Credibility of state-owned media in question, says Nazrin

State-owned media no longer enjoys being the main source of news, with the increasing relevance of new media, says Sultan Nazrin of Perak.

While state media’s credibility has taken a beating, new media is playing a role in influencing peoples' minds and thinking around the world, he said, as reported in Bernama.

"The era of state-owned broadcasting institutions being at the pinnacle is now coming to an end, in fact, the credibility of state-owned media and communications agencies are increasingly being questioned," he added.

The country's official media should practice ethical journalism and refrain from reporting "half-truths", he was quoted in the report.

"News reporting which is impartial and based on half truths is not beneficial and counter-productive.

"If the country's official media institutions carry on doing this rampantly, it will eventually create a rift between the people and the government," he said when opening the Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Complex in Ipoh today.

According to the national news agency, he said media informs the people about the government, and vice versa, and plays an essential role in strengthening democracy.

As more and more information is available online - through e-government and the development of digital democracy - and can be accessed by many, people can sift through the various sources and are more critical and analytical of reports and statements they read.

"Information is no longer limited to sources which had been filtered and controlled by the authorities,” he said in the article.

According to Sultan Nazrin, the media plays an important role in shaping people’s understanding of current issues.

He said the choice of news flow and colour have an impact on the public's views, thoughts, and perceptions.

"Public interest must be a priority, more importantly the credibility and integrity of national institutions must never be compromised for short-term interests," he said in the report.

The news article also quoted Sultan Nazrin saying that media institutions are obligated to adhere to the principle of truth, while employees should fulfil the trust placed in them and be responsible in carrying out their tasks.

In the article, he said media institutions' credibility and integrity were determined by their news reportings based on the principles of truth, justice, accuracy and validity.

"... if a news report is accurate, then its contents are pure and honourable," said Sultan Nazrin at the opening ceremony.

Completed in May 2007, the complex is the office for 100 state broadcasting department employees and 60 staff of the information department.

It also has an auditorium which can accommodate an audience of 500. -Mkini