Ahmad Zahid: Hold onto journalism ethics

KUALA LUMPUR: Traditional media practitioners should hold tight to journalism ethics in facing challenges and competition from the digital media.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the freedom enjoyed by digital media journalists, unrestricted by the ethical standards of the profession, had challenged and submerged the journalism ethics upheld by traditional media practitioners for so long.

“Digital media practitioners are free to make assumptions which are hardly based on facts, but more on imagination and perception. Although the

freedom is not total, the world without border allows it to happen,” he said at the Malaysian Press Night 2016 and presentation of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-Petronas Journalism Award 2015 here on Friday.

Also present were Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak and MPI chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya.

Ahmad Zahid said in facing the challenges of the digital media, more and more traditional print and electronic media had opted for digitalisation as an alternative platform besides expanding the challenge from their audience, especially from the Y and Z generations.

However, he said, it did not mean that journalists from the print and electronic media could set aside journalism ethics which had been the guideline in their profession.

At the event, a total of 24 journalists received awards in 18 categories, each winner receiving a cash prize of RM10,000, trophy and certificate.

The Borneo Post editorial director Phyllis Wong won the Special Jury Award given by the panel of judges at MPI who in their view found the recipient committed to her profession and had maintained the high standard demanded of journalism. — Bernama