The emergence of the Internet has greatly changed the landscape of the world of communication and broadcasting from conventional to digital. These changes require Malaysians to adapt and prepare ourselves with various skills to meet the wishes and needs of the people.
“The digital era has clearly given a new dimension to the world of broadcasting and the field of communication. Today, we need to change completely according to current trends if we want to remain relevant in the industry. We face fierce competition from social media that moves freely and quickly on cyber platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok,” Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil said while officiating the Global Conference Of Communication, Culture & Contemporary Media 2023 (Glocom 2023) in Bangi today (July 13).
Fahmi explained that connectivity allows people to carry out various tasks at one time (multitasking) to produce or publish something including searching for material, writing news, taking photos, editing videos and uploading them online for viewers to see and “Most recently, the appearance of the threads application which has just been launched and has become a phenomenon over the past few days. The Threads by Meta app was downloaded by 30 million users within 12 hours of its launch.”
People now have more options to get information. Social media is seen as dominant because information from the media is seen as more “free”; therefore, media practitioners now need to constantly explore new skills in handling digital applications that are required in the production of multimedia news. Even so, media practitioners are still subject to journalistic ethics in their news writing.
“This is your main challenge compared to netizens.”
Society’s tendency towards social media has also brought major changes to the media and broadcasting industry in Malaysia. Now, with the availability of the Internet and smart phones, information can be accessed at any time by downloading applications from various platforms (multiplatform). This advantage is a big attraction especially for the younger generation.
Internet technology and social media have produced various short-term and long-term effects. It has changed the function and role of the media, enabling each individual to contribute to media content, disseminate information, respond to news through virtual networks, and interact directly in the production of news.
The development of this technology should be seen from various angles. Whether as media practitioners or academics in the field of communication and broadcasting, this is one of the dimensions and evolution that should be explored together to be utilised so that we continue to remain relevant in the future, he said.
Glocom 2023 saw some 60 presentations of papers and studies related to communication being presented during the three-day conference, which will also be held in a hybrid format to enable participants to follow it virtually. Among those presented were by Professor Dato’ Sri Syed Arabi bin Syed Abdullah Idid from the International Islamic University of Malaysia (UIA), Professor Stuart Allan from Cardiff University, UK and by the Director General of Broadcasting Suhaimi Sulaiman.
“The Unity Government always supports various knowledge programs like this in an effort to explore more opportunities, especially in realising Malaysia MADANI’s desire for community progress and national development, Fahmi added
