Yesterday, the CIJ issued a statement, urging political parties not to restrict media from covering public functions.
Continue reading the Bernama report:
"Its executive director V. Gayathry said the association disagreed with the decision by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat to bar an Utusan Malaysia reporter from covering its press conference.
“CIJ believes that media professionals, regardless of the owners’ political affiliations, should be allowed to cover all public functions organised by the state,” she said in a statement here.
On Wednesday, Utusan Malaysia reporter Abdul Yazid Alias claimed that he was asked to leave a press conference organised by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Elected Representa-tives Officers Association (Selproa) secretary Ng Yap Hwa.
Gayathry said CIJ would also like to stress that while media should be allowed full access to cover public events and issues of public interest, they (media) should, on their part, give fair coverage.
“The continued hostility between Pakatan Rakyat and certain Barisan Nasional-linked or controlled newspapers about alleged unfair and inaccurate representations have resulted in the media being denied access from Pakatan Rakyat events.
“As the primary constituent of the two are public, the hostility affects the public’s right to know,” she said.
Gayathry said CIJ reiterated that any restrictions on media organisations to cover public events was unacceptable.
“On the other hand, public interests can only be served if the media is allowed to do its job in accordance to the principles of fairness and objectivity.
“CIJ aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people will enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek and impart information,” added Gayathry. "
I wonder why Rocky did not give this update to his original blog?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, because Gayathry stressed also " while media should be allowed full access to cover public events and issues of public interest, they (media) should, on their part, give fair coverage".
But 'fair coverage' is a very alien term to the MSMs?
Because they are 'conditioned' to accepting 'instructions' from the BN aligned bosses who tell them how to say and what to say?
No surprise if Rocky stays mum on this aspect/request by Gayathry.
PARAMESWARA
Where was CIJ when Malaysiakini and Malaysia-Today were accorded very much the same hospitality?
ReplyDeleteIf Utusan Malaysia can be considered media and its employees journalists, editors etc, then Joseph Goebbels would be proud that his legacy lives on.
ReplyDeleteUTUSAN Malaysia is not serving public interest. Bosan lah apa ngook sangat!!!
ReplyDeleteProfessionalism UTUSAN style..poeraaaah may be Namawee can do better!!!!
Nak sue mereka buat cerita tipu pun susah..... faham je la kak ooiii!!!!
No press in the world is free. Even CNN is pro Israel. Free press? Total crap.
ReplyDeleteAssuming that the Centre for Independent Journalism, as its name implies, represents the journalists, why do they appear to be representing PKR and the public as well?
ReplyDeleteThey appear so when Gayathry said "CIJ would also like to stress that while media should be allowed full access to cover public events and issues of public interest, they (media) should, on their part, give fair coverage".
Was it their business or was it within the ambit of the declared aims of their constitution or association to say, “The continued hostility between Pakatan Rakyat and certain Barisan Nasional-linked or controlled newspapers about alleged unfair and inaccurate representations have resulted in the media being denied access from Pakatan Rakyat events"? Surely CIJ membership comprises journalists from both sides of the political spectrum?
What kind of organisation and leadership is the CIJ?
“CIJ aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all people will enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek and impart information,” added Gayathry.
ReplyDeletePersonally I like this part best, and I'm betting it is the reason why the MSM aren't playing up the CIJ reply.
After all, this act pales in comparison to BN's act of not only barring media from covering press conferences, but barring non-government-aligned media from even existing.
Which is the greater of two evils?
Why is it that the MSM does not campaign for a free media and a repeal of the near-fascist Printing, Press and Publications Act?
Truly pathetic.
-Vish.
agree with anon 8:12
ReplyDeletethough I am not a staunch supporter for any political party, if we were to talk about fair judgement, I believe Zainudin Maidin shall be punished first due to his act to Malaysiakini.
Hello Pakatan Rakyat,
ReplyDeleteWhy the need to chase reporters away, so immature lah.
You people let them in lah, then if they write twisty-twisty articles, you people do what you people are so good at lah;
SUE OTHER PEOPLE'S ASSES.
Fifty million, a hundred million also can lah.
No blardy wonder lawyers love you people so much lorr.
Apa ni Pakatan Rakyat wei? All the big talk about 'freedom of expression', freedom this lah, freedom that lah, but when journalist don't write WHAT YOU WANT TO READ, you give them a swift kick on their arse.
Truly pathetic.
'I do not read Utusan, so it does not bother me one bit', say the others.
ReplyDeleteBut, why are the freedom fighters themselves suppressing press freedom?
Very mind boggling what power can do huh?
A GOOD MAN DOES NOTHING.
sis nuraina dear
ReplyDeletetak dapat baca latest entry i.e btn.
problem kah? atau saya sendiri...?
cheers!
m.z.ahlam m.j(al-jamalullail)@tder
mz ahlam,
ReplyDeletesorry-lah. i posted about BTN tapi i feel i was being very unfair sebab i sendiri had never attended any of its courses.
tapi, i dengar people say it is all about sayangkan negara etc, not, indoctrination.
anyway, i rasa lah, kalau BTN ni, designed to indoctrinate people, then, tak effective dan backlash...sebab orang2 ramai tak vote BN.
Those BTN facilitators sure did a bad job of brainwashing.
also,
ReplyDeletethe question now is whether BTN is at all relevant in this country in this day and age.
improved, revamped, whatever.
do we need it?
this is a new century!
the way i see it...the continued existence of BTN will be the BN's burden...
very difficult for the BN to defend.
Freedom as a word is just like God as a word. Although there is consensus to the importance these two words bring to the whole human existence, there is widespread disagreement to what these two words actually mean, represent and how they affect all of us.
ReplyDeleteWhile pure in form, the interpretation of these words are never static, adding to the confusion of the human incapacity to arrive at a simple conclusion.
Politics, on the other hand, is very easy to comprehend as a word. How can you know this? Open your eyes and listen well. Don't you see and hear that politics destroy the purity of the two words above?
I almost thought internet here was in a massive chaos. You know, sooner or later, snow would kiss this land here and many 'strange' things could happen..possible; server breakdown ...etc. Anyway, thanks for letting me know.
ReplyDeleteI attended BTN. I hate BTN. Nevertheless I love three of BTN activities (only three
activities).The rest…Adoi! Menyampahnya!
So, this is me - I hate BTN but not every inch of it due to I love three of BTN activities.
Obviously, 3 is less than ‘greater than 3’ which makes me hate BTN. And I agree with your points.
So BN, don’t try to do the best, but, must and BTN is not the best. It sucks! Fragile situation now, very fragile, Ladies and Gentlemen.
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BTW,
malas nk guna my usual tder. Later, perhaps. But I am not 'Ah lam' as in one of written comments in Rocky's. Boleh semak IP address. Terlalu 'takut' dengan komen2 di blog bro Rocky. Terlalu 'takut', but, love his blog.
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m.z. ahlam bt m.j(al-Jamalullail)@tder
Things are sure getting weirder. Better clean up your act gentlemen. Jangan dah nak sampai 2012 or something like that still nak buat programme itu ini dengan arah tak tau nak ke mana. Dubai yang satu ketika dulu stabil dah jadi leaning tower of pizza hut with owner dept 60 bil. Negara barat still going strong. Sedar bro.
ReplyDelete