Food for thought for the editors of the Borneo Post and New Sarawak Tribune
Ahead of polls, NUJ moots 'fair reporting' pledge
As a stop-gap measure to encourage fair and balanced reporting in the run-up to and during the impending polls, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is mooting a ‘fair reporting pledge' for all members to sign, to show solidarity with its official stand on journalism ethics.
"Yes, the executive council has unanimously agreed on the matter as it is one of NUJ's objectives - to practise ethical journalism," its general secretary V Anbalagan (right) told Malaysiakini.
However, Anbalagan said, the council would still call for an extraordinary delegates conference to debate the issue further.
"We feel it will give legitimacy to our action if a decision is made by the highest decision making body and not (just) the exco," he explained.
Preparations are ongoing to hold the conference in late February or early March, with the 13th general election expected to be held around June.
The idea of a 'fair reporting pledge' stems from a dialogue session held by UCSI University's Malaysian Institute for Development and Asian Studies (Midas) on Jan 12, entitled "Truth Matters: The Media and GE13" attended by representatives from the NUJ, the academia and media practitioners.
The pledge was one short term solution suggested to address the deplorable state of Malaysian media practitioners, accused to be just stenographers and note takers prone to regurgitating the views of their political and commercial masters, rather than adhering to the tenets of professional journalism such as fair, balanced, accurate and analytical reporting.
'Journalists worried about losing jobs'
The forum agreed that such alleged bias, especially in the mainstream media during election periods, is a black mark on Malaysian journalism.
The move, while it may not be able to stem the tide of crooked journalism in itself, is deemed as necessary to send a firm message on NUJ's stand on the matter and the union's fortitude in pressing this issue to the powers-that-be and errant journalists.
Anbalagan admitted at the forum that the lack of fortitude on the part of NUJ members, as a result of the worry about losing their jobs, more than anything else, stood in the way of the union's fight for media freedom and ethical journalism, what is supposed to be the guiding light of their profession.
For the long haul, the NUJ also submitted its recommendations on how to ensure fair election news coverage to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms on Tuesday, focusing on the Election Commission's (EC) handling of the media and ceramah sessions during the election campaign period.
Some salient points include:
"Yes, the executive council has unanimously agreed on the matter as it is one of NUJ's objectives - to practise ethical journalism," its general secretary V Anbalagan (right) told Malaysiakini.However, Anbalagan said, the council would still call for an extraordinary delegates conference to debate the issue further.
"We feel it will give legitimacy to our action if a decision is made by the highest decision making body and not (just) the exco," he explained.
Preparations are ongoing to hold the conference in late February or early March, with the 13th general election expected to be held around June.
The idea of a 'fair reporting pledge' stems from a dialogue session held by UCSI University's Malaysian Institute for Development and Asian Studies (Midas) on Jan 12, entitled "Truth Matters: The Media and GE13" attended by representatives from the NUJ, the academia and media practitioners.
The pledge was one short term solution suggested to address the deplorable state of Malaysian media practitioners, accused to be just stenographers and note takers prone to regurgitating the views of their political and commercial masters, rather than adhering to the tenets of professional journalism such as fair, balanced, accurate and analytical reporting.
'Journalists worried about losing jobs'
The forum agreed that such alleged bias, especially in the mainstream media during election periods, is a black mark on Malaysian journalism.
The move, while it may not be able to stem the tide of crooked journalism in itself, is deemed as necessary to send a firm message on NUJ's stand on the matter and the union's fortitude in pressing this issue to the powers-that-be and errant journalists.
Anbalagan admitted at the forum that the lack of fortitude on the part of NUJ members, as a result of the worry about losing their jobs, more than anything else, stood in the way of the union's fight for media freedom and ethical journalism, what is supposed to be the guiding light of their profession.For the long haul, the NUJ also submitted its recommendations on how to ensure fair election news coverage to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on electoral reforms on Tuesday, focusing on the Election Commission's (EC) handling of the media and ceramah sessions during the election campaign period.
Some salient points include:
- Empowering the EC to form a media monitoring committee with enforcement powers whose duties will include issuing guidelines to print, broadcast and online media;
- To revert the sitting government to 'caretaker' status during the election period and prevent it from monopolising the mainstream and public media;
- All media, alternative and private included, to give fair, balanced and ethical coverage, give fair advertising space and right of reply to any adverse reports; and,
- EC and police to ensure speedy processing of ceramah permits and provide the necessary assistance required.
