KANGAR, The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in news production must be monitored to ensure the safety, reliability, and integrity of information delivered to the public, according to the Perlis Journalists Association (PWP).
Its president Syed Azlan Sayid Hizar, said monitoring is crucial to ensuring that AI used in news production adheres to the strict ethical guidelines of cyber journalism.
‘Transparency and accountability are important aspects of the use of AI technology to produce quality news and meet professional standards in the media industry.
‘In Malaysia, fostering the application of the cyber journalism code of ethics among students is crucial…for instance, with the emergence of many writing applications like ChatGPT and Smodin,’ he told Bernama.
PWP made the suggestion in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2024 celebration, themed ‘Etika Teras Kewartawanan Mapan’, set for May 25 to 27 in Kuching, Sarawak.
Syed Azlan also suggested that the government wor
k with various parties, including media associations, academics and non-governmental organisations, to enhance the monitoring and implementation of cyber journalism ethics.
‘Hopefully, this strong cooperation will help ensure that the development of AI technology in news production serves the interests of Malaysian society and preserves the ethical values of cyber journalism,’ he said.
Meanwhile, he said PWP plans to implement an education and training programme on journalists’ code of ethics for school students in Perlis to instil awareness among the younger generation about ethical guidelines of cyber journalism.
He believes that teaching students the principles of cyber journalism’s code of ethics can help them responsibly use AI technology, including for news production.
Among the events lined up for HAWANA 2024 are the Sarawak Media Conference 2024 themed ‘Evolution of Media in the Digital Era’ and the ‘Jelajah Siswa’ programme, which covers six zones – Sabah, Sarawak, Northern, Eastern, Southern and
Central – with the launching ceremony slated to be officiated by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on May 24.
The largest gathering of Malaysian journalists is organised by the Communications Ministry in collaboration with the Sarawak State Government, with Bernama being the implementing agency.
The federal capital hosted HAWANA for the first time in 2018, with subsequent celebrations taking place in Melaka (2022) and Perak (2023).
The date of May 29 was chosen as National Journalists’ Day in commemoration of the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
