How important is journalism in a working democracy?
Very important apparently, seeing that it is known as the fourth estate - after the executive, judiciary and legislative.
Journalism ensures transparency in the affairs of the first three estates; essentially, it's the check and balance to ensure no one's powers become absolute.
But as we are constantly told by the powers that be, the democracy practiced in Malaysia is a democracy that suits us. Hence, it is different than the rest of the world.
Maybe that is why journalism is treated the way it is today in Malaysia. And that is something very disheartening and sad, especially for someone like me, who believes in it so much.
The Malaysian Insider (TMI), one of the top news sites in the country, was shut down on Monday. The reason given was that the company could not monetise their journalistic efforts.
So, are businesses in the country choosing to stay clear of advertising with news organisations, or is it just TMI in particular?
TMI had last month been banned by the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) and the owners of the site, The Edge Media Group (TEMG), last year, had their publications The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily suspended for three months.
MUST READ: MCMC warns others against publishing unverified reports
MUST READ: TMI chief executive and The Edge publisher arrested for sedition
The reason: for running in depth stories on the 1MDB controversy. And although the High Court quashed the order by the Home Ministry, the damage had been done.
TEMG eventually had to resize operations, shutting down different elements of their publications and letting staff go. This was all prior to their decision to pull the plug on TMI.
The company had tried to find a buyer for TMI but unfortunately, after all the negotiations, no deals materialised.
Crackdown
Police action has been taken against journalists in Malaysia. The time, effort and hassle involved in attending to these distractions keep them away from the real job of reporting.
More recently, even international journalists have tasted this style of control on the media.
Linton Besser and Louis Eroglu of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation would hardly have much empathy with the `polite’ style of approach and questioning practiced by local media – a lesson they learnt to their cost with detention and swift deportation.
MUST READ: Arrest of two Aussie journalists appropriate - Police
The reality is, political developments dictate how Malaysian media carry on reporting news.
Those that opt to work within the strictures determined by their owners to ensure continued survival will no doubt still be published and read out there.
Those that don’t have the fate of the Insider to consider.
Zan Azlee
Thu Mar 17 2016
The reality is, political developments dictate how Malaysian media carry on reporting news.
Tun Hanif Omar dikebumi di Makam Pahlawan
Jenazah Allahyarham akan dimandikan dan disembahyangkan di Masjid Negara terlebih dahulu.
'Ayah letak tugas, kerjaya nombor satu' - Anak Tun Hanif
Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar meletakkan kerjaya yang melibatkan keselamatan rakyat serta negara sebagai perkara paling utama ketika hayatnya.
KPN ucap takziah kepada keluarga Tun Hanif Omar
Razarudin mewakili keluarga Sang Saka Biru mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga bekas KPN Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar.
Sofia Jane raih anugerah Pelakon Wanita Terbaik di Festival Filem Asia ke-21
Secara keseluruhan naskhah arahan Badrul Hisham Ismail itu juga berjaya merangkul Anugerah Most Original Film.
Mesir, rakan usaha dapatkan gencatan senjata di Gaza
Mesir sedang berusaha mendapatkan satu gencatan senjata di Semenanjung Gaza dengan sokongan Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Qatar, kata Menteri Luar Mesir, Sameh Shoukry pada Jumaat.
MediaTek lancar cip Dimensity 6300 dengan teknologi 6nm
Ia dihasilkan dengan teknologi 6nm TSMC dengan konfigurasi dua teras Cortex-A76 sehingga 2.4GHz dan enam teras Cortex A55 sehingga 2.0GHz.
Filem Sheriff pamer sisi berbeza Kamal Affandi sebagai pegawai polis
Filem Sheriff menemui penonton di pawagam mulai 18 April.
Bursa Malaysia dijangka mengalami keadaan tidak banyak berubah minggu depan
FBM KLCI dijangka turun naik dalam julat 1,528 hingga 1,560 minggu depan, dengan sokongan serta-merta pada 1,520, diikuti oleh 1,508.
Noktah kemiskinan tegar, isu kewarganegaraan dibincang bersama MPN PKR Sabah
Anwar yang juga Presiden PKR berkata MPN PKR Sabah telah mengutarakan kepentingan memesatkan usaha menoktahkan kemiskinan tegar di Sabah.
Tun Hanif Omar lakar sejarah Ketua Polis Negara paling lama, termuda
Allahyarham dilantik memegang jawatan Ketua Polis Negara keempat pada usia 35 tahun bermula 8 Jun 1974.
COVID-19: Paula Abdul kembali ke kerusi juri 'American Idol', kerana ...
Juri American Idol Luke Bryan dilaporkan positif COVID-19, menyebabkannya dia terpaksa digugurkan dari episod pertama program nyanyian realiti terbitan rangkaian televisyen ABC itu.
American Idol kembali bersiaran, pertama kali dari lokasi pentas berbeza
Kesemua 20 peserta bakal beraksi dari lokasi pentas yang berbeza sambil dinilai para juri secara dalam talian.
'Dia cakap saya dah cukup manis, minum air mineral je tak payah ABC'
Menerusi salah sebuah entri, Sheila berkongsi foto ketika menikmati Air Batu Campur (ABC) bersama suaminya itu.
Pelanggan bantu viral ABC Kelapo jadi 'trademark' Kuala Pilah
Suhaimi Mohd Nor, 39 tahun, anak jati Kuala Pilah, mula membuka kedai yang diberi nama 'Kedai Laksa Utara', di sebelah Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datuk Abd Samad (SMKDAS), Tanjung Ipoh, pada 2010.
Selepas teruk dikritik, ABC mohon maaf adegan pengganas Hindu dalam 'Quantico'
Plot berkaitan aktiviti pengganas itu mencetuskan kemarahan terhadap aktres Bollywood, Priyanka Chopra, yang memainkan watak utama dalam siri itu.
62 pengamal media, bomba berjaya cipta sejarah ke Annapurna Base Camp
Misi Cabaran Annapurna Base Camp 2017 itu juga melakar sejarah sebagai kumpulan terbesar melibatkan peserta dalam kalangan rakyat Malaysia.
Penyampai berita 'berangan' semasa ke udara digantung tugas
Natasha Exelby, penyampai di saluran AB24 di Australia, dilihat sedang bermain dengan pen dan terkejut apabila menyedari dia sedang on-air.
Dokumentari '4Corners' sahkan pendirian Najib selama ini
Dokumentari itu mengesahkan siasatan terperinci pelbagai pihak berkuasa bahawa dana yang diterima Perdana Menteri adalah derma daripada keluarga diraja Arab Saudi.
Lelaki Iraq dirakam tawar pasport/visa suaka di KL
Perbuatannya itu terdedah dalam program siasatan Four Corners terbitan ABC yang menunjukkan perbuatan penyeludup manusia menjual dokumen perjalanan hingga pada harga A$16,000 setiap satu.
Barbara Walters berhenti mengacara
Selepas 37 tahun bersama dengan saluran ABC News, Barbara Walters yang popular dengan program The View membuat keputusan untuk berhenti mengacara.