PETALING JAYA: The Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM) calls on all parties in the national sports ecosystem to always respect the role of media practitioners and maintain professional communication when faced with differences of opinion and criticism.
SAM respects the right of every individual, including athletes, coaches, officials and sports administrators, to express opinions and provide feedback on reports.
However, differences of opinion should be handled maturely, without making statements that could create negative perceptions or be insulting to individuals or the profession of sports journalism.
SAM president Norismadi Abd Manap said the media play an important role as a link between all sports stakeholders, including athletes, officials, sports associations, the National Sports Council (NSC), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), the National Sports Institute (ISN) and sponsors.
"The media do not merely report competition results, but also convey information, views and developments that shape the public’s understanding of national sports," said Norismadi.
"This role must be respected because the media are part of the ecosystem that supports the development of Malaysian sports."
SAM emphasised that professional media reporting is based on evidence and facts obtained through interviews, research, fact-checking and reference to relevant sources.
Every report and criticism should be assessed based on its content and context. If there are factual errors, the parties concerned should present evidence so that appropriate corrections can be made.
In the pursuit of speedy news publication, media practitioners remain committed to what matters most: context, accuracy of information and the principle of fairness to all parties.
The speed of publication must be balanced with the responsibility to ensure that information is verified, conveyed accurately and takes into account the perspectives of relevant parties, so that published reports maintain their integrity and do not give rise to misunderstandings.
At the same time, SAM believes that any dissatisfaction with media articles or reports should be conveyed directly to the individuals or media organisations concerned.
This approach allows explanations to be provided and issues to be examined more fairly, rather than resorting to general criticism that could create negative perceptions of the entire sports media profession.
"All parties must respect articles, opinions and criticism presented professionally. If there are matters in dispute, present facts and evidence for discussion.
"Criticism is acceptable, but it should focus on the issue and be expressed respectfully, rather than belittling or insulting individuals," said Norismadi.
SAM also stressed that respecting the media does not mean everyone must agree with every report or opinion published.
Instead, a healthy professional relationship requires a willingness to accept criticism, provide explanations and recognise the right of every party to express views responsibly.
SAM believes that every dispute can be resolved through open communication and constructive discussion.
Accordingly, SAM remains open to hearing views, feedback or grievances from any party and is prepared to serve as a platform for discussions to help bridge differences in the common interest.
SAM hopes all parties will continue to work together in a spirit of mutual respect and professionalism to strengthen the national sports ecosystem.
The media, athletes, coaches, associations, government agencies, sports institutions and sponsors each have their respective roles, and relationships grounded in facts, respectful communication and a willingness to seek solutions are essential foundations for advancing Malaysian sports.
