"A Day With A Journalist" By UiTM Exposes Students To Ethics In Journalism

By Nor Hayati Endan

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) 'A Day with a Journalist' programme has effectively exposed journalism students to the real-world challenges and experiences of reporting through hands-on field experience alongside professional journalists. 

Journalism lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor, Fadzillah Aishah Ismail said the programme, which is an important component of the News Writing subject (Journalism Programme), allows students to gain firsthand reporting experience by shadowing journalists from both print and electronic media organisations in the field.

"This programme has also successfully opened the minds and stimulated the interest of students to choose a career as a journalist after they graduate, because they have experienced first-hand working as a journalist, even if it is only for a day.

"There are also journalists who allow students who tag along with them to produce news for the assignments, and some even share their 'bylines'. This really encourages the students’ interest in going into journalism as a career,” she told Bernama.

One of the participants, Ezureen Natasya Kahar Jaafar, 21, a journalism student at UiTM Shah Alam, said the programme instils journalistic ethics in every journalist and media practitioner.

"While following a journalist from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) for an assignment, she emphasises the need for every news report to be authentic and accurate, and that there should be no delay in sending the news," she said.

For Kamelia Shaira Kamarudin, 21,  who followed a journalist from Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to an assignment, said, the programme taught her that every news report must be accurate and true to ensure information obtained by the public is authentic.

 "I was also exposed to the real situation of working as a journalist who has to travel to many places and meet people to obtain information, in addition to facing deadlines to complete a news story," she said.

Nurr Edrinna Junaidi, 21, who was allowed to write her news story for the assignment she went on with a journalist from Sinar Harian,  said that although the programme was only for one day, it was good for journalism students to experience working as journalists.

In appreciation of the contributions and roles of journalists, May 29 is celebrated as the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) in the country. This year, the celebration is themed ‘Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics’.

The culmination event for HAWANA 2025 was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) last Saturday, but various activities continue to be held to commemorate the occasion.

The activities include media sports events featuring traditional game elements as well as a series of tours to premier polytechnics in Selangor, Perak, and Johor to instil interest in the young generation in the world of journalism and media.

-- BERNAMA