PUTRAJAYA, June 14 – The Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), with the support of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Department of Information Malaysia, will organise a two-day industry dialogue themed “Balancing Virality and Responsibility: Journalism Amid Speed, Trust and Impact” at The Zenith Hotel, Putrajaya, on June 15 and 16.
The dialogue will bring together media leaders, editors, journalists, communication practitioners and industry stakeholders to examine the challenges of maintaining accuracy, credibility and public trust in an increasingly fast-paced digital media environment.
Among the speakers are Derek John Fernandez, MCMC Commission Member, who will discuss trends, public reactions and the implications of online safety; Fareez Azman, TV3 journalist and spokesperson for the Crime Journalists Association, who will share perspectives on reporting viral content in the digital age; and Supt. Ta Kah Loon, Head of the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit, CID Bukit Aman, who will address issues relating to harmful online content, crime, public safety and information verification.
The second day will feature Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, former Director-General of Broadcasting Malaysia (RTM), who will speak on the media’s role in advancing online safety and strengthening public awareness in the digital era.
A plenary session titled “The Editor’s Dilemma: Balancing Speed, Accuracy and Harm Prevention” will feature Dr. Christina Chin, Deputy Executive Editor of The Star; Zaiful Ariffin, Director and Editor-in-Chief of Astro Awani; and Thiaga Rajan Muthusamy, Editor-in-Chief of Vanakkam Malaysia. The session will examine newsroom challenges in managing viral content, handling unverified information, safeguarding editorial independence and responding to increasing commercial and platform pressures.
The discussions will be moderated by Haji Nazri Kahar, Assistant Vice President (AVP), Editor of News and Current Affairs, Astro Awani, while the plenary session will be moderated by television personality Ally Iskandar Mohd Mardzi.
The programme will conclude with the presentation of the Industry Resolution by MPI President Datuk Yong Soo Heong, followed by closing remarks by Prof. Dr. Mohamad Salmi Mohd Sohod, MCMC Commission Member.
The dialogue is expected to serve as an important platform for fostering responsible journalism, strengthening professional media practices and enhancing public trust amid the growing influence of viral content, digital platforms and rapidly evolving audience expectations. #mpicommit
