Improve news writing to stay relevant, association tells journalists

KOTA KINABALU: Media practitioners must continue improving their news writing and disseminating skills to stay relevant in this new era, says Kota Kinabalu Journalist Association (KKJA) chairman Jimmy Goh.

He said with the challenges faced including being a step ahead in breaking news to the public, change, adaptation and constant improvement is inevitable.

However, he said it was vital that employers know how to encourage their workers to keep pushing forward.

He said this is by among others, taking care of their basic salary, allowances and welfare.

Goh said this during the association’s latest meeting on Wednesday (April 26), which also saw the KKJA receiving a new advisor to its board - Sabah STAR vice-president Datuk Stephen Teo.

Goh said the community also plays an important role in ensuring that the media line continues to sustain, survive and ultimately thrive.

He said with fair payments and welfare for workers, they would be more willing to do better and give their best as they have the motivation to do so instead of feeling underappreciated.

“As for the KKJA, we too try our best to help members and even associate members in ways we can.

“For example, handing out assistance grants to members who are hospitalised for a certain period of time for illness, food or supermarket vouchers for members during certain festivities and opening study award grants for members or their children with good results,” Goh said.

He said during the two year Covid-19 pandemic, the association still managed to scrape through their association funds to give monetary assistance to members.

“Many of our members lost their jobs due to retrenchment and other economic factors and many still remain unemployed until today,” he said.

Goh said the association hopes to help these members as well, but it is difficult due to limited fundings.

He said all these are made possible if there is enough funding, which they mainly get via public donations and from advisors of the KKJA.

“We also try to get fundings from the state government and other local leaders so that we are not only able to run as an association, but really try and help members in need,” he said.

Goh said what members do not know is that funds do run out and sometimes, they are not able to help everyone in need.

“But we try as best as we can and that is why, it is important that we as media practitioners, continue proving to the public and our donors that we are still relevant in the mainstream media,” he said.

He said with media practitioners giving their best, the community would continue to seek them when they need reliable news sources while funders would be more willing to contribute more.-