Establishment of media council a priority, say senior editors

The media industry is mature enough to be governed by insiders who know the game thoroughly. — 123rf.com

TOP editors in the country are calling for the immediate establishment of the media council, citing the industry’s maturity and drive to promote responsible content.

Rallying behind the campaign to push for its formation, they say the council can halt the spread of misinformation and unaccredited “journalists”.

Star Media Group Bhd chief content officer Esther Ng stresses the importance of industry players running the council.

“The media council is important because our industry is mature enough to be governed by insiders who know the game thoroughly.

“This will also do much to separate trained journalists from others who pretend to be one of us. Having a media council means we are big enough to open ourselves to be judged by our own peers. This will only instil more trust and confidence in our industry.”

Ng: The council’s formation should not be delayed any longer in the wake of widespread fake news.

Ng says the council’s formation should not be delayed any longer in the wake of widespread fake news.

“After more than three decades of struggle, it’s high time we move forward as a mature industry and carry out our duty as the fourth estate.

“It is vital we play our role as watchdog effectively in nation- building, in the face of fake news currently sprouting everywhere. Ironically, this has made our industry all the more important, hence we need the council to keep us together.

“We need to keep the alliance in the media fraternity strong to regain our place as the only trusted source of information.”

Astro Awani editor-in-chief Ashwad Ismail says high priority should be given to the establishment of a council to end the government’s dominance and influence over the media.

Ashwad points out a crucial aspect of the council in encouraging public engagement by carrying out checks-and-balances with the industry.

“The people will have the right to question and hold media organisations accountable for their conduct.

“The council will promote responsible content which encompasses accurate, fair, balanced, and constructive reporting, other than being the ‘nucleus’ for public debate on various issues,” he says.

Ashwad: People will have the right to question and hold media organisations accountable for their conduct.

Other than formulating standards to fulfil the responsibility of informing the public promptly and accurately, Ashwad reminds the authorities that the council should not become another instrument of media control.

“It should be an independent body. The composition of the body should reflect that raison d’etre; inclusive of a fair number of representatives from all segments and every spectrum representing the interest of the public.”

Nevertheless, there are those who remain unconvinced about the council’s functions.

Kuik: The greatest threats to the media industry still come from laws related to printing and publishing, sedition, and defamation.

Sin Chew Daily editor-in-chief Kuik Cheng Kang is concerned about whether the council will be able to exert enough influence to carry out its objectives.

“The establishment of a media council at this point seems somewhat late and its impact may be limited.

“The greatest threats to the media industry still come from laws related to printing and publishing, sedition, and defamation.

“Unless the government amends these laws to protect the media as the fourth estate, setting up a media council would merely add another layer of control over media practitioners,” he says.

Media and communications expert Assoc Prof Datin Dr Hasmah Zanuddin, formerly an Utusan Malaysia journalist, also echoes a similar sentiment.

“Can the council really stand as an independent body? For example, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is supposed to be an independent regulator and yet is answerable to the government. I fear the same thing will happen to the media council,” she says.