KUCHING: Sarawak journalists must strengthen their analytical capabilities and uphold credibility as artificial intelligence (AI), social media influencers and rapid technological changes reshape the media landscape.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the challenges faced by the media today were part of a broader shift affecting all sectors of human endeavour which is driven largely by technological advancement.
He said conventional economic thinking based on land and labour had evolved, with microchip technology now underpinning modern life — from smartphones and household appliances to transportation systems and data centres.
“These microchips accumulate data, which is then processed through data centres and transformed into artificial intelligence. Today, humans rely heavily on AI, and even decision-making is influenced by it,” he said during the Kenyalang Journalism Awards (KJA) prize giving ceremony on Saturday (Dec 20) night.
The Premier said the rise of self-acclaimed influencers, many of whom generate content without proper verification, pose a serious challenge to professional journalism.
As such, he stressed that journalists must play a critical role in distinguishing truth from misinformation.
“Some simply reproduce information from platforms such as ChatGPT, paraphrase it, and present it as their own. This affects not only journalism, but society as a whole,” he said.
At the same time, Abang Johari commended Sarawak journalists for prioritising facts and credibility, describing them as professionals who analyse information before conveying it to the public.
He emphasised that journalism today required continuous training and exposure, reaffirming that the Sarawak government would sponsor journalists to attend executive programmes.
“I have instructed the State Secretary together with Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol to engage with journalists and facilitate participation in these programmes at government cost. The aim is to produce journalists capable of analysing issues, proposing solutions and making informed recommendations,” he said.
