THE accreditation of journalists should not be limited to the issuance of government media passes. Instead, members of the media should also be accredited professionally by an independent body, say academicians.
International Islamic University of Malaysia’s (IIUM) Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican moots the idea of professional examinations for journalists of all platforms to ensure quality journalism. These exams could be conducted under the auspices of a commission or perhaps the Malaysian media council that looks set to be established soon.
“The course can be from one week to six months. Just like the Diploma in Public Management or Diploma in Public Diplomacy for diplomats and administrative officers by National Institute of Public Administration,” he tells Sunday Star.
It is time for journalism to be treated as a profession just like medicine and law. It is not merely any old career, Prof Ahmad Murad says.
“The press or media is a peculiar profession and its members are open and uninsulated from political ideologies.
“Nevertheless, there must be adherence to ethics and integrity. Journalists must see themselves as professionals. It’s not just a job or career.
“And accreditation is a criterion in many professions like law or medicine.
“The practitioner, even with the relevant degree, must be accredited by his or her respective self-regulatory body, like the Bar Council or the Malaysian Medical Council,” says the professor of Social and Intellectual History at IIUM’s International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation.
Prof Ahmad Murad also says that a council would have the ability to address the standards and quality of entrants into the journalism profession.
The long-awaited Malaysian Media Council could be the self-regulatory mechanism to oversee the accreditation of journalism players in the country, he says.
According to the council’s report in 2020, its proposals include moving the issuance of accreditation passes to registered journalists, which is now under the purview of the Information Department (Japen), to the council.
The proposal is to ensure high standards and support for bona fide media professionals, including freelancers.
Prof Ahmad Murad believes that the proposal is a step forward in reducing the state’s influence on media, especially in ensuring the independence and professionalism of the field.
“It is more of devolving the authority of controlling media by the state or government.
“Japen has its baggage and legacy issues. What is important here is to move another step further in conceiving accreditation in professional terms. Not in political terms,” he says.
Currently, all journalists practising under registered local or international media organisations are required to have themselves accredited by Japen.
According to Prof Ahmad Murad, journalism or media courses are not regulated and press organisations are not obliged to recruit a journalism student as a journalist.
Universiti Malaya senior media and communications lecturer Dr Mumtaz Aini Alivi says individuals who did not graduate from media studies should take on extra courses on journalism prior to their employment as a journalist.
She says this would be similar to the process of becoming a teacher that requires non-teaching degree graduates to take the Postgraduate Teacher Training Course (KPLI).
“The same thing we can practise here, if they are interested to join as a media practitioner, but don’t have an academic background in media, they can take certain courses,” she says.
She says this move will be able to further enhance media independence and impartiality.
“We know that if the Malaysian media council is established, it will be an independent body which can provide a more objective and non-politicised approach to accreditation.
“It will be considered as involvement of the professional body in the accreditation process, which will enhance the quality and professionalism of journalism and the media industry of our country,” she says.
Mumtaz Aini, who is a former RTM journalist, also says that clear standards and criteria on ensuring journalism ethics could also be implemented.
She says that the proposed media council could establish comprehensive guidelines which entails expected qualifications and competencies of journalists with the collaboration of industry experts.
“Apart from that, the evaluation can also include journalist’s work portfolios to judge their skills and expertise. It can involve their published articles, multimedia content, and other reports,” she says.
However, media expert and academician Prof Azizah Hamzah says existing accreditation should be fine, adding that the proposed media council could always add on its requirements if needed.
The professor also says that one of the ways to address academic credibility of journalists is by constant deliberation on curricula between educational institutions and the industry.
“There are various ways to ensure academic credibility.
“The media council together with the council of deans, heads of departments of media and communication schools in public and private institutions or other professionally recognised teaching colleges could sit with the ministry and Malaysian Press Institute to share curricular reviews, and ratings of press freedom annually,” she says.
Prof Azizah adds the prerequisites for student intakes into media and communication fields should also be reviewed regularly to ensure that they have the skills that are in line with the current digital advancements. She also says laws concerning media practice must also be able to cope with the rapid changes in technology that impact on society.
“So the new curriculum must always try to stay ahead, same goes with media regulations,” she adds.
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