Imagine us sitting by Dewan Biduanda, watching the UiTM Rembau students prepare for the Mini Journalism Forum 2025 on 9 December 2025. In that setting, one question often arises: what exactly is the role of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) in being here? Why does MPI come down to the ground and engage with students in a forum like this, when we usually hear about MPI as a training institution for professional journalists?
The truth is this: this is MPI’s mission, to bring the real world of journalism to students before they enter the industry. MPI is not here to teach theory nor to show who is the most powerful in the media. MPI is here to share reality. The world of journalism today is not what we see in novels or television dramas. It is fast, intense, pressure-filled and demands journalists with the mental stamina to think clearly even in chaotic situations. Students rarely get an accurate picture of this in the classroom, and this is where MPI plays its role.
Through this forum, MPI wants students to experience for themselves how journalists actually work. How they select facts, verify information, ask critical questions, manage uncomfortable situations, deal with uncooperative sources and shoulder responsibility to the public every time they press the publish button.
These are not things that can be taught through lecture notes. They must be conveyed by people who have truly been on the ground, who have made difficult decisions and who have faced situations that test their integrity.
This is what sets this forum apart. Students are not merely listening to academics. They are hearing the voice of the industry. They are hearing real experiences, not theories on paper. Students get to observe how journalists think through an issue while managing pressure and seeing the media as a social responsibility, not just a job.
MPI also wants students to understand that the media world is far bigger than what they see on the surface. There is politics within media organisations. There are challenges in pursuing truth. There is a constant need to uphold ethics under time pressure. There is a need to understand society before reporting on it. All these require wisdom, not just technical skills. MPI is here to plant the understanding that journalism demands a mature mind and a composed heart.
At the same time, MPI’s presence sends an important signal to the industry. Their visit to campus is not merely an official programme. It is an investment in the future. The media industry is currently facing a shortage of young talent who truly understand what it means to be a journalist. Many can write, but are afraid to ask questions. Some are creative, but fear making mistakes. Some love media, but do not yet grasp the weight of its responsibility. MPI comes to Rembau, Negeri Sembilan because they want students to see the real world before it is too late, so that when they enter the industry, they are not shocked, lost or disheartened.
This forum provides the industry with an opportunity to build closer relationships with the next generation of journalists. It opens the door for students to ask questions, listen to advice, learn from field experiences and understand how the media works from the inside. In this way, students are not only learning. They are building confidence to enter a news environment that is fast, demanding and constantly evolving.
If we view this forum honestly, MPI is doing something profoundly significant. They are not just here to share; they are here to create awareness – awakening students to the realities of the job, reminding the industry that young talent must be guided and showing society that good journalists must be trained early with the right understanding.
This forum may appear modest, but its impact is substantial. It opens students’ eyes to the fact that journalism is not merely a career, but a role within society. It is through gatherings like these that a more confident, mature and grounded generation of journalists begins to take shape.
This forum is the final session for 2025 after a series of campus engagements throughout the year. In 2026, MPI will continue this agenda and will explore the concept of recognising student work through the proposed Institute of Higher Education Media Excellence Award (Anugerah Kecemerlangan Media IPT). MPI is currently seeking strategic sponsors from ministries and private organisations. We look forward to announcing it soon, with the aim of establishing it as a prestigious award for public and private higher learning institutions across the country.
