Media Analysis: Comparison on the Permatang Pauh by-elections coverage by The Star and Malaysiakini and why independent media is important

This is a seminar paper I wrote for Media Context subject for Taylor's College.

The most important role of independent media is to provide an alternative voice. Discuss.

Media Analysis: Comparison on the Permatang Pauh by-elections coverage by The Star and Malaysiakini and why independent media is important

By Max Koh

Introduction

When Anwar Ibrahim emerged as the winner in the Permatang Pauh by-elections, blogs across the Internet rejoiced at the prospect of the Opposition de facto leader’s return to the political arena. It is, after all, a no simple by-elections. It has been ten years since the exiled former Deputy Prime Minister was sacked of his post, detained, charged in court, convicted and sentenced to 15 years of incarceration (Nain and Wang 2004). His eventual win would signify his return as a member in Parliament and is also closely tied to his bid to take over the government by September 16 (Malaysiakini 2008). His pledge, if fulfilled, would usher in a new Malaysia which for the first time- will see a new administration in place of ruling incumbent party Barisan Nasional (BN).

The sentiments in the online world were particularly significant as at the win was largely influenced by the Internet’s ability to provide an alternative voice to the coverage portrayed in the mainstream media (Netto 2008). At the heart of this independent voice is several blogs and also online independent news portal Malaysiakini to provide alternative views and coverage during the by-elections. The role of independent media could not be discounted in the eventual by-election outcome.

The purpose of this paper is to examine how the independent media has functioned as an alternative voice during this crucial by-elections period. We will examine coverage by independent news portal Malaysiakini and compare them to mainstream newspaper The Star during the by-elections period from 16th August to 27th August 2008. We will then discuss how the alternative voice is important as an agent of democratization, in fulfilling its role as gatekeepers, and to provide as an important alternative source to traditional news sources.

Background

Studies by scholars have shown that mainstream media is likely to portray in favour of the ruling government especially during the elections period. This nature is largely attributed to the fact that most mainstream media is owned or under control of the BN component parties (Loh and Mustafa 1996). Anuar (2003) observed that during the 1999 General Elections, coverage was tilted towards the ruling parties. The mainstream media exhibited favouritism and biasness.

The 1999 general election is especially significant as precedent to that, deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad amidst sleazy allegations of sodomy, adultery, and abuse of power. However, certain quarters perceived the sacking as a top-level conspiracy headed by Mahathir, who had been logging heads with Anwar in certain policies, especially those pertaining to the 1997 Asian financial crisis (Nain and Wang 2004).

Anwar retaliated by going on a nationwide campaign to clear his name and soon detailed cases of nepotism (especially those involving Mahathir’s family), and cronyism (involving business friend of Mahathir and previous finance minister, Daim Zainuddin) emerged. The Reformasi movement begin to gain momentum as Anwar was arrested under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), his subsequent “black eye” incident, and his conviction that created splits especially within the Malay community.

However, these allegations and incidents were largely downplayed, if not ignored by the mainstream media, as it begin to lose its credibility in the eyes of critical citizens. The economic and political crisis was not discussed in the mainstream newspapers, and more importantly, the government’s bail-out of selected companies belonging to his children was never discussed. This has led the public to lose trust in the mainstream media (Sabri 2000).

Following that, the crackdown on dissents began with pro-reformasi and pro-Opposition publications having their printing permits revoked. Attention then shifted to the Internet for alternative news. It was at that time, Malaysia’s first web-based newspaper, Malaysiakini, was launched. It describes itself as “an Internet media project featuring independent news coverage, investigative journalism and in-depth analysis... conceived by journalists unhappy with the sorry state of our mass media” (Malaysiakini 2008) and within a year, it received rave write-ups and won numerous international awards (Nain and Wang 2003). The mainstream media continued to be biased.

The pattern did not change during the recent March 2008 general elections. A media monitor initiative by the Centre for Independence Journalism (CIJ), Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) and Charter 2000-Aliran showed that the biasness still persisted in major print media to toe the line of the incumbent government BN and its candidates (Aliran 2008). The unfavourable treatment of the press was shown when the Opposition won its most seats in history, showing their distrust of the viral propaganda exhibited by mainstream press.

These incidents serve as a backdrop to our study as Permatang Pauh operated in a post-March 2008 media climate. In a talk by Sunday Star editor Soo Ewe Jin (2008) to Taylor’s College students, he observed that the mainstream media has allocated more space for the Opposition party as they have successfully become elected public officials (including blogger Jeff Ooi who runs the influential political blog Screenshots). This sentiment is shared by blogger Anil Netto (2008) who said that various mainstream newspapers are providing more coverage of the Oppositional views. In our study, we seek to investigate these observations and affirm our hypothesis that the independent media is still needed as an alternative voice for several reasons.

Methodology

The study was conducted from 16th August to 27th August 2008; from the nomination day of the candidates to the day after the election results. The extensive periods provide ample and complete resources for our study. We have chosen the mainstream newspaper The Star and online independent portal Malaysiakini as the subjects or our research. We will examine the content of stories published every day and conduct a direct comparison in terms of priming, framing and agenda-setting.

From the outset, we assume that Malaysiakini will be more balance and extensive in its coverage of the elections. The Star, while said to be more extensive in its coverage since the March 2008 results, is predicted to be limited in its coverage compared to its mainstream counterpart.

