History, journalism and politics in Malaysia

Abstract

Journalists are trained to pursue truth in all its varied dimensions, report developments in society, and alert their audiences to issues and events considered important to the general public and the nation. Furthermore, journalists supposedly help shape public mood which, in turn, provides the necessary cues for social observers and historian, among others, to pick up because journalism generally serves as an important source of reference to many people. However, factors such as political intervention and aggressive commercial pursuit can give rise to unethical or gutter journalism that generally distorts the historical account of the Malaysian nation. The advent of the Internet offers prospects and challenges to freer and responsible journalism.