Media practitioners urged to uphold ethics and accuracy as AI and citizen journalism reshape the news landscape, says Universiti Malaya lecturer.
KUALA LUMPUR: Media practitioners must place integrity and information accuracy as their core pillars in facing the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the increasingly rampant influx of content from “citizen journalists.”
Universiti Malaya Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Senior Lecturer Dr. Muhammad Zaiamri Zainal Abidin said that although speed is a priority in the digital era, journalistic ethics should not be sacrificed merely to chase “ratings.”
“The main issue currently faced by the media is not about accuracy, but rather who is faster. However, we cannot chase speed at the expense of ethics, as it can erode public trust in the information delivered by the media,” he said.
He said this as a guest on a programme produced by Bernama Radio discussing the topic “Media with Integrity, the Core of Credibility” in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration today.
Commenting on the media’s role as a bridge between the government and the people, Muhammad Zaiamri said that mainstream media must maintain credibility by championing the people’s agenda and explaining government policies transparently.
“The media must play a role in bringing forward the voice of the people, namely their grievances and the issues they face. When the media can fulfill this role by conveying the government’s voice and simultaneously bringing forward the people’s voice, it will boost public trust,” he said.
In the meantime, he urged the government to introduce more detailed guidelines regarding the use of AI to help the editorial sector leverage the technology to strengthen news reporting.
“AI is an excellent tool. For me, it would be a waste if we do not utilise it in reporting. I also see a need to provide more training schemes for journalists to enhance their skills in fields such as data journalism,” he said.
Regarding the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, Muhammad Zaiamri described it as an important step toward creating a more holistic system of checks and balances within the country’s media industry.
“It can serve as a check and balance for any form of policy introduced. Inputs and expertise from diverse parties will make our media not just transparent, but full of greater integrity,” he said.
