ACCURACY MUST BE THE GUIDING LIGHT OF THE TRUE JOURNALIST - M'SIAN PM NAJIB

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 (Bernama) -- Accuracy must always be the guiding light
of the true journalist although the Internet offers incredible opportunities for
communication and information-sharing, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun
Razak.

He said while the Internet made it easier than ever to get a
story out first, it also made it easier than ever for the readers to know of
a journalist who did not get it right.

"It allows them to rapidly check facts, analyse claims and decide for
themselves about the truth of the matter.

"And once your readers decide that your reporting is not accurate and cannot
be trusted, you will find that they very quickly cease to be your readers at
all," he said at the National Press Club (NPC)-Naza Awards 2011 here Monday
night.

Also present were his wife Rosmah Mansor, former NPC president Ahiruddin
Atan, newly-elected NPC president Mokhtar Hussein, who is also Bernama General
News Service (GNS) News Editor and Joint Group Executive Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Naza Group of Companies, SM Nasarudin SM
Nasimuddin.

Najib said complaints about media accuracy were nothing new but developments
in technology meant that the balance between getting it first and getting it
right, a tension that has long existed in journalism, was increasingly shifting
towards speed over veracity.

He said in the past, the logistics of newspaper production and distribution
gave reporters time to think carefully and be sure of their arguments before
putting pen to paper.

"Today, with millions of Malaysians using Twitter, it is possible for news
to spread from (the northern state of) Perlis to Pontian (in the southern state
of Johor) in little more time than it takes to type 140 characters into an
iPhone or a BlackBerry.

"And in age where truth is defined by the latest edits to Wikipedia, an
inaccurate story can rapidly take root, its influence living on in the darker
corners of cyberspace long after the facts have come to light," he said.

Najib said the world's media could learn some lessons from Malaysia's
journalists who were different from them as the Malaysian media was more
sensitive and considerate.

"You publish news that matter, not gossip about celebrity sex scandals. You
understand how to uncover a story through hard-nosed journalistic endeavour
rather than by rooting through dustbins and tapping private telephone calls.

"And while you're never afraid to criticise where criticism is deserved, you
don't abuse your position to launch personal vendettas against those with whom
you disagree," he said.

Najib said when he travelled overseas and spoke to foreign audiences, he
often told them about how Malaysia had been so successful because of its
diversity rather than in spite of it, and for that much credit must go to the
media.

"Your ability to cover sensitive issues in a careful and balanced way shows
a huge degree of social responsibility and is a tribute to your professionalism.

"You bring the colour and life of this country to the people of Malaysia,
you ensure that everyone understands the issues that matter, and we are here
tonight to recognise that," he said.