NILAI: Journalists in the country need to be equipped with knowledge, understanding and writing skills related to enforcement laws to ensure that news reports are accurate, ethical and free from misinterpretation or legal implications.
In a meeting between the Enforcement, Leadership and Management University (ELMU) and a delegation from the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, ELMU vice-chancellor and chief executive Datuk Dr Kassim Noor Mohamed noted that understanding the law is not just an advantage but a necessity in the journalism profession.
He explained that journalists play a crucial role in shaping public understanding of legal and enforcement issues. Therefore, they must have a strong foundation in legal knowledge to ensure their reports remain factually accurate.
“A deep understanding of this field not only enhances the credibility of news reports but also protects journalists and media organisations from legal action due to reporting errors,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by MPI president Datuk Yong Soo Heong, MPI chief executive officer Ainol Amriz Ismail, and MPI general manager Norlida Jamain.
During discussions, MPI expressed its commitment to collaborating with ELMU on this initiative through expertise exchange and knowledge-sharing in their respective fields.
The strategic partnership aims to create a dedicated platform for journalists to gain deeper insights into legal aspects relevant to their work, ensuring more responsible and high-quality reporting.
In today’s fast-paced digital era, journalists must understand principles of justice, human rights, and law enforcement procedures. Errors in reporting can have significant consequences, not only for those involved but also for media organisations. Issues such as biased reporting, publishing unverified news, or sharing information that could jeopardise court investigations must be avoided to uphold journalistic integrity.
The collaboration between MPI and ELMU is expected to facilitate structured courses, workshops, and training programs to equip journalists with in-depth knowledge in this field.
At the same time, enforcement officers will be provided with improved media communication skills to ensure accurate and structured information dissemination.
Journalists are also encouraged to study official documents such as relevant acts and regulations and engage with legal experts to ensure their reports adhere to ethical journalism principles.
Through this joint initiative, both parties aim to elevate professionalism in legal and enforcement literacy, as well as digital media and content, ensuring a more credible, accurate and speculation-free news environment.
This effort will not only benefit those directly involved but also the public, who rely on transparent and trustworthy news reporting to understand legal and enforcement issues.
