SINTOK, 10 June 2025: The forum, “Cyber, Voice and Borders: Unravelling the Dynamics of Media Freedom in the Digital Era” served as a vital platform for fostering meaningful discussions on the evolving landscape and challenges confronting the media industry in today’s digital age.
Dato’ Yong Soo Heong, President of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), said that the forum was not merely a platform for discussion but also an opportunity to reassess the trajectory of journalism amid the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital environment.
According to him, the growing shift towards brief, sensational and viral content has undermined the value of in-depth journalism, which demands careful analysis and a deep understanding of complex issues.
“Journalists today must be swift, agile, efficient and credible in adapting to media transformation driven by automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms,” he said at Seminar Hall A, Convention Complex, Universiti Utara Malaysia.
He further emphasised that AI is currently reshaping how information is created and consumed, with capabilities ranging from generating automated articles and producing deceptive images (deepfakes) to crafting narratives that are increasingly difficult to distinguished from reality.
“We must not surrender to technology, but rather embrace it as a valuable tool. To sustain public trust, it is essential that we uphold human values and journalistic principles,” he said.
The forum featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including the President of the Malaysian Multimedia Journalism Association, Mdm. Nik Suryani Megat Deraman; Chief Executive Officer of MPI, Mr. Ainol Amriz Ismail, and Senior Lecturer of School of Law (SoL), Dr Hafidz Hakimi Haron. The discussion was skilfully moderated by Ms. Nur Nazirah Hisham who is a student at the SoL.
Meanwhile, UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Foad Sakdan expressed that the forum exemplified the commitment of the university, particularly within SoL, to enhancing professional networks and promoting greater awareness of media freedom alongside the legal challenges it faces.
He also emphasized the critical need to educate students who will become legal and media practitioners about their ethical responsibilities in today’s digital environment.
His remarks were delivered on his behalf by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed.
The ceremony also witnessed the exchange of Letter of Intent (LoI) documents between UUM and MPI as well as the launch of the UUM Safe Internet Campaign (K-DAT) featuring the K-DAT icon, Mr. Muqriz Adam Mahadzir.