The study is limited to the fact that only two media outlets are studied in this research. Nevertheless, the choices will reflect the general nature of these two supposedly opposing media. The Star was chosen because it is the leading newspaper with the largest readership in Malaysia (Neilsen Media Research Q4 2007) while Malaysiakini is considered the leading source for independent news (Malaysiakini 2008).

Analysis

In our research, we found that The Star showed obvious bias by the placement of news stories in the Permatang Pauh by-election coverage during the whole campaign period. News about BN activities and its candidate Arif Shah were published in the first few pages and given precedence while news of Opposition is sidelined. Pictures of Arif and BN leaders were featured more in its pages than Opposition members. Even though the Opposition members may be covered, they are often portrayed negatively. On 17 August, The Star’s report ‘Another photographer claims assault’ negatively alleged that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members assaulted photographers. The next day, another article titled ‘Unruly behaviour rapped’ appeared where PKR’s supporters were described as vulgar and lewd (The Star, 18 August 2008). Again, the newspaper is quick to portray BN leaders in the good light while accusation against Anwar by various BN leaders appeared on the first few pages (The Star, 20 August 2008).

In comparison, Malaysiakini did not shy away from news that linked Arif to negative elements. A case in example is the coverage of Arif’s brother to a scandal and the questionable procuring of his bogus PhD (Malaysiakini, August 18, 22). Other news angles otherwise ignored by The Star but covered by Malaysiakini was the questionable sodomy claims of Saiful Bukhari (former aide of Anwar who claimed to be sodomised) by the Ustaz who oversee his swearing, an NGO’s protest of the electoral roll, and BN’s ‘phantom’ buses (Malaysiakini, August 18, 22, 25, 26). Even the post-election result news gave unflinchingly supporting the Opposition: ‘Anwar gets big majority, BN concedes humiliation defeat’ (Malaysiakini, August 26) while The Star’s angle on the win was how Deputy Prime Minister affirms that ‘democracy is alive and well’ (The Star, August 27).

For direct comparison, we will examine the two post-election result news stories. In The Star’s main story, ‘Democracy is alive and well, says Najib’ (The Star, August 27) the lead paragraph was already framed in favour of the ruling government. The framing was such that it still portrayed government in the good light and took their comment in precedent of Anwar’s statements even though he won the elections. In a similar story, Malaysiakini opted for the headline ‘BN concedes humiliating defeat’ (Malaysiakini, August 26) which already framed the BN as the losing party and humiliated.

In another article published by The Star, ‘Water bottles hurled at Najib’ (August 27) again portrayed Anwar’s supporters as violent and rude. While this was not covered in Malaysiakini, similar rude behaviour was also demonstrated by BN supporters including a picture showing its members making crude gestures depicting a sodomy action (an obvious poke at Anwar). This picture was published on Malaysiakini but avoided altogether in The Star.

Conclusion

These examples have clearly shown that Malaysiakini provides an alternative view to the news coverage provided by the mainstream media, as exemplified by The Star. This independent role offering alternative view is especially important in this country where the mainstream media is government-owned. McCombs and Shaw (1972) claims that ownership largely creates agenda setting on part of the editorial where “news influences and helps to shape public awareness and debate”.

The government-owned The Star gave much focus and significance to BN while Malaysiakini’s coverage was more balanced and tilted towards the Opposition. While Malaysiakini claims to be non-partisan, the readership proves to be anti-government as can be clearly seen in the Voxpopuli and comment sections. On August 26 Voxpopuli “Anwar a lucky charm for nation” showed how the public supports Anwar while The Star tends to portray Anwar negatively. Agenda setting as influenced by their owners does not contribute well to democracy as it presents an un-directional model to an issue especially during the elections (Blumler et al 1989).

The existence of independent voices such as Malaysiakini provides an opportunity of access to information otherwise neglected by the mainstream media. This contributes to the process of democratisation where everyone has “the access to increasingly professional and cheap tools or production to publish to a global audience” (Gilmour cited in Allan 2006). When the mainstream media is restricted and limited by acts such as the Printing & Press Act and ISA, cybervoice allows marginalised voices and views to be heard. Independent online news website such as Malaysiakini is able to contravene some of the draconian laws in Malaysia. The study has shown that Malaysiakini reported on issues such as Arif’s bogus PhD, Saiful’s unceremonious swearing which will otherwise be not represented in the mainstream media. This information is important in order for the electoral to make an informed and effective decision.

Malaysiakini also allows the voices of the people to be heard in an otherwise one-way communication model practiced by traditional media. The ability for readers to comment allows interactivity and shape the direction and news content of the day. We observed that the Voxpopuli section of Malaysiakini allowed dissenting views while The Star published letters that were inclined to the ruling powers.

While Malaysiakini allowed dissents views to be published, a more balanced practice of reporting would serve the community better to provide a well-represented view of an issue. It should strive to provide a multi-perspectical news reporting which “ideally... encompasses fact and opinion reflecting all possible perspectives” (Gans 2003). At a time when mainstream media’s credibility is questioned, independent voices like Malaysiakini can lead the way towards more effective, respectable, credible and functional journalism.

(1,901 words)

References

Allan, S 2006, ‘Online news: Journalism and the Internet’, McGraw Hill International, New York.

