CYBERJAYA: The Malaysian media industry must urgently prioritise advanced training in emerging technologies to remain competitive and credible amid rapid digital transformation.
Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ainol Amriz Ismail, stressed that continuous professional development is no longer optional but essential as the industry undergoes sweeping structural changes.
Welcoming the launch of the Communications Ministry’s Media Innovation Fund, Ainol described it as a strategic mechanism to accelerate industry transformation.
“The fund could finance programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) for news research, data journalism, audience analytics, digital verification, and multimedia storytelling,” he said in a statement today.
He noted that journalists equipped with technological and analytical skills are better positioned to deliver faster, more accurate and impactful reporting, particularly in an era marked by misinformation and algorithm-driven content flows.
Ainol emphasised that access to professional development must be inclusive, extending from junior reporters to senior editors, as well as ancillary departments such as photography, graphics and digitalisation.
“An inclusive approach will foster a culture of continuous learning and bridge generational skill gaps within news organisations,” he added.
With six decades of experience in journalism training, Ainol stated that MPI is well-placed to serve as the preferred training provider under the Media Innovation Fund.
He further suggested that MPI could play a broader role as a national training hub, collaborating with technology experts, academic institutions, and international practitioners to align local training with global best practices.
Ainol concluded that investment in advanced technology training would ultimately strengthen journalistic professionalism, nurture industry talent and build a more resilient media ecosystem in Malaysia.
