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Comms Ministry, MCMC working to help media practitioners facing economic woes: Fahmi | Scoop
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil delivers a speech at the ministry's monthly assembly today. – Screengrab, October 10, 2024
News

Comms Ministry, MCMC working to help media practitioners facing economic woes: Fahmi

Minister highlights shift in ad expenditure trend, says Tabung Kasih@Hawana to be expanded to assist journos after calls for companies to settle salary arrears

Scoop Reporters
Updated
1:34 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – The Communications Ministry, with the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Finance Ministry, will discuss expanding the functions of Tabung Kasih@Hawana to assist media practitioners dealing with economic woes, said Fahmi Fadzil.

This is among the efforts being undertaken to help protect the media fraternity in the country, said the minister during the ministry’s monthly assembly today.

Fahmi said that the advertisement expenditure for traditional media platforms has decreased from RM4.5 billion to RM2 billion as companies shift to social media instead of spending on advertising via mass media. 

“As a result, media companies – whether they are small, big or giant – which we thought would be future-proof, have all been impacted.”

Referring to the recent calls by the National Union of Journalists and non-profit organisation Geramm for media companies to settle salary, EPF, and Socso arrears for their staff members, Fahmi reiterated that the ministry is working to help the industry navigate change.

“Newspapers used to be printed up to hundreds of thousands of copies, now we don’t even have anyone delivering them anymore. The network is no longer there,” he said.

The minister also mentioned that yesterday, he received a call from Human Resources Minister Steven Sim who expressed concerns regarding reporters and other media practitioners not receiving their salary, EPF and Socso.

“Today, on this platform, I would like to remind the organisations that the ministry and the government are doing our best to help media outlets navigate change. 

“Recently, in June or July, Google launched a digitalisation programme to help more than 30 media outlets understand how they can build a new revenue stream through digital formats.”

However, Fahmi also cautioned the MCMC and the Communications Ministry to be careful of the current situation as it could lead to many in the industry losing their job. 

“Our commitment to media freedom also means we are committed to scrutinising the economic aspects for media organisations,” he added.

“Myself, the deputy minister, and MCMC will look into how (we can expand) Tabung Kasih@Hawana to assist media practitioners who may face economic challenges.”

Fahmi also told Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa to be in contact with the Finance Ministry to ensure matters relating to the funds are immediately addressed and said he will look into matters like the Transformation Grant with MCMC to ensure economic aspects of the media are dealt with.

“In summary, we cannot have a situation where reporters are impacted until they lose their jobs. However, we know business models for media outlets must change. 

“We can’t stop change from happening as social media comes in, but we also do not want cannibalisation to happen where new income streams impact journalistic ethics. 

“We want our media industry to be healthy.” – October 10, 2024

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