‘Another photographer claims assault’ 2008, The Star, 17 August, p.4

Anuar, MK 2003, ‘The role of Malaysia’s mainstream press in the 1999 general election’, in FKL Loh, J Saravanamuthu (eds.), New politics in Malaysia, ISEAS, Singapore, pp. 53-65.

Beh LY, 2008, ‘Arif distances himself from brother’s scandal’, Malaysiakini, 18 August, viewed 3 September 2008, < http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88057>.

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‘BN concedes humiliating defeat’ 2008, Malaysiakini, 26 August, viewed 3 September 2008, < http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88636>.

Chan KL 2008, ‘Ustaz leaves BN in tatters’, 25 August, viewed 6 September 2008, < http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/88468>.

‘Democracy is alive and well, says Najib’, The Star, 25 August, p.5

Gans, HJ 1080, Deciding what’s news: A study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, and Time’, Democracy and the news, Oxford, New York.

Kuek SKK & Wong TC 2008, ‘Arif drops out of bogus PhD study’, Malaysiakini, 22 August, viewed 5 September 2008, < http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/88292>.

Loh, FKW and Mustafa, AK 1996, 'The press in Malaysia in the early 1990s: Corporatisation, technological innovation and the middle class', in MI Said and Z Emby (eds), Critical perspectives: Essays in honour of Syed Husin Ali, Malaysian Social Science Association, Petaling Jaya.

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‘Najib: I helped Chinese schools’ 2008, The Star, 20 August, p.5

‘Najib: Result proves a point’ 2008, The Star, 27 August, p.4

Netto, A 2008, There’s a new opposition newspaper in town, online, retrieved 12 May 2008, from http://anilnetto.com/2008/03/15/red-faced-editors-try-to-reinvent-mainstream-media/.

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‘Water bottles hurled at Najib’, The Star, 27 August, p.4

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Seminar Paper: Ethical journalism requires conscientious decision-making in context

This is a seminar paper that I wrote for my Journalism Ethics subject in Taylor's College.

Ethical journalism requires conscientious decision-making in context
By Max Koh

Intro

The practice of journalism and ethics are intertwined in the way how journalists operate and function in the newsroom. Tanner (2005) argues that ethics is not an optional add-on but underpins the practice of journalism. The everyday routine of journalism is very much entrenched in the way how journalists gather, write and disseminate news to the public. This is because journalists are expected to maintain public trust- in addition to reporting accurately (Hargreaves 2003), and it is the ethical decision-making in journalistic practice that determines how much the public can trust journalists.

It is the society that grants journalists the power to observe and report, and the society expect nothing less than true, honest, fair and accurate reporting (Tanner et al 2005). Kovach and Rosenthiel (2004) argue that journalists’ first loyalty to the citizens and their objective is to report facts as truthful and honest as possible. However, in fulfilling these responsibilities to the public, journalists face decision-making process everyday that is not always so obviously determined by a set of codes and law. Franklin (2005) argues that while journalistic codes of ethics exist to assist reporters to make those important decisions every day, ultimately it is conscience that becomes the ethical compass in situations where no formal codes can give clear guidance or morally dictates a decision is right or wrong. Franklin (2005) argues that the more experience a journalist is, the more readily he/she should recognise that such codes are not all-inclusive.

Nevertheless, Voakes (1997) argues that there is a hierarchy of social influences that influence journalists’ decision-making in ethical situations at most of the times, whether explicitly or not. This view is shared by Tanner (2005) who argues that journalists wrestle daily with their consciences in making ethical decisions in the newsroom.

Whatever it is, it is undisputed that conscientious decision-making is vital and influences ethical journalistic practices in the newsroom. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various factors that influence decision-making process and how journalists are guided in their ethics by intrinsic motivations (such as religious upbringing, personal moral compass, or desire for career advancement) and external heuristics (such as code of ethics, peer pressure, or the threat of reprimand) (Voakes 1997). At end of this paper, we hope to prove that conscientious decision-making is very much integral and vital in the practice of ethical journalism as vouched by various journalists and editors. In order to limit the scope of this paper, we will examine these factors based on the Theory of Social Influences (Shoemaker & Reese 1996). The seven factors are: individual, small group, organisation, competition, occupation, extramedia, and law.

Individual

As an individual, journalists are very much influenced by their internalised set of beliefs in the way they report. Masterson and Patching (1997) argues that journalists are very much influenced by their biases, their perception of the audience, and their own interpretation of the core ‘news value’ of consequences, proximity, conflict, human interest, novelty, and prominence. This is unavoidable as in order to tell a good story, certain aspects of the news will take precedence over others (Masterson & Patching 1997). The selection of news value itself is a form of contentious decision-making that is practiced by the journalist as an individual. As White points out (1996), these set of values can be applied to any situation that comes along, as journalists have an internalised ethical orientations to figure out what to do for themselves.

However, this form of perception is further added by a moral compass that steers how journalists operate in the newsroom. Studies have shown that journalists are drawn to the profession by a sense of social responsibility (Schultz 1998). This include the journalists’ strive to report the truth in fairness and as accurately as possible on order to serve the public interest (Kovach & Rosenthiel 2004). This ‘desire to be ethical’ (Merrill 1997) forms the foundation of journalistic responsibility and can be categorised into three overarching behavioural norms: truth-telling, responsibility, and free expression (Christians 1989). Firstly, journalists strive to report reality as accurately as possible without fiction (truth-telling). Responsibility refers to the sense of behaviour where journalists act in order to serve the public and be accountable to them. And free expression relates to the internal desire to have personal freedom from external influences.

