Conventional media face stiff competition from online media, says DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: Conventional media in Malaysia is facing stiff competition with its online counterpart as the latter has managed to garner the attention of the general populace.
Stressing the importance of credible news reporting to the nation's media channels, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pix) said that people today have a greater tendency to believe in contradicting opinions, even if it was not factually correct.
"Contradicting opinions are becoming more acceptable as it is viewed as more credible as opposed to the actual facts," he said.
"Even a journalist without any legitimate medium... are often regarded as having more credibility that the actual (conventional) media.
"This is due to the culture of hatred that has been inculcated for so long," he said in his speech during the Malaysian Press Night 2016 at The Majestic Hotel, here.
Also present in the event was Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister said due to the hatred that has been sown, information that was not based on facts has been regarded as credible by the public.
"All (information) that has been displayed are being regarded as the gospel truth, although it does not necessarily reflect it," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also pointed out that online news publications are free to present their views based on their own interpretation and imagination as they are not bound by traditional journalism ethics and practices.
As such, he said the country's conventional media have since taken the necessary steps forward to compete in the ever evolving media world.
Ahmad Zahid pointed out two challenges that has to be faced by those in the media industry, which were digitalisation of news content and news credibility.
"Let us together face the challenges by taking the intellectual approach through discussion," he said.
"In this situation, we have to be rational to face the reality in front of us," he added.