Expand Malaysia journalism night into National Media Day - Salleh

Media practitioners in the country have been asked to seriously consider the proposal to have a National Media Day (HMK) in appreciation of their contributions to the country.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said his ministry was prepared to assist in the realisation of the proposal but leading media figures themselves should be the initiators of the project.

"With this, only then can HMK or whatever name given to it will gain respectability," said Salleh, who is the 2017 Malaysia Journalism Night (MWN 2017) patron in his welcoming address in the event's programme booklet here Friday night.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the prizes to the winners of the 2016 Malaysian Journalism Awards (HKM) organised by the Malaysian Press Institute and Petronas.

Also present were MPI chief executive officer Datuk Dr Chamil Wariya, 2017 MWN joint chairman Datuk Mustapa Omar, who is also Harian Metro/Metro Ahad group editor, Bernama Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab as well as leading media editors in the country.

Taking the example of Hari Pres Nasional (HPN), which is celebrated every year to appreciate media practitioners in Indonesia, Salleh said other programmes aimed at raising the professionalism of the journalists community should be held to boost the occasion.

"...serious discussions on the professionalism of journalism and current issues confronting the media cand be held. This includes issues like fake news, competition of social media challenging conventional media as well as economic and financial issues such as the falling sales of newspapers and the diversion of advertisements to cyberspace.

"I hope my proposal will get the serious consideration of the media industry in the country for its future," he said.

On MWM 2017, Salleh congratulated MPI for organising the event which entered its 36th edition with its main sponsor, Petronas.

"To all winning journalists tonight, I congratulate you for your diligence to produce these outstanding pieces of journalism to further advance the field of journalism in Malaysia," he said.

Meanwhile, Chamil in his foreword described MWM 2017 as a symbol of the close cooperation between the government, corporate bodies and the media.

"For sure the success is not entirely the success of MPI, it is the symbol of success between the news industry in the country represented by MPI with the government and corporate bodies with their generous contributions to hold the largest gathering of the journalism community in Malaysia each year," he said.

A total of 37 journalists from conventional and new media put up high quality works of journalism last year which would be recognised in tonight''s event.

MWM 2017 saw 291 entries received in 20 categories for HKM 2016.

The winners of each category will receive a cash prize of RM10,000, certificate and trophy while the most outstanding article will receive the Kajai award with a cash prize of RM30,000, certificate and trophy and other prizes.

For the first time in MWM 2017, the Media Personality award would be bestowed on a deserving individual.

-- BERNAMA