HAWANA 2025 - Strengthening Media Collaboration Across ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- In line with Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair this year, the fifth edition of National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 will serve as an ideal platform to enhance collaboration and foster stronger ties between local media practitioners and their counterparts across the region.

Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 Project Director, said that to support this initiative, media practitioners from all ASEAN member countries have been invited to take part in the celebration, which will be held on June 14 in the capital.

He said invitations have also been extended to media practitioners from China, Japan and South Korea.

“Although this HAWANA celebration is primarily local in nature, by inviting media partners from ASEAN countries to participate in the forum sessions and the main celebration on June 14, we see it as the best opportunity to expand our network of collaboration.

“The media can no longer operate in isolation within their own countries, they need to go beyond that. HAWANA provides a valuable platform for us to exchange views with industry players from other countries, especially those who are more advanced in areas such as technology and AI (artificial intelligence),” he said.

He said this when interviewed by Bernama Radio on the Jendela Fikir programme today, which discussed the topic, HAWANA: Uniting Media Voices, Empowering Journalists.

Elaborating on the HAWANA 2025 celebration at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur here on June 14, scheduled to be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Arul Rajoo said Bernama is the implementing agency and is actively making final preparations for the event.

“We received requests from several states to host the event. It is something we are proud of because it shows that HAWANA is gaining more attention. However, due to time constraints, especially with Bernama also serving as the official media and coordinator for the ASEAN International Media Centre, we feel it is more appropriate to hold it in Kuala Lumpur this time.

“Following the success of the 46th ASEAN Summit last May, we will now take advantage of these two weeks to make the necessary preparations for HAWANA 2025,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the content of the HAWANA 2025 celebration, Arul Rajoo said the celebration will, among other highlights, feature the HAWANA 2025 Carnival, which will run from June 13 to 15 at Sunway Putra Mall, with nearly 20 stalls to be set up by local media organisations.

"At the stalls, the public will have the chance to get closer and learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a media practitioner themselves, something they have previously only experienced through watching on television, listening to the radio and read in newspapers or portals," he said.

Arul Rajoo said that other programmes lined up for this year include the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival 2025, which was recently held at Wisma Bernama, as well as the HAWANA Games scheduled for September, which will feature activities such as football, bowling, netball, and several traditional games.

“On the morning of the main HAWANA celebration (June 14), there will be a media forum that will see the participation of industry players and university students who will discuss current trends in the world of journalism.

“The forum will also serve as a platform for the pro tem committee of the Malaysian Media Council, whose establishment was previously approved by Parliament, to share their views on the future direction of the media industry, as well as their hopes and expectations following the establishment of the Council,” he said.

Touching on the Kasih@HAWANA Fund, Arul Rajoo said that so far, 350 media practitioners, comprising those still working and retirees,  have benefited from the initiative.

-- BERNAMA