The media should be free to express the feelings of a community, as long as it is done responsibly. “That is the role of media that should not be controlled," Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
"What is important is that there must be accountability and responsibility and a sense of unity in reporting,” he said when commenting on the MCA’s call to boycott Utusan Malaysia, which recently published an article which mooted the idea of forming a “1Melayu, 1Bumi” movement.
Does this mean that the MSM as the green light to express how its readers feel about issues?
Still, let's not forget this ACT here which is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of MSM.
Please check out THIS ARTICLE to understand more about accountability in reporting. It said that it is " serious investigative journalism that prevents corruption and keeps the powerful in check".
Common elements in reporting can be viewed HERE.
With regards to responsibility in reporting, Pranab Hazra says HERE that There are three basic responsibilities that are to be considered by any journalist. They are social, legal and professional. CLICK HERE for more.
There have been far too many cases whereby some spoke freely and lost their freedom. You can read about the case of the producer HERE.
Reporters Without Borders released their Press Freedom Index 2010 HERE which revealed that Malaysia has plunged 10 notches to 141 - notably the lowest in nine years. This means that Malaysia is in the bottom quarter of 178 countries in the list.
So is the media really free?
Is there real cause for celebration after reading that article? Food for thought.
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