BOOK GIVES NEW TAKE ON JOURNALISM
USM professor says it’s inspired by 30 years of research
ABOOK that tells the story of the Malaysian news reporting culture is available in bookstores. Titled In Other Words: Ideas on Journalism, Social Sciences and Society, it interprets social sciences and journalism in the country.
The author, Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican, said this at the launch of the book here on Saturday.
Published by the Malaysia Institute of Translation and Books, the book was based on his articles published by the New Straits Times’ education supplement, Learning Curve (now Higher Ed) between 2012 and 2015, which discussed the relationship between social sciences and journalism.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia professor said the book was inspired by his 30 years of research on social science and journalism.
It is a continuation of his 2001, The Journalist as a Storyteller: Essays on the Scribe and His Times.
“The book is on the history of journalism and is written to educate the public on the ethos of journalism from the 1970s to the present day.
“I hope the book will continue the public discourse on journalism. It is a fresh interpretation and narrative on reporting,” Murad said.
Murad spoke on the difference of journalistic writing and academic writing.
“It is important to remember that journalism has multiple facets, such as opinion writing, a form of writing and commentary. It is factual fiction.
“The book is recommended to journalism lecturers and students, as well as those who want to understand more about the topic on sociological and cultural contexts,” he added.
Murad has published 11 books, such as Batu Uban: Sejarah Awal Pulau Pinang, Media History: Worldviews and Communication Futures, and Blinded by the Lights: Journalism and Communication Study in Malaysia since 1971.
At the launch, he reminisced about his days as an Institute Teknologi Mara (ITM) student where he obtained his Diploma in Mass Communication.
The event was held in conjunction with the reunion of the ITM Mass Communication 1978-1981 alumni celebrating the 40th anniversary of the course.
The guests celebrated former Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Melaka rector Associate Professor Adnan Hashim, who was appointed as a professor at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at UiTM in March.
Adnan said: “This event is not only for the launch of the book but is also for us to get together after all these years.
“About 80 per cent of us came, which is a great turnout.
“I’m proud to see that the class of 1978-1981 has achieved success in their fields, such as Murad and other friends in the media industry.”