Najib Advises Media Not To Use Conflicts To Draw Audience. In Other Words Don't Tell The Truth All The Time.
Don't Be Wholly Truthful. That in essence summarizes Najib's 'advice' to the media. With his very accomplished talent in doublespeak, our DPM in a roundabout way is exactly preaching that line to the media practitioners. Of course acting like the benign leader that he tries so very hard to portray, he doesn't threaten or bristle with anger.
I especially like that part where he says, "the media should have the freedom to report but with restrictions, the reports must be balanced and fair, the reports must have objectivity, and the reports must state the truth about any matter." It's laughable that one can state the truth but the freedom to do it must have restrictions! Basically what he implies is that you can be as truthful as you want to be, provided it doesn't involve us big shots. In case we are mentioned in any issue or conflict, please give a 'fair and balanced' report, truth be damned. It is ironical when he says that the 'reports must have objectivity.' How does one exercise objectivity if one's inherent right to report on any subject neutrally is being sought to be restricted? Read the Bernama report here and be amused:
*** Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Wednesday night advised media practitioners not to use conflicts to draw audience but to write reports with full responsibility.
He said media practitioners should not draw audience by blowing up any conflict or issue.
"Journalism institutes in other countries teach one of the importance of drawing audience by writing reports on fights or conflicts. Small conflicts are intentionally blown up to sell the newspapers," he said at the Malaysian Press Night 2006, here.
Najib said the Malaysian media, on the other hand, should exercise responsibility in shaping society in its own mould.
"This does not mean that the Malaysian media cannot report on conflicts but the method of reporting should be exercised with a sense of responsibility and in the name of the truth," he said.
Najib also outlined four points that were necessary to create a responsible media that could convince the people of the reports it produced.
He said the media should have the freedom to report but with restrictions, the reports must be balanced and fair, the reports must have objectivity, and the reports must state the truth about any matter.
He also expressed the hope that the media would be a good partner of the government in the effort to develop the mind of society towards achieving the national mission.
****** Najib wants the media to be a 'good partner?' And that too in the achieving of the 'national mission'? I wonder what that truthfully is?
I especially like that part where he says, "the media should have the freedom to report but with restrictions, the reports must be balanced and fair, the reports must have objectivity, and the reports must state the truth about any matter." It's laughable that one can state the truth but the freedom to do it must have restrictions! Basically what he implies is that you can be as truthful as you want to be, provided it doesn't involve us big shots. In case we are mentioned in any issue or conflict, please give a 'fair and balanced' report, truth be damned. It is ironical when he says that the 'reports must have objectivity.' How does one exercise objectivity if one's inherent right to report on any subject neutrally is being sought to be restricted? Read the Bernama report here and be amused:
*** Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Wednesday night advised media practitioners not to use conflicts to draw audience but to write reports with full responsibility.
He said media practitioners should not draw audience by blowing up any conflict or issue.
"Journalism institutes in other countries teach one of the importance of drawing audience by writing reports on fights or conflicts. Small conflicts are intentionally blown up to sell the newspapers," he said at the Malaysian Press Night 2006, here.
Najib said the Malaysian media, on the other hand, should exercise responsibility in shaping society in its own mould.
"This does not mean that the Malaysian media cannot report on conflicts but the method of reporting should be exercised with a sense of responsibility and in the name of the truth," he said.
Najib also outlined four points that were necessary to create a responsible media that could convince the people of the reports it produced.
He said the media should have the freedom to report but with restrictions, the reports must be balanced and fair, the reports must have objectivity, and the reports must state the truth about any matter.
He also expressed the hope that the media would be a good partner of the government in the effort to develop the mind of society towards achieving the national mission.
****** Najib wants the media to be a 'good partner?' And that too in the achieving of the 'national mission'? I wonder what that truthfully is?
Labels: Media Matters.
posted by The Malaysian. at 11/30/2006 10:57:00 AM
3 Comments:
Yeah, I agree, he probably isn't telling the press to 'state the truth', rather, he is telling them to publish the State's Truth.
The NST report on the same event is even better, with nuggets like:
"It is your (the media) role not to raise sensitive issues that were settled by the previous generation during the struggle to achieve independence."
What a load of obfuscated crap... spin, spin, spin...
"hold your hands up! Give me all your money and life, and thank me!"
I suppose that's what he meant.
Post a Comment
<< Home