KUALA LUMPUR: Professional journalists need not harbour fear of being taken over by citizen journalists as they have the upper hand in conveying the truth, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Datuk Yong Soo Heong said.
The world would still need journalists to put in the right perspective to complicated issues, something which citizen journalists, who put their views on the Internet, would not be able to do, he added.
“I’ve always been asked about people taking up citizen journalism; where does that leave us the professional reporters or writers.
“I’ve always responded to these doubters not to fret or worry because there is always a place for good writers or journalists.
It is those who are not up the mark who harbour that fear,” he said during the closing of the International Journalism Fellowship (IJF) 2010, here yesterday.
Yong congratulated the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for having successfully organised the one-month IJF programme, starting Nov 8, for the third year in a row.
Meanwhile, Broadcasting Department Director General Datuk Ibrahim Yahya, who closed the ceremony, hoped that the fellowship had enlightened the participants about Malaysia.
“This year we have 20 participants, maybe next year we can add more numbers so that more will know about our country while we cultivate networks among fellow journalists,” he said.
The IJF 2010 was participated by journalists from six countries, namely Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and host country Malaysia. — Bernama