2011/09/29
By Chuah Bee Kim
Socially engaged locals get together at the Citizen Journalists Malaysia's gala night
THE number of Malaysians who are embracing citizen journalism is growing, according to the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) media development consultant Ross Settles.
Settles, 52, who was in Johor Baru recently to attend the Citizen Journalists Malaysia (CJMY) gala night held in conjunction with the 2nd annual conference, described Malaysians as a "socially engaged" community.
"I do not have the statistics but CJMY is fairly new and the number of stories contributed by Malaysians as well as the number of members in the country is growing at an encouraging rate," Settles said.
"Printed media will always be there but the cost of running a newspaper is high. ICFJ wants to train citizen journalists (CJs) to bring news to the people via mobile phones and video," he added.
ICFJ is a non-profit, professional organisation that is based in Washington, United States. Since 1984, it has worked with more than 55,000 journalists from 176 countries.
ICFJ, founded by three American journalists, namely, Tom Winship, Jim Ewing and George Krimsky, offers hands-on training, workshops, seminars, fellowships and international exchanges to reporters and media managers around the globe.
In Malaysia, it is working with a non-governmental online news portal to churn out citizen journalists, all of whom are volunteers.
The role of a citizen journalist is to report on issues that will help to alleviate the problems faced by a community.
That was one of the reasons that prompted Maeram Uek Mewa, 23, and her husband Gayut Lim, 34, both farmers in Ulu Baram, Sarawak, to become citizen journalists.
"We like to highlight environmental issues as well as stories about what we know best, which is farming. We cannot write like professional writers but when we have a story to share with others, we just tell it like it is.
"Sometimes, the plight of farmers are not highlighted by the mainstream media, especially common problems encountered by the local folk.
"That is how a citizen journalist can make a difference in someone's life," said Gayut.
CJMY Johor Baru chapter event organising chairman Steven Chen said the Johor Baru chapter was launched last October and there are about 20 members.
"My first video concerned several blocks of abandoned apartment buildings in Permas Jaya, Johor Baru. The buildings were left in a dilapidated state for more than 10 years. The buyers were at a loss as to what to do.
"I decided to focus on the story and when it came out in the news portal, I actually received a call from a relevant party who agreed to help the buyers.
"The sense of empowerment I felt at that moment motivated me to continue being a volunteer journalist," Chen said.
He also related another story where he had highlighted the plight of a nurse who had to support her children and husband who became bedridden after a road accident.
"The story of the nurse touched me deeply. She had to go to work, take care of her children and also attend to her husband's medical needs.
"And the husband actually had money in the bank. It's just that he was unable to go to the bank and the bank refused to let the wife withdraw the money.
"So, I highlighted her plight and after the video came out, someone from the bank got in touch with her and that eased her financial burden," he said.
K.S. Tan, from the CJMY Kuala Lumpur chapter, said he enjoyed the travelling and the thrill of creating videos that would make an impact on people.
"I have produced over 100 videos since I joined CJMY and I cannot stop anymore. I have travelled to Jakarta, Indonesia, and to Orang Asli settlements in various parts of Malaysia to get my stories. I am not getting paid for my effort. I am pretty much driven by my passion," said Tan, a 62-year-old retiree who used to work for an international company.
Johor Baru Tionghua Federation manager Eric Ku, 40, said he became a citizen journalist because he wanted to play a bigger role in spreading an awareness of the Chinese culture to others via the Internet.
"In spite of my busy schedule, I try to produce three to four stories per month."
Also spotted at the gala night dinner, which was attended by some 150 people comprising citizen journalists from the northern, central, southern and East Malaysian regions were trainers Wanida Sanjit, 26, from Chiang Mai, Thailand; and W.L. Phyo, 30, from Myanmar; both journalists by profession.
Themed "Citizen Journalists Empowering Communities", the gala night also saw singing, dance and skit performances presented by members.
NST Online: Topnews