A study conducted by Voakes (1997) found that personal, intrinsic values, does influence the decision-making process of journalists. About 68 per cent of 118 journalists interviewed admitted that personal values and own logic influence ethical journalistic decisions. Personal values such as this, argues Johnstone et al (1972) is vital for it is the journalist’s task to provide the background and interpretation necessary to give events meaning. Johnstone argues that this role is expected of the journalists as they serve the public interest.

Small group

In a talk on journalism ethics to Taylors College student recently, Centre of Journalism editor Gayathry Venkiteswaran (2008) said that a cadet journalist who enters the newsroom can be very easily influenced by the cultural norms that exist within the news institution. She advised the cadets to hold on to their personal ethics and not succumb easily to social norms. This newsroom cultural norms can be interpreted as the small group social influence, and is confirmed by Schultz’s (1998) 1992 Media and Democracy Survey that ‘Colleagues are consistently the most significant source of guidance for the journalists surveyed.’ Findings in Voakes’ (1997) survey support this view as it is found that colleagues and editors often embolden a journalist to take some risk ethically. A 10-question-model proposed by Black, Steele and Barney’s (1997) advise journalists to seek other perspectives in their daily decision-making process. Within the newsroom culture, it is the fellow journalists and editors that one mostly seeks advice and help from. This is crucial as the more experienced senior journalists and editors will be able to help journalists make ethical journalistic decisions.

Organisation

It is also found in Voakes’ (1998) study that the organisation continues to highly influence decision-making by scoring the highest value. Another study by Johnstone et al (1973) found that the type of organisation have a bearing on how a journalist defines his responsibilities. It also found that the larger and more powerful news organisations allow the journalist to play a more active role in their decision-making process. Johnstone argues that an organisation by its very nature places restrictions on individual autonomy. In her speech, Venkiteswaran (2008) said that most journalists working in local mainstream media had their stories killed or altered in order to protect the interest of the media owners.

In the recent general elections, a media monitor by the Centre for Independence Journalism (CIJ), Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI) and Charter 2000-Aliran found that major print media allocated more coverage for the ruling party, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidates and activities during the election period (Aliran 2008). This lapse of balance reporting also happened during the 1999 general elections (Anuar 2003) when mainstream media was bias towards the government. This is because most mainstream media in the country are owned and/or under control of the BN parties (Loh and Mustaha 1996). Therefore, it is obvious that organisation values, including the ownership does influence the decision-making process of journalists. This demand to meet the organisation’s goal creates a conflict from time to time as journalists have to respond between the demands of others and the organisational interest. The unprecedented win by the Opposition by the elections proved that the people are losing trust in mainstream newspaper, and trust is vital as the newspaper as regarded as watchdog and not propaganda tools for the government (Venkiteswaran 2008).

Competition

Competitive influence is concerned with the organisation’s relations with competitive news media in its market as well as the organisation’s place in the market (Voakes 1997). Weaver and Wilhoit (1996) found that competing media ranked seventh out of nine choices for influences for news judgement. While the study by Voakes (1997) also found that competitiveness is the least influential factor in ethical decision-making process, it is still important as it does have some bearing on the journalist’s ultimate decision on ethical situation.

Occupation

Occupational values comprise a common system of attitudes and beliefs that is transformed through the process of socialisation, into a system of norms to guide behaviour. This can be divided into two: the formal ‘professional’ ethical codes of conduct which is more concrete and the ongoing evolving of occupational norms. The formal codes of ethics are such as those drawn up by the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and National Union of Journalists. But while they do exist, they are rarely if ever enforced (Marzolf 1991). However, they do provide the articulation of the attitudes and general behaviour that is practiced by journalists in ethical decision-making. Tanner et al (2004) confirms that while codes of ethics are powerless, the professional codes are significant as they are the practitioners’ own articulation of the central principles governing their conduct. Professional codes are vital and as a comparison of the European codes (Laitila 1995) has shown, most codes share three key principles: accountability to the public, accountability to the sources and referents, and protection of the journalist’s professional integrity. So while the code alone cannot ensure ethical journalism, it is still an important influence in making ethical decisions (Voakes 1997).

Extramedia

Extramedia refers to influences from outside the organisations and structures of the news media (Shoemaker & Reese 1996). There are two main extramedia influences: sources of information and audience reaction. Gans (1979) posits that there is a symbiotic relationship between journalists and their sources. If a journalist writes against the favour of his source, he risk cutting off the flow of information for the future. Chequebook journalism and ‘freebies’ also comes into play and may give rise to conflicts of interest.

To help journalists avoid these ethical pitfalls that may destroy their credibility, the MEAA Code of Ethics offers clauses 4 to 7. In clause 4, journalists are to not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit to undermine his accuracy, fairness or independence. Clause 5 protects the journalist from conflict of interest, commercial interests, and payment respectively. While journalists are generally advised to be detached from their sources, some struggle and become influenced when covering emotive stories such as the Asian tsunami disaster (Tanner et al 2005). While clause 4 may appear to be too draconian, Tanner argues that it just mean ‘journalist needs to be particularly careful.’ It is imperative therefore journalists maintain a level of detachment and independence from external factors, as not to undermine their role and responsibility to report accurately and truthfully for the public interest (Kovach & Rosenthiel 2004). Journalists should not place themselves in position where people can manipulate them or where there is a perception that they have been bought (Tanner et al 2005).

