KUCHING, July 16 (Bernama) — The media industry must continue to uphold the principles of accuracy, integrity and ethical journalism in addressing the challenges of the digital era, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said developments in digital technology, including AI, capable of generating images, audio and videos that are difficult to distinguish from reality, demanded more responsible and ethical journalism to ensure that truth continued to prevail.
“In a fast-moving world, unverified information can go viral in the blink of an eye.
“If not handled efficiently and responsibly, fake news and inaccurate information have the potential to create confusion, erode public trust and even undermine the social harmony that we have built together,” he said in his speech at the dinner held in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 and the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2026 here tonight.
Meanwhile, Fadillah urged media organisations to invest in human capital development by equipping journalists with new skills, including data analytics, digital security, the ethical use of AI, fact-checking and data journalism, to ensure the country’s media industry remained relevant and competitive.
“Our journalists need to have specific knowledge because if they do not master the topic or subject matter, it will be a challenge for them to deliver more accurate news and present it in a way that is easier to understand, especially in today’s digital world.
“They should also be able to become influencers who can help communicate important news and subject matters to the people, particularly on government policies and initiatives for the development of the nation and the states,” he said.
SMeC 2026 brought together media practitioners, public relations professionals, policymakers and industry experts to discuss the challenges and future of the media in the digital era.
At the event, Fadillah also presented the Premier of Sarawak Special Appreciation Awards 2026 to 13 media practitioners in various categories, including editors, journalists, radio presenters, photographers and influencers, in recognition of their significant contributions to delivering accurate, ethical and constructive information to the public.
Among the recipients were Bernama’s Sarawak Bureau photographer Ahmad Rushdan Abdul Manan, The Borneo Post journalist Churchill Edward Drem, RTM radio presenter Zaidi Bujang and influencer Ahmad Faizal Osman, better known as Cikgu Emmet.
Ahmad Rushdan, 56, who has served at Bernama since 1996, said advances in AI technology presented challenges for media practitioners, particularly photographers, in ensuring that every image captured and edited retained its authenticity and credibility.
He said current technology allowed images to be altered more easily, making it imperative for professional photographers to adhere firmly to journalistic ethics to ensure that published visuals accurately reflected the actual circumstances of an event.
“AI has greatly improved work efficiency, but as media photographers, our primary responsibility is to ensure that the images we publish remain authentic and do not mislead the public,” he said.
— BERNAMA