creamy less media

IT’S a wonder why people subscribe or even take notice of the local media in the first place.
Limits have been tested day in day out with regards to substance and form in which the local print and broadcast media serve and yet there is nothing nice to start off with.
No one is dishing the capability of the locals involved in the scene. Nevertheless, the parties spearheading the industry should be ‘kicked in the ass’ for the ignorance towards the local culture, lack of innovation and worst still, lack of faith in local news.
Name me one country in the world (besides Singapore) which flaunts news produced by others? None. However, in this country revamps are made not for the better but for the worse as their so called learned marketing people have surveyed the Malaysian crowd, claiming they ‘prefer everything foreign rather compared to local’.
The editors of The Sun, while it was undergoing a revamping stage, was told by the marketing team to ‘stop portraying images of Indian women or men and instead feature more on Chinese or White ladies' when needed. Also, some health and fashion magazines adopt a similiar policy as seen in their pages.
Noticed how The New Straits Times have changed in terms of content? Also note how the new Malay Mail reminds one of a magazine dedicated to 13 year olds. What about Harian Metro which has amused most with their either sex or religious front cover stories.
What about government owned RTM1 and RTM2? The minister in charged promised changes in form of newscasters and layout. Heck they are even bullish to proclaim themselves as the licensed broadcasters for the World Cup. However, this is the same party which failed to broadcast (live) the first second round match between Germany and Sweden. Sigh!
Media giants Media Prima Bhd owns TV3, 8TV NTV7 TV9, NSTP (New Straits Times, Malay Mail, Harian Metro, Berita Harian), Fly Fm, Hot Fm and Grand Brilliance. The Star is backed by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) while the other newspapers are trying their luck in the scene. Malaysiakini tries their very best to be different, but different they will remain with their biased reporting akin to a BBC correspondent in this region.
The journalists actually suffer, for their writings are often edited to create a pretty scene. The beauty is that everyone knows how suppressed the press is. While the urban folks are slowly learning to fade away from picking up the newspaper or prefer watching satellite TV instead, our rural friends will soon realise what they are being fed with each time they flip the newspaper or turn on the tv is just a load of crap.
Noticed how articles in NSTP are so pro certain parties while The Star will always remain ‘lembik’ for fear of rocking the boat. Malaysiakini tries too hard and word on the street is they are losing the interest of the people. Why can’t there be neutrality in reporting? Credit ought to be given when deserved, so does brickbats when things go wrong for no good reason.
TV3 and TV9 is so ‘pro-melayu’, as they fail to realise there are other races in the country as well. Luckily 8TV stands on its own, maybe due to the fact it is run by people from various ethnic groups.
These organisations are often headed by people whom have no background in journalism, not knowing what journalism is all about. Example, the Malay Mail is headed by a former Magistrate who later turned to a sub editor for a magazine. Note- sub editor. The big guns in NSTP are placed there by people in the government and such things really make one wonder what is Malaysia all about. But then again, I guess it’s practised all over the world so what’s new.
I for one have lost faith in reading the local newspapers and my patience towards our local TV came to a boiling point last night. Now I know why people install Astro despite not being at home most of the time. They just don’t want to be fed with gibberish and hope for better entertainment instead. With internet, more updated news can be obtained. I wonder why should I pick up the newspaper (and pay RM1.20) or turn on the tv for that matter. And with the dominance of one party in the industry, things will only go from bad to worse. Malaysian media (or those running the show) have certainly lost the plot and are creamy less no more. Sigh!

-The Man Who Sold The World-