Citizen Journalists – beware the quagmire of untruth!
Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, Minister for Information, Communication and Culture was confronted today with a new breed of journalist, the ‘Citizen Journalist’.
Speaking with reporters in Ampang this morning, the Minister was at first unsure how to respond when asked if he supported the growing movement of Citizen Journalism in Malaysia, and whether he thought the growth of citizen journalism was a positive development.
Following some clarification that Citizen Journalists are ‘non-professional reporters or bloggers’ his response echoed his comments in April, in which he stated that “[private media corporations and bloggers] who have broken the laws have to face legal action”.
The potential role of non-professional journalists and bloggers as a source of independent news and views was not touched upon by the Minister, who focused exclusively on the law and the need for writers and bloggers to be responsible for what is written, to prevent the country from falling into a ‘quagmire of untruth and half-truths that would not be good for the civilisation’.
Stating that the right to write should be respected, he also warned that he or she who violates the law through the kind of writing they choose to pursue should face the consequences of their actions, “bravely”.
See the video here
