#MSMW2015: Mainstream media should continue its role as source of credible information

Mainstream media - print and electronic - around the world should continue to champion its role to provide information that is trustworthy and trustworthy especially with the rise of citizen journalism.

Speaking at a panel session during Malaysia Social Media Week 2015, chief editor of India’s Times Group Digital Rajesh Kalra said the landscape of the newsroom has changed with social media.

With the information gathered on social media, he said it is important for media personnel to check their facts.

“We rely more on tweets. Our correspondents on location share information on WhatsApp. We get information faster from the public using social media.

“At the Times Group Digital, we have a team that does nothing but monitor what’s happening on social media. However, the big challenge is that we need to make sure the facts are correct.

He said that with techonology - especially smartphones - citizens can now be journalists.

However, he urged editors and journalists to vet any information before publishing it.

“There are a lot of fiction out there. Mainstream media should check its accuracy before sharing it. Mainstream media should be the credible source of information,” he said during his talk.

During the Q&A session, Rajesh said while his organisation encourages citizen journalists, these individuals must be verified and their information goes through a fact-checking process.

Meanwhile, Rajesh said that the newsroom is becoming more dynamic as news organisations are able to produce content based on what the readers want.

“With social media, we are able to know our readers and the information they consume.

“On our website, we have the top headlines as well as the top stories that are being consumed by our readers,” he added.

The two-day Malaysia Social Media Week 2015 Summit is taking place at Berjaya Times Square Hotel.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is scheduled to make a speech later today.