The Post: Introducing Our Editorial

Apa Khabar is too young and, admittedly fragile, to be aspiring to serve as a healing station to national strains.

That, we collate pains  and troubles slowing down the nation’s progress; put together plain views and solutions; and, spring remedies onto the nation.

Mana Boleh?

In any case, is that what post-modern journalism should be striving for?

Apa Khabar, plainly, intends to  ask the big questions on the limitations, and the reach of journalism now that we have landed on a new site.

In its previous existence, journalism appeared to be carrying the national load on its shoulders.

Of course, we published Letters, Opinion pieces. Yes, we carried quotes, faithfully so.

As the scrutiny on journalism intensified, we missed, to cite one situation, the opportunity of marketing the profession. It is a career of choice!

We wondered if Malaysians were reading the stuff we were writing.  The verbatim reporting was becoming a little dire as more Malaysians warmed up to the sort of journalism they encountered abroad. Yes, journalists of the NST published six issues of New Straight Talk with a circulation of 160.

So sluggish was the introspection that by the time “online” arrived, the most strategic reaction was to write faster. The deeper analysis that was scripted somewhere in the plan, didn’t quite materialise.

Then, the Bloggers descended. Refreshing. They had a following. Many were non journalists. Is blogging journalism? It does belong to the realm.

Now, this instance, the bloggers have joined the national media and battalions of others, to paddle away in the Digital Ocean. Impact and considered influence not in sight.

Really, nobody launched a national rebellion against Malaysian journalism. Rather, we bolted.

News is thriving. Make no mistake. Trouble is, the discourse is all over. There is a lack of clarity in the national conversation.

Time to ponder the near future. The Edge registered record advertising revenue in 2022 since it  was launched in 1994. The Edge is lodged in and thrives in the old, trusted Print.

A Murad Merican, a learned soul,  who studied and taught journalism at UiTM has suggested the Sebaran Am Faculty to be renamed.  Samad Ismail Mass Communication and Media Studies Faculty, he said. Samad Ismail embraced journalism at age 16 in Singapore, groomed a big number of journalists. A freedom fighter. Thinker.  Bravo Prof Murad.

Johan Jaaffar, too, had an early, promising start as a writer. Fit at 69, Johan launched Apa Khabar on Dec 30, leaping onto a chair to deliver his speech. “The nation should introduce a Freedom of the Press Fund, to aid in the growth of  an independent media.”

Johan is spot on. Even Apa Khabar that convened the launching at a Mamak shop must first succeed as a business entity if the platform is thinking of going international and moderate segments of the national discourse.

Still, the Freedom of the Press Fund shall serve as a launcher.

It might prove the cheapest, fastest and smartest means of racing up the Freedom of the Press Index. We are at 113. Sad, this. Let’s push for a top 50 ranking. The international community shall view us with greater respect. Our economic standing shall rise in tandem? There is a plausible link. 

Finally, the notion that the media ought to be “friendly” to the Government-of-the-day will be detrimental to any Government. It is unkind to suggest Governments need a leg up.