Law

Ethical decisions are very much influenced by legal obligations as well. In Malaysia, the presence of repressive laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA), Official Secret Act (OSA), Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA), and Broadcasting Act inhibit the way journalists approach news and views, careful not to stir up ‘sensitive’ sentiments (Nain & Lay Kim 2004). The way journalists write in mainstream media has been affected ever since the Operasi Lalang crackdown in 1987 when the government shut down three national newspapers, The Star, Watan, and Sin Chew Jit Poh, and had their publishing permits or licensed revoked under the ISA when they reported sensitive issues about Chinese education and inter-ethnic tensions between political parties. When The Star was revived some months later, it was very much less critical of the government. Clearly, the ways journalists approach their news are very much influenced by the draconian laws that the government use to intimidate the press (Mustafa 1985). Similarly, the government often invoke the PPPA in order to keep the media in check, threatening to revoke their licenses if they should write something that is not flattery to the government (Nain & Lay Kim 2004). With repressive laws that intimidates, the journalist’s role to report the truth without fear or bias is often impeded.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that conscientious decision-making cannot be separated from the practice of ethical journalism as clearly illustrated by the seven factors of social influence: individual, small group, organisation, competition, occupation, extramedia, and law. While these factors continue to steer the way journalist function in the newsroom and fulfil their role as interpreter of events to the public, it is imperative that journalists practice a form of ethical journalism in order to do their jobs well. As Joseph Pulitzer once said: “Without high ethical ideals, a newspaper not only is stripped of its splendid possibilities for public service, but may become a positive danger to the community” (Chadwick 1994). Therefore, ethical journalism in conscientious decision-making is not only a must, but it is the very heart that fortifies the practice of journalism itself. Without ethical journalism which involves conscientious decision-making, the role and function of the press will never be fully realised.

(2175 words)

References

Aliran 2008, ‘Utusan tops as the most pro-BN newspaper’, Election 2008- Malaysian Media Monitor’s Diary, viewed 6 June 2008, .

Alliance Online 2008, Media Alliance Code of Ethics, New South Wales, viewed 14 May 2008 .

Anuar, MK 2003, ‘The Role of Malaysia’s Mainstream Press in the 1999 General Election’, in FKL Loh, J Saravanamuthu (eds.), New Politics in Malaysia, ISEAS, Singapore, pp. 53-65.

Black, J, Steele B, Barney, R (eds) 1997, Doing Ethics in Journalism, 3rd edn, Allyn & Bacon, Boston.

Chadwick, P 1994, ‘Creating Codes: Journalism Self-Regulation’, Not Just Another Business: Journalists, Citizens and the Media, Schultz J (ed), Pluto Press, Sydney, pp 167-187.

Christians, CG 1989, ‘Ethical Theory in a Global Setting’, Communication Ethics and Global Change, Cooper TW (ed), Longman, New York, pp 3-19.

Franklin, B, Hamer, M, Hanna, M, Kinsey, M, Richardson, JE 2005, Key Concepts in Journalism Studies, Sage, London.

Gans, H 1979, Deiciding What’s News: A Study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, and Time, Vintage, New York.

Hargreaves, I 2003, Journalism: Truth or Dare, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Johnstone JWC, Salwski EJ, Bowman WW 1972, ‘The Professional Values of American Newsmen’, The Public Opinion Quaterly, vol. 36, no. 4, viewed 5 June 2008,
<>.

Kovach, B & Rosenthiel, T 2001, The Elements of Journalism, Three Rivers Press, New York.

Laitila, T 1995, ‘Journalistic Codes of Ethics in Europe’, European Journal of Communication, vol. 10, no.4, pp. 527-544.

Loh, FKW and Mustafa, AK 1996, 'The Press in Malaysia in the Early 1990s: Corporatisation, Technological Innovation and the Middle Class', MI Said and Z Emby (eds), Critical Perspectives: Essays in Honour of Syed Husin Ali, Malaysian Social Science Association, Petaling Jaya.

Marzolf, M 1991, Civilizing Voices: American Press Criticism, 1880-1950, Longman, New York.

Masterson, M & Patching, R 1997, Now the News in Detail: A Guide to Bradcast Journalism in Australia, Deakin University Press, Geelong.

Merrill, JC 1997, Journalism Ethics: Philosophical Foundations for News Media, St. Martins’ Press, New York.

Mustafa, AK 1985, ‘The Pressed in Malaysia’, Aliran Monthly, vol.5, no.5, pp.5-6.

Nain, Z & Kim, WL 2004, ‘Ownership, Control and the Malaysian Media’, Who Owns the Media? Global Trends and Local Resistance, Zed Books, New York.

National Union of Journalists Malaysia 2008, National Union of Journalists Malaysia Code of Ethics, Kuala Lumpur, viewed 5 June 2008 .

Richards, I 2005, Quagmires and Quandries: Exploring Journalism Ethics, Pearson Longman, New South Wales.

Schultz, J 1998, Reviving the Fourth Estate: Democracy, Accountability and the Media, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Shoemaker, P & Reese, S 1996, Mediating the Message: Theories of Influences on Mass Media Content, Longman, New York.

