar Karangkraf, Shah Alam. There have four panelists, also an experienced journalist,Mr Steven Gan (Editor of political news website, MalaysiaKini), Ms Annette Gartland (Journalist, Changing Times Media, Ireland), Mr Sharaad Kuttan (Producer BFM Business Radio Station Malaysia) and Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar (Chairman of the Communication and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia). The CEO Nizal.com Sdn Bhd, Mr Nizal Mohammad as the moderator in this forum.

The theme of this year’s is World Press Freedom Day is Critical Minds for Critical Times – Media Role in Advancing Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. The forum begins with greetings from the Chairman of Asian Institute for Development Communication (AIDCOM), Datuk A Kadir Jasin.

The programme that take place every year on 3^rd May also attended by students from University of Selangor (UNISEL), Taylor’s University and Universiti Teknologi MARA. This forum also give the opportunity to them to present their mini project.

For presenter, Nurul Azwa Aris, 23 from Faculty of Communication, Visual Art and Computing, it create chance to her to share something with the audience. “I get to share my thought with the audience which I did by presenting my mini project about local media coverage of Rohingya issue in Malaysia. It is such a golden chance to share info with others and opinion which might benefits the society to be better. And another one is for sure, I get to boost my confidence to talk in front of the crowds”.

While asked, is this forum is the good platform for students to voice up their expression? She answered, “Yes. In a way, it is a good platform for students as there are students from Taylor’s, UITM, and UNISEL who were given opportunities to present their research project. We also have experienced panellist during the talk session and there was a question and answer session at the end, where student can share their thoughts and have a fruitful discussion together”.

  

On the forum, each panellist focusing on their topic, Mr Steven Gan talk about the Press Freedom in a Liberal Democracy. Ms Annette Gartland talk about The Importance of Accuracy and Discernment in Reporting. Mr Sharaad Kutaan talk about Creating Critical Conversations and Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar talk about Malaysia Content Forum and the Importance of Self-regulation.

During the forum, Mr Steven Gan advise to audience especially to teenagers or student. “You need to read a lot, you need to read books. I think that is a problem with the young generation today. If you not reading enough or your reading just social media posting and a lot of dead writing. You have to really read, really invest a time to read a book, novel, entertainment stuff or whatever, read a lot and that is how you can be good in writing”.

Interviewed by a question, is the media have ethical in news writing? Mr Sharaad Kuttan says, “I think Malaysian media is quite ethical and it be a learning of anybody”. You can’t say oh just because you can’t be sure that 100 percent with the people ethically you will do not have freedom. That is false argument that been news to stop ask from having a more freedom and having some the best practises of any democracies is available”.

The forum ended at 2 p.m. and all audience treated to lunch before leaving the auditorium. I think this is good experience to us as a future journalist to learn something new from the experienced panel in World Press Freedom Day 2017.