PUTRAJAYA, June 16 – Media figure and “Inspirer Extraordinaire” Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman has called on the media industry to embrace more creative and engaging approaches in promoting online safety and raising public awareness about digital scams and cyber threats.
Speaking during his TED Talk titled “Media’s Role in Advancing Online Safety and Public Awareness” on the second day of the Balancing Virality and Responsibility: Journalism Amid Speed, Trust and Impact forum at The Zenith Hotel, Putrajaya, he said public awareness campaigns must evolve to keep pace with changing audience behaviour, particularly among younger generations.
“Traditional warnings and public service announcements alone are no longer enough. To be effective, awareness messages must be relevant, relatable and delivered through platforms and formats that people actively engage with,” he said.
Among the initiatives proposed were a “Scam-Free Generation” song competition, a TikTok challenge called “Spot The Scam” based on real-life scam scenarios, 60-second mobile-first video dramas and digital content competitions for university students involving reels, memes, podcasts and short-form videos.
Datuk Suhaimi also suggested community outreach programmes that provide a platform for scam victims to share their personal experiences, helping others better understand the risks and tactics used by online fraud syndicates.
He stressed that the role of the media extends beyond reporting news and information. It also carries the responsibility of educating the public, strengthening digital literacy and empowering audiences to identify misinformation, recognise online threats and make informed decisions.
“The media has a unique ability to influence public behaviour. By leveraging creativity, storytelling and digital platforms effectively, we can help build a more informed, vigilant and resilient society,” he added.
The two-day forum, held from June 15 to 16, was organised by the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) in collaboration with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), with support from the Department of Information Malaysia.
The forum brought together editors-in-chief, journalists, media practitioners, academics, regulators and industry experts to discuss the challenges facing journalism in an era shaped by the rapid spread of information, viral content, public trust and the growing impact of digital media on society.
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