Tanner, S, Phillips, G, Smyth, C, Tapsall, S 2005, Journalism Ethics at Work, Pearson Longman, New South Wales.
Venkiteswaran, G 2008, Ethics in Journalism, Talk to Taylor’s College students at Taylor’s College, 11 June.

Voakes, PS 1997, ‘Social Influence on Journalists’, Journal of Mass Media Ethics Exploring Questions of Media Morality, vol. 12, no.1, viewed 5 June 2008, .

Weaver, D & Wilhoit, G 1996, The American Journalist in the 1990s: US News People at the End of an Era, Indiana University Press, Bloomington.

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Essay: The application of Internet research in the newsroom

This is a written essay for my Computer-Assisted Reporting subject in Taylor's College.

Discuss the application of Internet research in the newsroom.

By Max Koh

Intro

It is said that Internet has revolutionised journalism in many ways. The advent of the Internet has not only changed what is reported and how it is reported, it is also a virtually endless source of information for reporters to research and gather information. The Internet has also become a far-reaching communication medium that presents all kinds of content in a myriad of formats (Reddick & King, 2001) to its audiences. The reality, said Hatchen and Scotton (2007), is that through today’s interconnected and globalised world, people everywhere easily learn about and are affected by news.

As news finds new ways to be disseminated, the Internet has also changed the news-gathering process for journalists. The vastness of information made available and the myriad of new tools has changed the way journalists work and given rise to new practices such as ‘contextualise journalism’, which facilitates the use and application of multimedia, interactivity, hypertext, and customisation (Pavlik, 2001) and the emerging role of the ‘multimedia journalist’ (Reddick and King, 2001). At the heart, however, lies the term ‘computer-assisted reporting’ (CAR) which Garrison (1998) explains, encompasses anything that uses computers to aid the news-gathering process.

This paper seeks to discuss the role of the Internet as an information resource for journalists. We will discuss the role of databases and other sources of information on the Internet and how they have changed the practice of journalists in newsrooms. We will also look at emerging trends on the Internet that is shaping newsroom practices, as well as ethical and legal implications associated with Internet as an information resource for journalists.

Internet improves dissemination of news

Twenty years ago, the research tools available for journalists were only the library archives, or communicating with sources via phone, fax, or talking in person. Today, journalists have access to online archives, research papers, government websites, forums made available on the Internet. Internet applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and blogs also changed the way how journalists obtain facts and views. Simply put, the Internet has opened up many new channels and possibilities for journalists to gather information. Newsroom culture today is vastly different compared to twenty years ago.

Allan (2005) argues that the Internet has improved news dissemination in terms of immediacy, depth and interactivity. The ability for journalists to deliver news as such is also much owed to the way how journalists have access to a plethora of information on the Internet which allows reporting with depth, immediacy and better interactivity. Allan asserts that the Oklahoma bombing in 1995 was a landmark moment for journalistic Internet research. Within moments a bomb was detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, killing 168 people, including 19 children- Internet news sites posted breaking news online. This was especially important as the Internet was still in its infancy then. Discussion forums, eyewitness accounts, and information detailing the event appeared on various sites.

Journalists and news sites such as Oklahoma City Daily and New York Times were able to quickly gather these information; detailed eye-witness accounts, types of bombs used in terrorist attacks, locator map, the latest story from Associated Press (AP), views from experts and put them up on their websites. This particular episode has demonstrated how the Internet has paved the way for journalists to gather information at a faster immediacy and with depth not possible with traditional media. Oakes (1995) observed that journalists were now able to access to information in form of raw news, opinions, and condolences not seen before the Internet. This event presages what the future of online will be, he acutely asserts.

In the coming months, the reliability of information made online increasingly became a matter of dispute, especially pertaining to the circumstances surrounding the 747 Boeing plane crash. On 17 June 1996, the airliner was en route from New York to Berlin when it plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. Rumours of conspiracy theories and terrorist attacks began to circulate the Internet as journalists scramble to gather and post news on the Internet. While these information turned out to be nothing more than rumours, practitioners have observed that ‘there is an immediate acceptance of information on the Internet’ (Canon, 1997). In order to sift through the fact from fiction, journalistic principles such truth, balance, and accuracy are still key foundations. Newsday journalist Ford Fessenden (cited in Campbell 1997) said that the newspaper’s coverage ‘owes a great debt to the technology of CAR where hourly consultation of the Internet and daily querying of safety databases become routine’.

Emerging form of contextualised journalism

As the Internet opens up new channels for information gathering, the role as gatekeepers becomes an increasingly challenging one for journalists. As myriad of information and views are made available on the Internet, it is important that journalists place stories into their proper contexts. Pavlik (2001) describes the emerging form of contextualised journalism, which produces multi-dimensional news; more engaging reporting and complete stories. The multimedia journalist of the twenty-first century then will have to become more skilful storyteller and act as a guide in linking news with a wider set of contextualising events and circumstances (Franklin et al, 2005). The convergence of different digital platforms makes it necessary for journalists to master the different set skills of gathering and disseminating news. Now, journalists not only have to edit the various sources from its various formats, but translate and contextualise them into different formats for dissemination.

There are different kinds of sources available to journalists on the Internet. As the web matures, journalists are becoming more proficient as multimedia journalist in contextualising and separating the fact from fiction; the newsworthy from the irrelevant. In addition to the non-digital resources available (cuttings, archival materials), offline digital resources (CD-Rom, DVD-Rom etc), there is a plethora of sources on the Internet such as databases, blogs, archives, forums etc. However, with great resources comes great responsibility. And the change of journalistic practices.

