‘Social media users have vital role to play’
KUALA LUMPUR: News via digital and social media has become more influential compared with information published on the traditional media platform.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said many media agencies and practitioners did not realise the importance of digital media.
In his blog post at www.najibrazak.com yesterday, he said the digital media was the most effective way of expanding influence in an era of rapidly-expanding technology.
This followed his meeting with photographers and social media users at the Cartel Coffee Shop in Bangi on Wednesday evening.
Among those he met were Nasrul Faiz (@Faizdickie), Kamarulzaman Ali (@z.own), Hishammudin Hashim (@tkdnxv), Shafiq Saleh (@shafiqanaksaleh), Adly Aizad (@adlyaizad), and Taufiq Nadri (@taufiqnadzri).
In the meeting, the prime minister said photographers and social media users had voiced out the challenges they faced, particularly the mentality and acceptance of social media practitioners by the news industry.
“There is still a stigma that they are less than the mainstream media or a second-grade version of the media.
“I stressed to them that this is not true. Instead, for me, they are more influential compared with the mainstream media.
“If we combine them, their influence or reach extend to nearly 900,000!” he said.