The internet and World Wide Web is considered as a mass communication medium by means that it is a new form of mass communication with massive numbers of people broadcasting information to massive numbers of receivers with unlimited access.
On the other hand in Malaysia, online journalism is still relatively new even though the first Internet Service Provider(ISP) was introduced as early as 1990 (R.Ghazali, 2008:69). Online is used to describe the idea of getting connected or accessing and retrieving data via off the World Wide Web. Whereas, journalism brings the meaning of information. Communication. It is about putting events, ideas, information and controversies into context to satisfy the human curiosity of a world that is always eager to know what is new. Journalism has an important watchdog role; journalists are the eyes and ears of the public. Online journalism lets the audiences get in-sight stories and in detailed the depth of information and views it from both sides. Though that is so, not everything published online holds the truth even with help of gatekeepers or not because in Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir had stated a “No Censorship” in the MultimediaSuper Corridor(MSC) Bill of Guarantees. Apparently, it seems that news in the country that spreads to other countries is a big no-no because at times it gives our country a bad impression.
This is why online journalism should be controlled.
The recent Anwar sodomy case had gained global sensation. News of his sodomy trial case is seen plastered everywhere be it online or offline. According to theStar online, Independent MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali said interference by 50 Australian Members of Parliament (MPs) of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy charge is an “act of arrogance which goes against the ethics of non-interference in the sovereignty of another country”. The 50 Australian MPs lodged a formal protest, urging Malaysia to drop the opposition leader’s sodomy trial.
Online journalists believe in freedom of speech and having a strong subjective voice is essential. Voices that incitement or disturbs racial harmony or the sovereignty of rulers should be filtered to prevent chaos from disrupting through the nation.
As stated in the Berita Harian online news dated January 30th 2010, Khairulizam Abdul Ghani, 29 or blogger Aduka Taruna have been charged in the Session Court in Seremban under Section 233 (1) (a) Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) by insulting the shameful death of the deceased son of the late Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail. In his blog, adukataruna.blogspot.com he had unintentionally raised the ire of Commons and wrote words that had contempt the Johor Sultan Iskandar own deceased family.
Readers are given the privilege to pick from various online news from websites like Malaysiakini, AgendaDaily, Utusan Online, The Malaysian Insider, Harakah and etc.
An interview by the Committee to Protect Journalists was conducted by A. Lin Neumann in Kuala Lumpur in November 2000 with Steven Gan, one of the founder of Malaysiakini. Overall, it goes down to this. Malaysiakini is the first daily news Web site launched on November 20th, 1999 in Malaysia which was founded by Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran, investors of Media Development Load Fund and the Malaysiakini current and former staff. Malaysiakini is unique in the Malaysian context as it is one of the few independent media organizations in Malaysia. Malaysiakini’s objective is to be an alternative (medium) to break the self-censorship put upon main stream media, to making sure information gets through to Malaysians. Why do you ask? This is due to; the mainstream media either completely or directly owned by political parties in Malaysia which causes very little room for editors to go beyond, in terms of criticizing the governing political parties in Malaysia.
Journalists need to restrain themselves in making sure that they do not violate sensitive or ethical issues that may cause social disharmony. Although online journalism plays a vital role in ensuring that readers gain in depth information from both sides of the story, let there be limitations when it comes to voicing out their opinions because sometimes a person’s perception of reality is a result of their beliefs.
References:
Weblog Malaysiakini
Sodomy II: Perkasa says Australian 'interference unethical'
Jesse/State of the Internet
Mainstream Media - Global Issues by Anup Shah
Interview with Steven Gan - Awards - Committee to Protect Journalists
Introduction to Journalism, 2002, Richard Rudin & Trevor Ibbotson, Focal Press.
Online Journalism On Malaysian Socio-Political Landscapes, 2008, Rahmat Ghazali, University Publication Centre(UPENA).
0 comments:
Post a Comment