HAWANA A PLATFORM TO ENHANCE PUBLIC UNDERTANDING OF JOURNALISM ETHICS

KUCHING, May 17 (Bernama) -- The National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2024 is a potential platform for enhancing public understanding of the media's role, especially in disseminating accurate information.

Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) president Ronnie Teo said media practitioners must adhere to journalism ethics in carrying out their duties in the field.

For example, he said media practitioners should fact-check before writing their news reports.

"Journalism ethics are a fundamental cornerstone for media practitioners, especially in disseminating information to the public transparently, accurately, and precisely," he said in a statement issued by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) today.

Teo said this when appearing as a guest on UKAS' Juh Randau Programme last night.

Themed ‘Etika Teras Kewartawanan Mapan’, the HAWANA 2024 celebration will take place from May 25 to 27 here and will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Various programmes have been planned, including the Sarawak Media Conference 2024 and the ‘Jelajah HAWANA 2024 Bersama Siswa’ covering six zones - Sabah, Sarawak, Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central - with the launching ceremony slated to be graced by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on May 24.

The largest gathering of Malaysian journalists is organised by the Communications Ministry in collaboration with the Sarawak State Government, with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) being the implementing agency.

HAWANA was first held in the federal capital in 2018, followed by subsequent celebrations in Melaka (2022) and Perak (2023).

The date of May 29 was chosen as National Journalists’ Day in commemoration of the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.

-- BERNAMA