Seminar discusses way forward for newspaper industry
KUCHING: A seminar cum workshop was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching yesterday to discuss topics related to how the newspaper industry and journalism in general can move forward in Sarawak.
Among the topics discussed and addressed by panellists during the event are: What are the successes and failures of the industry in the last three decades and, Are the online news portal killing the newspapers.
The rationale for having news in print and online by some companies was also discussed during the event while the term ‘armchair reporting’ was also examined.
“During this seminar, we want to find out whether having news in print would be a moneydraining venture or not when everyone in the business is fighting over a small pool of advertisers.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on movement have given a new meaning to armchair reporting too as it is suddenly no shame to be called an armchair reporter (following the pandemic).
“Hence, what form the news that we read from those armchair reports, what does that say about the quality of the reporters we have now,” said the event’s organisers during the event.
The seminar cum workshop, hosted by Persatuan Wartawan dan Pengamal Media Kuching (Pewarta), was attended by some 40 participants from the media fraternity in Kuching.
The seminar themed ‘Meeting of the Minds: How we can move forward the newspaper industry and journalism in Sarawak’ was also facilitated by a media practitioner of 40 years, Desmond Davidson of Malaysian Insight.
Joining him were five veteran journalists, academics, authors, communication practitioners and researchers, including Toman Mamora, James Ritchie and William Chan.