Greater accuracy and accountability

Alysen et al (2003) observes that the Internet necessitates journalists to be more accountable for their news report. As members of the public have access to the same resources, they can compare news report to the original sources. Therefore, it is imperative that journalists do not misinterpret information or take it out of context. Web deadlines have also become more fluid, compared to reporting for traditional media. Pressure is added to the multimedia journalists who now have earlier deadlines and must also repackage them for different mediums and audiences. The Internet demands for more accurate reports as their stories allow scrutiny by worldwide audiences online.

The rise of citizen journalism

The Internet has also seen an emerging form of citizen journalism. Where once journalistic institutions are seen as the sole authoritative source of news, an increasing number of people are turning to alternative sources such as blogs (Rocky’s Bru, Screenshots) and alternative news sites (Drudge Report, OhMyNews). While some has perceived this as a threat to traditional journalism, Lasica (2003) observes that blogs and organisational journalism work together to produce higher standards of journalism that will benefit audiences and promotes the democratisation of society. Ordinary people can be journalists, thus giving rise the term ‘citizen journalists’. Lasica observes a new form of participatory journalism, as ‘individuals play an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, sorting, analysing and dissemination news and information- a task once reserved almost exclusively to the news media’.

Greater interaction between journalists and citizens

Websites such as OhMyNews allows intense online interaction allows journalists and citizens to work together to provide a more concise and comprehensive reporting (Min, 2005). The new interactivity between readers and news institution through the Internet is exemplified by BBC News during the London 7/7 bombing. Within hours when terrorist bombs exploded on London subways and a bus, BBC received more than 1,000 photographs, 20 amateur videos, 4,000 text messages and 20,000 e-mails (Sambrook, 2005). BBC incorporated images and the different experiences of citizens into their stories. Sambrook further asserts that the new relationship has not only changed how journalists work, but further emphasises the journalist’s role to add value, analysis, context, background and range to the news stories.

New info-gathering tools

This is an exciting times for journalism. As the Internet continues to evolve, so is the news-gathering process for journalists. The Internet offers many tools to help journalists to gather information. Apart from e-mails, forums, and chat rooms, journalists now can obtain information and views through Web 2.0 applications such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, wikis, blogs and also Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) (Beckett, 2008). Technologies now allow journalists to work from anywhere in the world, negating even the needs of entering the newsroom. Nevertheless, journalists should operate within the ethical and legal framework as credibility is demanded in this age of information proliferation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is imperative that journalists continue to uphold the standards of journalistic principles and values in gathering and disseminate news. While the Internet has changed how journalists work (and thus giving rise to new terms such as multimedia journalist, contextualised journalism, citizen journalism etc) and opened new ways to gather news, the role and ideals of journalism remain the same. More than before, journalists must be increasingly accountable, accurate, and multi-skilled in serving the public’s interests.

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References

Allan, S 2005, ‘Chapter 5: News on the Web,’ Journalism: critical issues, OUP, England, p.67-84.

Alysen, B Sedorkin, G Oakham, M & Patching, R 2003, Reporting in a multimedia world, Allen & Unwin, Sydney.

Beckett, C 2008, ‘Supermedia: the future as networked journalism’, openDemocracy, viewed on 1 April 2009, <>.

Campbell, D 1997, ‘Untapped Sources’, Guardian, 10 July.

Franklin, B, Hamer, M, Hanna, M, Kinsey, M, Richardson, JE 2005, Key Concepts in Journalism, SAGE, London.

Garrison, B 1998, Computer-assisted reporting, 2nd ed. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, New Jersey.

Hatchen, A & Scotton, JF 2007, The world news prism, Blackwell Publishing, Victoria.

Min, JK 2005, ‘Journalism as a Conversation’, Niemen Reports, vol. 59, no.4, pp.17-19, viewed on 1 April 2009, <>.

Pavlik, JV 2001, Journalism and new media, University Press, New York.

Reddick, R & King, E 2001, The online journalist: Using the Internet and other electronic Sources, 3rd ed, Harcount Brace and Company, Florida.

Sambrook, R 2005, ‘Citizen Journalism and the BBC’, Niemen Reports, vol. 59, no.4, pp.13-16, viewed on 1 April 2009, .

Visit to al-Jazeera KL Bureau

Al-Jazeera: Dearth of journalistic talent pool in Malaysia?

The Petronas Twin Towers is graced with the presence of an international news channel housed within its belly. However, a trip to the Kuala Lumpur bureau reveals two fundamental problems faced by local journalistic fraternity, writes MAX KOH

A tour around the Al-Jazeera Kuala Lumpur bureau on the 60th floor of Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers by a group of communication students from Taylor’s College on April 6, 2009 revealed one startling fact: there were very few local broadcast journalists. 

As we later learned from the bureau’s Head of Technical Operations, Jayaganesh Sabapathy, there are two fundamental problems faced by the local journalistic fraternity that contributed to their absence. 

“There is a lack of journalistic and editorial instinct among local practitioners. We find our journalists are not widely exposed enough and comfortable working in their own little bubble,” he claims. 

“Journalism is more than reporting the facts. It’s about probing and asking hard questions.” 


