We can get news about our country from lots of sources such as Utusan, Berita Harian, Malaysiakini, Suara Keadilan, Harakah etc.
Why do we read the news? Of course to get information and know the truth. But what if the news that we read doesn't tell us the truth?
Utusan claimed that they are the national newspaper. Materials that they produce are based on national spirit and it's for everybody. But, this is not really true because in reality they are pro to the government. The obvious one is how they report the Bersih rally. Before the rally takes place, I don't really bother to know what is Bersih and what they fight for. I thought it was just a small gathering organised by the oppositions.
After the event, I read in Utusan online that Bersih rally had caused traffic congestion in KL. They put a picture showing several police traffic standing in the middle of the road directing vehicles. That's it. Yeah, that was what I expected. That event was small and not really a problem.
On the next day, my friend YMed me and gave me several news links reporting that rally. OMG, I was shocked. The news (with pictures and videos) from these sources were totally different compared with the one reported by Utusan. The rally was huge and the situation was really intense. It made realised that Utusan didn't convey the true picture of the situation. They did not lie but the don't report the wholly true.
It shows how big is the government influence towards Utusan. An independent newspaper won't hide truth like that. They have to realised that they can't lie everyone. Just imagine if you were there, watched the event with your own eyes and see how chaotic was the event but on the next day, the news said like nothing has happened. I'm sure you will definitely loose your trust with that kind of news provider.
Ok, enough with Utusan. Let's see Harakah and Suara Keadilan.
These are the news sources which you cannot really relied on. You can read it but you shouldn't really trust everything reported by these sources. Why? Simply because they are clearly biased sources. Harakah is owned by PAS and Suara Keadilan by PKR. So, their reporters are definitely not independent and pro to their party. In the case of Utusan, they do not declare that they are pro to the government. So in some way there are still rooms for independent materials published by them.
I still remember one lecturer from UM said the information are no longer singular. Now, they are plural. Means that there are two ways of interaction between the readers and the news providers. It is not just about what the news provider feed the readers but also about what the readers want to know or read.
Utusan claimed that they are national newspaper and for everyone. Therefore, they should provide information that everyone want. There is nothing wrong if they reserve some spaces in their newspaper to write stories or updates about the oppositions because that is what the readers want. And they should write it independently. But since they choose to be pro government, some readers have no other alternative but to shift to other sources such as Harakah and Suara Keadilan which is clearly biased towards their own party.
So, which one is better; readers read independent news about opposition parties in Utusan or they read biased news about opposition parties in Harakah?
I can't really comment on Malaysiakini because I am not sure who own it. But so far, the news they published are fine.
I think if Utusan become slightly independent and provide information that covers everyone needs, alternative sources such as Harakah and Suara Keadilan won't even exist. If it exist, people won't really bother about them because they already get all the information from the national newspapers.
Why do we read the news? Of course to get information and know the truth. But what if the news that we read doesn't tell us the truth?
Utusan claimed that they are the national newspaper. Materials that they produce are based on national spirit and it's for everybody. But, this is not really true because in reality they are pro to the government. The obvious one is how they report the Bersih rally. Before the rally takes place, I don't really bother to know what is Bersih and what they fight for. I thought it was just a small gathering organised by the oppositions.
After the event, I read in Utusan online that Bersih rally had caused traffic congestion in KL. They put a picture showing several police traffic standing in the middle of the road directing vehicles. That's it. Yeah, that was what I expected. That event was small and not really a problem.
On the next day, my friend YMed me and gave me several news links reporting that rally. OMG, I was shocked. The news (with pictures and videos) from these sources were totally different compared with the one reported by Utusan. The rally was huge and the situation was really intense. It made realised that Utusan didn't convey the true picture of the situation. They did not lie but the don't report the wholly true.
It shows how big is the government influence towards Utusan. An independent newspaper won't hide truth like that. They have to realised that they can't lie everyone. Just imagine if you were there, watched the event with your own eyes and see how chaotic was the event but on the next day, the news said like nothing has happened. I'm sure you will definitely loose your trust with that kind of news provider.
Ok, enough with Utusan. Let's see Harakah and Suara Keadilan.
These are the news sources which you cannot really relied on. You can read it but you shouldn't really trust everything reported by these sources. Why? Simply because they are clearly biased sources. Harakah is owned by PAS and Suara Keadilan by PKR. So, their reporters are definitely not independent and pro to their party. In the case of Utusan, they do not declare that they are pro to the government. So in some way there are still rooms for independent materials published by them.
I still remember one lecturer from UM said the information are no longer singular. Now, they are plural. Means that there are two ways of interaction between the readers and the news providers. It is not just about what the news provider feed the readers but also about what the readers want to know or read.
Utusan claimed that they are national newspaper and for everyone. Therefore, they should provide information that everyone want. There is nothing wrong if they reserve some spaces in their newspaper to write stories or updates about the oppositions because that is what the readers want. And they should write it independently. But since they choose to be pro government, some readers have no other alternative but to shift to other sources such as Harakah and Suara Keadilan which is clearly biased towards their own party.
So, which one is better; readers read independent news about opposition parties in Utusan or they read biased news about opposition parties in Harakah?
I can't really comment on Malaysiakini because I am not sure who own it. But so far, the news they published are fine.
I think if Utusan become slightly independent and provide information that covers everyone needs, alternative sources such as Harakah and Suara Keadilan won't even exist. If it exist, people won't really bother about them because they already get all the information from the national newspapers.
2 comments:
That's why more & more people read and write more & more blogs. Now, most information are reduced to opinions.
While imo it's impractical (given the current situation) to anticipate for the govt to let free the mainstream media so that they can work on their own, the power of the internet is also limited to those who have access to it. This will create imbalance and those who are wise & quick to steer its direction will succeed.
Whatever the case, the fundamental principle is, once persuaded, most people listen to things they want to listen, not to the truth.
yeah, i agree. once persuaded, most people listen to things they want to listen, not the truth. that's why we need to be careful of what we suppose to trust.
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