Is the Genie out of the bottle ?
Mainstream Media need not ape Websites, Bloggers - PM
Mainstream media in the country need not compete with websites and "bloggers" on the Internet to publish speculative and sensational materials and news, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Tuesday.Instead, they should bear the heavy responsibility of conveying information to the people with the realisation not to report on anything that could invite adverse reactions or create unhealthy situation, the Prime Minister said."People will still refer to what is reported by mainstream newspapers. Therefore, it is important for newspapers to be mindful of their role, don't be swayed to publish sensational news posted by this website and that," he told reporters after opening the Mass Media Conference 2006 themed "Media and Globalisation Era Challenges".
Abdullah was elaborating on the content of his speech which dwelled at length on the role of the media in the context of meeting its social obligations in the country.Stressing that the mainstream media wielded influence and the people's attention, he said: "No need to compete (with websites). Want to compete for what...don't write untrue news, speculative reports based on false information."Abdullah stressed the importance for the media to be careful and responsible when reporting sensitive issues."Think very carefully before writing a piece of news. Don't sensationalise sensitive news because it can spark adverse reactions," he said.
Abdullah said although the country had progressed, the Malaysian society was still sensitive about matters related to religion and issues on their status and racial aspirations. Statements by certain groups that could inflame and create tension or cause fights should not be given space in the media, he added. Abdullah was also asked on the popularity of certain websites and blogs and the views that the credibility of the mainstream media had been affected for not reporting similar issues. -- BERNAMA
The late MGG Pillai and the earnest Lim Kit Siang both maintain interesting websites. Is freedom of speech the issue here ?
posted by Apai Salleh at 3:01 PM
2 Comments:
Bloggers publish sensational news? When did most of us start to do that? Pak Lah's advisors told him that? People like to blame the Internet for anything that happens now. Last time it was because of the bad influence from friends or movies or mass media (before Internet came into being I mean). Our grandmas would say "See I told you not to hangout with that Apai Salleh fella... go to your room!" Now they have another medium to blame it on - and that is the Internet! And they will focus on the sensational bloggists instead of the politicians who seek sensational publicity :) e.g An Exclusive Interview With the Great Tun! Hmmm.... put that against 'Sarawak Club Burnt Down By Mad Blogger'...which will have more clicks on them?
Agreed. Bloggers are at best, harmless fact checkers, who maintain personal journals in the web.
Anyway, we are all, by virtue at the amount of information on the WWW, discerning users of some kind.
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