Intro2jr2014 [International Exchange]

Week 1

Journalist as Information Provider

Journalism exists to provide information. But what’s really compelling is a lack of information or true facts. Journalism in Malaysia in context does not really report facts accurately and faithfully and to respect the right of the public to the truth. There are too many restriction restricted by the government of what to publish about certain article and may worry about endanger the national security of the country especially in terms of racial, ethnicity, culture and etc.

People nowadays are more aware and concern about what kind of government they are having unlike people in the olden days who are more conservative and naive. The rise of more educated people which know their rights and the duties of the government that suppose to serve the citizen. Besides that, technology innovation helps citizen to clarify the truth behind certain incident by searching for various sources in the Internet besides than the local news report. 

For example, Bersih rally which held to call for free and fair elections in Malaysia. Local journalism were believed did not report the exact true facts that they actually covered the act of violence of police towards the protestors. The police riot units responded with chemical-laced water cannons and tear gas leading to the arrest of 338 protesters, a police vehicle lost control killing one of the protestor and etc.

Most of the mainstream journalism are own by government. In conclusion, most of the mainstream journalist are seem to hide true facts for the sake of the restriction by government (watchdog) and also for the sake being told to do so.