By Sofia Nasir
PETALING JAYA, May 18 — The media industry faces the challenge of an increasingly fast-moving information revolution on multiple channels, said Media Selangor group senior editor Fathi Aris Omar.
He said that before, news sources were determined by media agencies, but anyone can share their story now, especially on social media.
“The challenge is on how the media must compete for public attention through news stories it wants to disseminate.
“This doesn’t even account for the challenge from artificial intelligence technology, which could ultimately disrupt media organisations,” he said.
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Media Selangor group senior editor Fathi Aris Omar seen during Gerakan Media Merdeka’s Press Freedom Day at Gerak Budaya, Petaling Jaya, on May 17, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Fathi said this when invited as a panellist on a forum titled “Press Freedom”, held in conjunction with Gerakan Media Merdeka’s Press Freedom Day at Gerak Budaya here yesterday.
The forum, moderated by Haslina AR Kamaluddin, was joined by panellists Malaysia World editor-in-chief Norila Daud and Indonesian press agency Narasi newsroom head Laban Abaraham Laisila.
Fathi said the community’s dependence on social media for news content has created a group that fails to differentiate fake news from authentic stories.
“Our problem is no longer credibility, but media users who are gullible or lack (critical thinking). The media must help them distinguish the real from the false,” he said.
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Malaysia World editor-in-chief Norila Daud seen during Gerakan Media Merdeka’s Press Freedom Day at Gerak Budaya, Petaling Jaya, on May 17, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, Norila said the Unity Government’s move to set up the Malaysian Media Council (MMM) was a good one.
The National Union of Journalists Malaysia ex-president also advised media practitioners to advocate for press freedom and uphold their ethical values in the face of social media’s massive challenges.
“If anyone wants to posture in the journalism world, let them. You (Journalists) must all write ethically and responsibly,” she said.
After 52 years of the council being mooted, the local media industry marked a milestone with the establishment of the MMM: passed by the Dewan Rakyat on February 26.
The MMM Bill, which contains 23 clauses, enables the formation of a self-supervisory body to protect the media and media practitioners’ interests in the country.
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Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM) director Radzi Razak (centre) seen with GERAMM’s Press Freedom Day celebrants at Gerak Budaya, Petaling Jaya, on May 17, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
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Media Selangor group senior editor Fathi Aris Omar (second from left) speaks at Gerakan Media Merdeka’s Press Freedom Day at Gerak Budaya, Petaling Jaya, on May 17, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
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Gerakan Media Merdeka’s Press Freedom Day celebration underway at Gerak Budaya, Petaling Jaya, on May 17, 2025. — Picture by FIKRI YUSOF/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
