KUALA LUMPUR: The National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2025 celebration, to celebrate the contributions of media practitioners to the country, will kick off today at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).
Organised by the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), the fifth edition of Hawana which runs until Sunday is themed “Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics”.
The celebration will start with the Hawana 2025 Carnival, which will take place at the Sunway Putra Mall and launched by Communications Ministry’s deputy secretary-general (Telecommunications Infrastructure) Mano Verabathran.
There will be 20 exhibition booths including those by Bernama TV, Bernama Radio, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Astro, Media Prima Bhd, The New Straits Times Press Bhd, Media Selangor Sdn Bhd, TV Al-Hijrah, Vanakkam Malaysia, MYTV, Information Department (JaPen), and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Bernama reported.
Several private companies such as UDA Holdings Bhd, MK Curtain, travel company SelamatBercuti.com and the See Hua Group are also participating in the Hawana 2025 Carnival, which aims to attract 5,000 visitors.
Meanwhile, the Hawana 2025 Media Forum will take place today at the Tun Hussein Onn Hall, WTCKL, at 9am, with the topic “Malaysian Media Council: Regulator or Media Protector?” before continuing with a technology sharing session titled “AI & Media: Tool, Threat or Opportunity?”
The forum, co-organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), also serves as a platform for the protem committee of the Malaysian Media Council to present their views on the future of the media following the passing of the Malaysian Media Council (MMC) Bill 2024.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will launch Hawana 2025 together with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
Also expected to attend are Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also Hawana 2025 project director, as well as the top management of media companies in the country.
This year’s Hawana celebration will also witness the presentation of the Hawana 2025 Award and Hawana 2025 Special Award to individuals who have made significant contributions in the field of journalism.
Hawana 2025 continues throughout the year with media sports events that highlight traditional elements and a series of tours to premier polytechnics in Selangor, Perak and Johor.
May 29 was gazetted as National Journalists’ Day in conjunction with the publication of the first edition of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939, to celebrate the contributions of industry players who serve as a medium for shaping an informed society.
