KUCHING: Press freedom in Sarawak is facing a “paradox of reality”, where digital expansion is reshaping journalism while traditional pressures on editorial independence continue to persist, says veteran journalist Dr Toman Mamora.
Toman said the current media landscape reflects both progress and constraint, as new platforms democratise news dissemination but long-standing structural and political pressures remain intact.
“Press freedom today is characterised by an interesting paradox.
“The emergence of new media has democratised information, but traditional threats to editorial independence are still very significant,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
With more than three decades of experience in journalism, Toman has been widely recognised for his contributions to the industry. His accolades include the Shell Gold Journalism Award for Best Writer (1997), Azam Best Writer’s Award (1998), Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABS) in 1990, Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS) in 1994, and a Service Award (Bronze) in conjunction with Sarawak’s 40th Independence Anniversary in 2003.
He was also named ‘Tokoh Media Sarawak 2022’, recognising his long-standing service and influence in the state’s media landscape.
Toman added that the digital revolution has fundamentally changed journalism, requiring media organisations to rethink their operating models and move away from rigid newsroom hierarchies.
“The practice of journalism now demands a radical break from traditional structures. Media companies must move away from top-down systems where information flows through layers of management,” he said.
According to him, modern newsrooms should adopt flatter and more flexible systems that encourage collaboration and allow content to be sourced beyond internal teams, including opinion and external contributions.
“For media organisations to remain competitive, they must embrace flexibility and even consider outsourcing parts of the news-making process,” he said.
However, Toman noted that despite the rise of independent digital platforms, journalists still face legal constraints under existing legislation, including the Communications and Multimedia Act and the Sedition Act.
On the challenges faced by journalists in Sarawak, he pointed to the state’s unique socio-political environment, where close relationships between political and business actors can intensify pressure on editorial independence.
“In Sarawak, the environment makes journalists highly interdependent with power structures. This often leads to self-censorship, as access to sources and operational resources can depend on maintaining relationships,” he said.
He added that what is often described as “responsible reporting” can, in some cases, be used to discourage critical examination of authority.
“Journalists are constantly navigating between maintaining constructive professional relationships and fulfilling their duty to question and scrutinise,” he said.
Toman also raised concerns over the lack of a sustainable economic framework for journalism, warning that without financial independence, the next generation of media practitioners may struggle to function as effective watchdogs.
“The challenge is to build a system that allows journalists to maintain distance from political influence while strengthening community-based media into truly independent institutions,” he said.
He questioned whether such independence is achievable or remains an ideal in the face of entrenched power dynamics.
On broader press freedom issues, Toman described it not as an unattainable ideal but as an “elusive reality” that requires continuous effort to sustain.
He said media practitioners must clearly distinguish between news reporting and opinion writing to rebuild public trust.
“There is a need to move beyond the clickbait economy and focus on sustainable journalism models that prioritise quality over traffic,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of policy measures that protect journalists and whistleblowers, while cautioning against laws framed around combating “fake news” if they risk suppressing legitimate expression.
“Ultimately, press freedom requires a shift in mindset — not only among journalists but also within institutions and society as a whole,” he said.
