The article said:Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today called on bloggers to adhere to a certain code of ethics and ensure their blog articles are backed by truth in order for blogs to become a respected medium for the betterment of the society.I found the last sentence above to be most interesting. Indirectly, is TDM acknowledging publicly that people have deserted 'ordinary media' because they are not saying the truth? Isn't it ironical that he is implying that scenario despite the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which hangs over the heads of MSM like the sword of Damocles? We all know that the publications of PKR, PAS and DAP have met with certain obstacles of late while others seem to have got away with certain types of reporting.
The former prime minister said the blogging ethics should be voluntary because these were for the bloggers' own good and from which they would build their reputation in the eyes of the people.
Dr Mahathir, himself a blogger, said the society had access to blogs, a medium which he said was "almost beyond the control of any authority", and that if bloggers were ethical and write the truth, more people would make blogs their source of information.
If bloggers adhered to these ethics, he said, "I think eventually people will come to respect blogs."
"If we are not saying the truth, people will desert blogs like (how they desert) the ordinary media today," he said in his keynote address at the Asian Bloggers and Social Media Conference 2010, here today.
If that is the case, what has the government done about it? We all know. You can CLICK HERE to read Vijay's comments on the media which I posted earlier today.
Did you know that , there is an article on THE BLOGGERS' CODE (classified under Integrity) in PM Najib's 1Malaysia website ?
Two statements caught my interest:
I have always said that new media plays an important role in our political and civic future and that it is important for the truth to be told through responsible reporting.
I find such standards critical to developing a respectful and productive dialogue, and will endeavour to adhere to them as best as I can. What are your thoughts on this code? Are there any best practices that you can think of that have not been included?
(Extracted from THIS LINK. Please CLICK HERE to read further.)
As far back as 23rd November 2008, when speaking at the Bloggers Buff 2008 in PWTC, the Home Minister then Syed Hamid had suggested that a code of ethics be drawn up for bloggers in the country in order to safeguard the nation from racial or religious conflict:
“The Internet is bringing people into the world of written reporting who have had no training; have no one to learn from; no sense of responsibility; and no sense of their place in the reporting ecosystem.
“A code of ethics will serve as a guide. Even professional journalists are guided by their own professional code of conduct. I see no reason why citizen journalists should not want or need one,” he told a crowd of about 40 bloggers.
However, he said that he was not suggesting new laws adding that “this country has enough laws”.
Extracted from THIS LINK.
With the new post in 1Malaysia, it seems that the authorities are still concerned by the power of cyberspace.
However, before preaching on the Code of Ethics to control blogosphere, what about ensuring that ALL MSM follow journalistic principles?
You can read about it in an article by RPK OVER HERE and in other links in Malaysiakini HERE and also at THIS LINK.
We must remember that journalists and editorial staff are TRAINED in journalism and have a moral and professional obligation to observe Journalistic Code of Ethics and have the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads because they are being monitored by the Home Ministry and if they step out of line, will lose their license as spelled out in the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
So how are bloggers supposed to feel when some journalists and newspapers have the carte blanche to say anything they want and get away with it while others don't? Will there be any value then to laws and codes that are drawn up?
What sort of example are some MSM setting and why are they not hauled up for not abiding by the PM's wish for responsible reporting that can develop respectful and productive dialogue as mentioned in his 1Malaysia website?
Personally, I advocate and practise self-censorship and abide by both journalistic principles that I learnt as a mass communications undergraduate decades ago. As a democratic country, we are entitled to freedom of expression but we must exercise this right responsibly. Blogosphere allows citizens to air there grouses or even to engage in a lively debate so that others may be able to see both sides of the issue and in the process, make rational conclusions or decisions. Reports must be based on facts and journalistic ethics.
Definitely, the time has come for bloggers to be more vigilant in their blogging so that certain quarters cannot use some blog posts as a justification to blacklist bloggers or worse still, to exercise more control over freedom of expression in cyberspace. It is apparent there are some in cyberspace who may not be genuine bloggers but blog for a hidden agenda and perhaps, those are the very ones giving bloggers a bad name. So how will the authorities concerned tell the genuine blogger from those 'wolfy' bloggers in sheep’s clothing?
All of us, regardless of whichever side we belong to, must choose to live ethically and with integrity. It means making choices and being prepared to deal with consequences of our choices in life both in the short-term and long -term. I am sure that there are many bloggers who are respected because of their stand on truth, justice, equality, good governance, transparency and many other noble values and virtues.
You can read more about Bloggers' Code of Ethics HERE and HERE.
Living with ethics and integrity is the fundamental platform for a life worth living and we have to see this in every aspect of life in Malaysia starting with the government, MSM and in our personal lives. But do we see it in everyday life in our country?
What do you think, dear reader?
Anonymous That moral moron is in no position to teach anyone about ethics. The twerp that the stupefied country bought for 22 years is the measure of the decadence that people are afflicted with.
It will take a lot of undoing of his example of perverse outlook and lies before the country can be whole again, if ever!
~wits0~