BY: MEDIA WATCH
The word ‘perception’ can turn out to be a quixotical word, but in this country, perception has become the strong belief of many Malaysians who browse through the mainstream, alternative media or independent journalism and social media platforms.
Whichever media Malaysians choose to follow is irrelevant because at the end of the day it is the perception that they arrive at which is what matters to readers and viewers of the news and views churned by the full gamut of media in this country.
The reason why psychologically Malaysians form a perception of the media is because they are now better educated and better informed and know how to read between the lines of all the various forms of reporting and writing.
In the process of this psychology of perception evolving, it has been discovered that mainstream media has been losing a lot of ground and credibility among the Malaysian reading and viewing public for which there are a significant number of reasons.
Is mainstream media abetting in the due process of corruption?
The answer to this question cannot be answered by a blanket “yes” or “no” and instead there is therefore a need to look at logical explanations regarding how mainstream media has been operating for several decades.
It is common knowledge that mainstream media is either government-controlled, or owned by political parties, politicians or businessmen who invariably dictate the terms and conditions of their editorial policy to senior editors.
These senior ediors then relay the terms and conditions of editorial policy to the newsroom of editors, reporters and writers who are left choiceless but to toe the line or risk losing their jobs, lucrative salaries, perks, benefits and bonuses.
Journalists and editors of whatever rank in the editorial department often have to ensure that news and stories are slanted or varnished or presented to make the owners and operators of mainstream media look credible and trustworthy.
Mainstream media as a vehicle for corruption
For the uninitiated reader or viewer, mainstream media is doing its job, but when those who read between the lines of news and views dig deeper there is the either overt or covert promotion of the agenda of mainstream media owners.
In the process, truth becomes a casualty, or it is distorted or contorted to ensure that whatever propaganda that is being released is meant to brainwash and ensure that the aims and objectives of media owners are relayed to the masses.
It is therefore how the psychology of perception is becoming stronger and stronger among more Malaysians to only believe what they perceive to be true and this is why mainstream media is being challenged nowadays to prove themselves to readers and viewers.
Journalists and editors of the mainstream media have confessed that they have no choice but to toe the line of their bosses as they have spouses, children, aged parents on both sides and financial commitments to honour or risk losing their jobs.
The myth of freedom of the press
Given this scenario, it is not that all the news and views of mainstream media is tinkered, twisted and turned and presented to suit the agenda of a select group of media owners in this country.
In order to make mainstream media look relevant and genuine, there is this selective doctoring and manipulation of reports and stories to ensure the reader and viewer is believing in the ideology they wish to propagate.
This is a particular methodology, a sly, cunning and hard to detect and prove journalistic agenda that has caused more and more Malaysians to look for verified and credible information they can really believe in from the alternative or international media.
This leads everyone to believe there is no freedom of the press in the mainstream media but the news and views have for decades been subject to the aim and objective of making Malaysians believe in what they want to peddle.
**Written by Christopher Fernandez with additional reporting by Izal Mahat and Lyndy Ang
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
(The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher)
