ID :
25607
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 18:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/25607
The shortlink copeid
NATIONAL MEDIA COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED SOON
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- A national media council will be
established soon to identify the weaknesses in the media, besides finding ways
for accurate reporting, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Monday.
He said the idea of creating the council had already been brought up
to the
cabinet and was well received.
"Various aspects needed to be addressed and a series of discussions is
underway before we can formulate the policy.
"I believe it's a right platform at the right time to strengthen relations
between the government and the media organisations," he told reporters after
opening the Colloquium on Media Policy in Malaysia here.
The two-day colloquium, organised by the Asian Institute for Communication
Development (Aidcom) and the High Commission of Canada to discuss issues on
media policy and freedom, was attended by 50 participants.
Syed Hamid said the establishment of the media council should not be judged
as a step to further restrict the media, as the future of the media in the
country was being decided through collective efforts.
"It's our responsibility to formulate a national media policy which
represents our identity, values and beliefs as Malaysians. A new media policy
needs to be updated in line with current global trends which place a high value
on liberalisation and advancement of technology.
"We need a clear national media policy and through that, we can discuss and
identify suitable reforms as well as understand the importance of the
introduction of the national media council with an open mind," he said, adding
that distortions and inaccuracies in news reporting must be omitted.
He said a truly liberal media environment could only be obtained if the
government implemented guidelines and code of ethics which form the basis of the
national media policy.
Meanwhile, commenting on cyberspace news, Syed Hamid said: "We can't
identify this group as alternative media anymore, since the demand for their
stories is greater than that for the mainstream media.
"Cyberspace is a free platform and the young generation is more in favour
of
online news. Even the mainstream media are now focusing on uploading their news
online," he added.
-- BERNAMA
established soon to identify the weaknesses in the media, besides finding ways
for accurate reporting, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Monday.
He said the idea of creating the council had already been brought up
to the
cabinet and was well received.
"Various aspects needed to be addressed and a series of discussions is
underway before we can formulate the policy.
"I believe it's a right platform at the right time to strengthen relations
between the government and the media organisations," he told reporters after
opening the Colloquium on Media Policy in Malaysia here.
The two-day colloquium, organised by the Asian Institute for Communication
Development (Aidcom) and the High Commission of Canada to discuss issues on
media policy and freedom, was attended by 50 participants.
Syed Hamid said the establishment of the media council should not be judged
as a step to further restrict the media, as the future of the media in the
country was being decided through collective efforts.
"It's our responsibility to formulate a national media policy which
represents our identity, values and beliefs as Malaysians. A new media policy
needs to be updated in line with current global trends which place a high value
on liberalisation and advancement of technology.
"We need a clear national media policy and through that, we can discuss and
identify suitable reforms as well as understand the importance of the
introduction of the national media council with an open mind," he said, adding
that distortions and inaccuracies in news reporting must be omitted.
He said a truly liberal media environment could only be obtained if the
government implemented guidelines and code of ethics which form the basis of the
national media policy.
Meanwhile, commenting on cyberspace news, Syed Hamid said: "We can't
identify this group as alternative media anymore, since the demand for their
stories is greater than that for the mainstream media.
"Cyberspace is a free platform and the young generation is more in favour
of
online news. Even the mainstream media are now focusing on uploading their news
online," he added.
-- BERNAMA
