Stick to the Facts

SHAH ALAM: Journalists should stick to the facts and not be distracted by side issues to be seen by society as being true to their profession, Bangkok Post editor-in-chief Pichai Chuensuksawadi told a World Press Freedom Day forum here today.

He said the future of the media in terms of its professional standing and respectability is in its own hands.

"The media has the freedom to decide where it goes, and it is important for journalists to always stick to the facts," he told the forum entitled "Freedom of Expression" at Universiti Selangor (Unisel).

The forum, organised by the university and the Asian Institute for Development Communication (Aidcom), had a secondary theme in 'Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the post 2015 Development Agenda'.

Pichai said journalists should always be prepared before attending media conferences to be able to ask the right question.

"More importantly, they should be able to understand the story and what it means. From this, they should try to see what would come next,' he added..

theSun's executive editor (News) Balan Moses said freedom of expression is a basic human right that should be respected by leaders on both sides of the political divide in Malaysia.

He said that in as much as media that often supported the Barisan Nasional had come under fire for not carrying all points of views, Pakatan Rakyat should also respect the right of newspapers that did not share its point of view.

He said an example of this was the Utusan Malaysia not being allowed to cover part of the 2008-2013 state assembly sitting.

Moses said BN and PR may not like what some sections of the media reported, but should respect their right to do so in the interest of the freedom of expression within the confines of the law.

He also touched on the need for the media to always present the truth.

"Both sides of an issue must be presented in a story. Journalists should be prepared before they cover an assignment so that they can provide a perspective view on a story,' he said.

Also on the panel were Principal Fellow from Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS) Prof Dr Mohd Safar Hasim and Bernama chief executive Datuk Yong Soo Heong.

The forum was moderated by Unisel Faculty of Communication dean Prof Dr Azmuddin Ibrahim.

The Sun