May 3rd every year marks World Press Freedom day in the democratic world and in Malaysia, there is marked growing consciousness among the people to demand that the Fourth Estate — prominently mainfested or represented by the printed Press in the form of the daily newspaper at our breakfast table, although other media including electronic and radio fall within this ambit — come under the spotlight. Often, or at least once a year in a big way, media organisations would organise specal events like forums and discussions to debate whether the “old/traditional” media have fulfilled their role and oblogations.
CPI flags off today an examination of the (“old”) media scene dating more than 100 years’ history with our own columnist Dr Azly Rahman’s thoughts.
And of course, to mark World Press Freedom Day in what has obviously become an “annual” fun-outing for Bloggers and Bloggers-to-be, CPI meanwhile is proud to be associated in organising BUM2009 with a band of Bloggers who call themselves “BUMmers” to subject both the old and new media under examination.
The new media, especially Internet-enabled ones like Blogging, is relatively “young”, like with a mere two decades’ history, has given more “voice” to the ordinary citizens many of whom have embraced it fervently, and are promoting what is termed “citizen journalism” with an enthusiasm that will only widen democratic space among the citizenry and contribute towards the development of a more civil society. But the infant stage of this new development would mean that the practitioners and the public or recipients/readers of this rapidly expanding new media reach are still coming to grasp the meaning and implications as to what with the ground rules apply in governing such new media roles and practices. The people in general are still monitoring their development and assessing their role and impact on society, and sometimes one gets the feeling the www — “worldwide web” — also appropriately once referred chiefly to the “wild, wild west”. So it’s early days yet for the jury to come in with a verdict.
Readers here are welcomed to send to us at CPI any Essays, Blog posts pertaining to the Media for publication over the next one month of May. ~~ YL Chong, Editor, CPI at chongyl2000@yahoo.com.
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Background story from worldpressfreedomday.org:
As they investigate sensitive issues, unveil disturbing truths and question policies, journalists find themselves in the firing line of those directly or indirectly exposed by their reports.
Facing harassment, threats of violence and physical retaliation, journalists across the world continue to dig out troubling facts, challenge the status quo and expose those who commit crimes. Day after day, journalists investigate and file reports on issues they know they could be sued or killed for. Many pay the price. On World Press Freedom Day, the World Association of Newspapers will present the story of many journalists whose work upsets and can sometimes undo the powerful. What do they report on, how and at what price?
Moussa Kaka, the director of the private radio station Saraouniya Radio talks about his coverage of the Niger Justice Movement that led to a one-year imprisonment. Mohammad Al-Al Abdallah, a 26-year old Syrian blogger, reveals his family hardships that have arisen from the fight for press freedom. In Yemen, Abdel Karim Al-Khaiwani, talks about spending a year behind bars for his reportage on high-level corruption, nepotism, and human rights abuses. Colombian journalist Claudia Julieta Duque discusses the long battle she has faced for her investigative reporting. Barry Bearak of The New York Times describes his arrest, detention and expulsion from Zimbabwe for trying to report from the country during the last elections.
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The World Association of Newspapers annually organises a World Press Freedom Day initiative to draw attention to the role of independent news and information in society, and how it is under attack. A number of individuals and organisations have made this year’s campaign possible. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press, Russian Guild of Press Publishers, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Michel Cambon, Sanjeev Saikia, and Tom Callaghan.