Head of Operations Jayaganesh Sabapathy asserts that al-Jazeera's main thrust to report the truth.

Sabapathy says that the lack of proficient skills here had led the news channel to hire journalists from other parts of the world.

The second fundamental problem is the lack of technical skills as the majority of broadcasters in Asia are still reliant on old technologies and formats to deliver the news. Al Jazeera’s studio here boasts the latest technology (HD compatibility and digital servers) which most videographers and broadcast journalists can only dream about. 

While Sabapathy acknowledges that new technologies require high investment, he notes that the lack of investment by broadcasters here had restricted the growth of skills among local talent.


The control room where video feeds come in from all over the world.

Aided by 155Mbps network connection that links the four broadcast centres, the technical team worked at breakneck speed to record, edit, and broadcast news. There is little margin for error as news has to be broadcasted almost instantaneously as they receive it in the control room. It is indeed not a job for the faint-hearted.

The Kuala Lumpur bureau handles news from the Asian Pacific region. The other bureaus are located in London and Washington D.C. with the headquarters situated in Doha.


Al-Jazeera uses some of the most impressive technology in broadcasting. All videos are shot and broadcasted in HD (high-definition) format.

“This problem of inadequate technical skills extends to the whole of Asia apart from Japan, and it needs to be addressed if the local media wants to catch up with the world,” he adds.

We were sitting comfortably in the bureau’s boardroom with a bird-eye’s view of Kuala Lumpur and beyond, when Sabapathy relays the information to us. 

While the news was not altogether alarming, it is still depressing to hear. 

Prior to to the briefing, we were given a tour around the bureau which takes up the whole floor, housing two impressive studios (including the 101 East studio which is claustrophobic due to the less than ideal environment), different control rooms, and the sprawling newsroom that housed a number of broadcast journalists at work. 

It was fortunate that we arrived at a time when the bureau was shooting “live on air”. Anchors Veronica Pedrosa and Divya Gopalan were seen working in the studio, as we gawked at the impressive equipment and quality of professionalism.

It was almost surreal to see the live person talking in front, and then looking at the screen as millions of viewers are watching at the same time. 

One thing that struck me was the pin-drop silence in the newsroom as all the staff were doing their work quietly with their headphones on. There were no idle chatter and is a sharp contrast to the noisy newsroom I am familiar with.


The breadth of the newsroom and main studio where all the broadcast journalists work to bring us the latest news. (Pic by Max Koh)

It was also amazing to note that the bureau boasts of only a hundred staff to run such an operation. There were less people that day as most of the broadcast journalists were out in the field, notes Sabapathy.

Most of the staff appears to be expatriates but the sign of some local staff (yes, we heard some of them conversing in Malay) was encouraging indeed. 

The visit turned also turned out to be an eye-opening experience for several reasons. 

For one, the international news agency was in fact invited by Pak Lah to open its Asia Pacific bureau here. 

Yep, our former Prime Minister was able to reel in the news channel with his bait of a nice, swanky pad on the Twin Towers, and a promise to not interfere in its operations and editorial policies.

Although the place is less than ideal for a broadcast centre per se (the ceilings are too low for proper lighting in a studio), Sabapathy is happy to note that the government has not interfered in their operations.


The 101 East studio where interviews with many important figures are regularly held. 

This lack of restrictions sounds good until one realises the double standard that exists as various legislations still bound and muzzle the vocal power of local media. Why the double standards, Najib? But I digress.

Al-Jazeera English first began operations three years ago and has since become a reckoning force of broadcast journalism in the world. It has since given familiar big players such as CNN and BBC News, a run for its money with its “unbiased” news and a strict adherence to “report the truth.” 

It currently has a viewership of 170 million people worldwide. 

The news channel was set up with a US$150 million grant from the Emir of Qatar, as an initiative to educate and inform the world, and provide an alternative to the existing news flow from West to East. 

Al-Jazeera’s bid to change the traditional news flow syntax is reflected in its various slogans: “This side, the other side”, and “If it's newsworthy, it gets on air, whether it's Bush or Bin Laden”.

Sabapathy claims that Al Jazeera English is able to give coverage and new perspective to events, otherwise sidelined by the Western-controlled media. 

“Al-Jazeera was set up to dispel the perception of a world divide between East and the West,” says Sabapathy. 

“There is an increasing demand for news from Asia. The market here is very strong as Asia is seen as climbing up the economic ladder while the West is saturated with opportunities.” 

The news channel also prides itself as a truly global news network, in comparison to the American-centric coverage by other news channels.

“The media in United States are very insular, partly due to the many local issues happening there, but it is still very sad that some people still think that the world revolves around their country,” adds Sabapathy. 

“Do you know that a very small percentage of Americans own passports and don’t really know much about other countries? We are happy that Al-Jazeera is able to open up their minds on their views about the world outside American.

“We believe any news is newsworthy, no matter where they come from.”

Just as its name signifies (al-Jazeera means island in Arabic), the organisation is an island that stands out in a sea of mediocre journalism. 

The Kuala Lumpur bureau is ready to accept interns (but don’t expect any easy work, adds Sabapathy), but the experience procured is indefinitely valuable. 

Requirements are high as it is an international organisation that demands the cream of the crop, not only from Malaysia, but also around the world. 

But who knows, maybe we’ll see the next Riz Khan from Malaysia.

All pics courtesy of The Plogger otherwise stated.