YOURSAY ‘National Union of Journalists, we trust you and your pledge but not the editors of the mainstream media.'

Ahead of polls, NUJ moots 'fair reporting' pledge

Bob Teoh: To give meaning to the National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) proposed fair reporting pledge, it must negotiate with media owners to enter into their collective agreements as a working condition.

If the owner resorts to forcing a journalist carry out unfair reporting, he or she can do two things. One is to refuse to write unfairly, for which the company is not entitled to take disciplinary action, including dismissal.

Failing which, the journalists can file for breach of working conditions by the company together with compensation at the industrial court. Should this fail, then the complaint may be filed as a breach of contract in the civil court.

Blogsmith: Nice words, great ambitions. However, even if sincere, how will the journalists' reports get past the editors. Further, the Election Commission (EC) and other vital institutions are all compromised and lapdogs of Umno-BN.

Moreover, would the current Umno-BN government take the suicidal step of reverting to a caretaker government after the dissolution of the Parliament?

However, I hope they succeed and wish the NUJ my very best, but they must press on with their demands.

Swkdayaks: The proof of real ethical and fair or unbiased reporting will be shown in the media reports themselves, not on what the NUJ promises to do.

Yes, just read Utusan Malaysia and even The Star , it's so obvious that they are extremely unethical and biased in favour of the BN and against the Pakatan Rakyat opposition and civil society groups. The same goes to TV1, TV2 and TV3.

Our local journalists have no sense of being ethical and fair. If they really want to, it's so simple to do - just report what both the BN and the Pakatan and civil society groups said or commented, ie, give equal coverage.

After you interview the BN side on an issue, you should also interview the Pakatan side on the same issue. Then let your readers make their own comparation and judgement. This is done in all other countries, except Malaysia.

Up2U: NUJ, we trust you and your pledge but not the editors of the mainstream media, Utusan , The Star , etc.

Yusri: Mana ada (what) fair reporting? Why can't NUJ take action against Utusan journalists like Awang Selamat for biased reporting?

We have lost respect for all Malaysian reporters. Semua (all) one-sided only. Just look at number of unsold papers returned. People are not bothered reading Malaysian news.

Ferdtan: It's time for the journalists to salvage the respect that had been lost. No point in talking, promises and whatever - we want actions to show that you mean business.

You have lost all credibility. The next thing you can do is to collectively negotiate with the owners and the bosses of the news prints to set up agreements and guidelines on how the reporting should be done.

Don't leave it to individual journalist's pledge to uphold the news to be fair and balance. It won't work - it is all humbug, to say the least.

NUJ, especially its general secretary V Anbalagan, sounds pathetic. We don't expect any changes coming. If you want to make any radical changes, especially in such a dire situation as now, you have to take the bull by its horns.

That is no two ways about it, we know the risks involved. Are the NUJ leaders up to it?

Kelantanese: Wishful thinking. Too bad, the majority of the journalists in Malaysia are cari makan type. All have no guts to compel their editors to have fair and true reporting.

Onyourtoes: This is a pussycat measure at best. Aren't the codes of ethics of journalism supposed to ensure truthful and fair reporting and without fear and favour? So what is the point of pledging?

Firstly, ask where is the source of biased and fraudulent reporting in this country? Is it from the reporters themselves? Who owns the mainstream newspapers and radio and TV stations in the country?

We must be nincompoops to believe that there will be fair and unbiased reporting even though the reporters and the news readers have wanted to act ethically and truthfully.

In fact, I have seen a mainstream newspaper pretend to act very fairly in order to gain the confidence and the trust of the readers, but only to spit venom a few weeks before the election to cause maximum damage to the opposition.

Tholu: If by 'journalist' you mean writers for newspapers, why the ‘fair reporting' pledge? You are already doing a great job. I mean, have you ever reported on an accident that never happened? Have you not reported on cases of theft, rape and murders?

Have you ever failed to report on natural disasters like flood and landslides. It is you 'journalists' who give us accurate and unbiased reporting on incidents of fire and accidents.

And if you are concerned that you are not reporting on political issues realistically - that is writing on political developments as they really are; to give "fair, balanced and ethical coverage" - worry no more.

We have online news portals such as Malaysiakini , The Malaysian Insider and Free Malaysia Today together with conscientious and non-bigoted bloggers to take care of that.

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