Newspapers en route to doom, warns journalists' union
Published: Jan 7, 2010 2:15 PM | Updated: Jan 7, 2010 2:35 PM
Have newspapers lost their relevance in shaping public opinion on key issues affecting the nation and public?
NUJ issues a dire warning to print media owners. It says the current situation demands that they break free from the time warp or else...
Have newspapers lost their relevance in shaping public opinion on key issues affecting the nation and public?
This is the alarming question posed by the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJ) in view of declining circulation figures.
In a statement today, NUJ urged print media owners to do a reality check to address the situation in order to ensure that the industry remains relevant.
"Newspapers are facing challenges from news portals and blogs serving the public news and views which are either not published or watered down in the print media," said the union.
NUJ also urged media publishers not to excessively play up racial issues in their publications.
"Indeed, the newspaper industry is facing a credibility crisis given the tendency to compare news in the press with the alternative media.
"Others have stopped reading newspapers as they feel they no longer offer value for money, a noticeable trend, especially after the 2008 general election."
Stuck in a time warp
In view of this, NUJ said media owners must take stock of the current environment and make an honest reevaluation to check the slide which will affect the livelihood of journalists, editors, photographers and other support staff.
"While political parties from both sides of the divide have proposed refreshing changes and are taking steps to meet the demands of the electorate, alas the media industry is still stuck in a time warp.
"Media owners must realise that readers as consumers, have a choice and alternative outlet to get information."
If the current situation is left unaddressed, NUJ warned, there would come a day when newspapers’ role as providers of feedback to the government of the day is usurped.
"We fear that advertisers, too, would abandon newspapers in favour of alternative forms of media to maximise better returns.
"NUJ members would also be affected as media owners would no longer be in a position to provide fair wages and better working conditions for their employees."
This is the alarming question posed by the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJ) in view of declining circulation figures.
In a statement today, NUJ urged print media owners to do a reality check to address the situation in order to ensure that the industry remains relevant."Newspapers are facing challenges from news portals and blogs serving the public news and views which are either not published or watered down in the print media," said the union.
NUJ also urged media publishers not to excessively play up racial issues in their publications.
"Indeed, the newspaper industry is facing a credibility crisis given the tendency to compare news in the press with the alternative media.
"Others have stopped reading newspapers as they feel they no longer offer value for money, a noticeable trend, especially after the 2008 general election."
Stuck in a time warp
In view of this, NUJ said media owners must take stock of the current environment and make an honest reevaluation to check the slide which will affect the livelihood of journalists, editors, photographers and other support staff."While political parties from both sides of the divide have proposed refreshing changes and are taking steps to meet the demands of the electorate, alas the media industry is still stuck in a time warp.
"Media owners must realise that readers as consumers, have a choice and alternative outlet to get information."
If the current situation is left unaddressed, NUJ warned, there would come a day when newspapers’ role as providers of feedback to the government of the day is usurped.
"We fear that advertisers, too, would abandon newspapers in favour of alternative forms of media to maximise better returns.
"NUJ members would also be affected as media owners would no longer be in a position to provide fair wages and better working conditions for their employees."
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