IPPTAR To Organise 110 Courses This Year To Empower Media Practitioners

GEORGE TOWN, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR) plans to organise 110 courses and special programmes this year to empower media practitioners, particularly in addressing challenges in the digital era and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Its director Datuk Roslan Ariffin said the increase in courses aligns with current industry needs as media organisations face multiple challenges, including the spread of misinformation, the emergence of unaccredited platforms and declining revenues.

“In today’s landscape, the media faces significant challenges, especially with technological advancements and AI, which have a direct impact on the industry. We are also dealing with the presence of unlicensed individuals impersonating journalists, which undermines news credibility.

“The changing media landscape has also led to the closure of media companies and job losses among journalists, thus requiring comprehensive upskilling,” he told reporters after attending the closing ceremony of the Perception and Reputation Management through Tamil Media course here today.

Communications Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Telecommunications Infrastructure) V. Mano officiated the closing ceremony of the three-day course, which was attended by 25 Tamil media journalists from the northern region.

Roslan said IPPTAR has taken the initiative to strengthen training to produce versatile journalists who are not only capable of writing but also proficient in various skills, including editing and digital technology.

He said that since 2024, IPPTAR had emphasised on the use of AI as a supporting tool in journalistic work, with the number of courses offered this year marks a significant increase compared with 70 courses in 2024 and 80 in 2025, and about 20,000 participants expected to benefit, up from around 5,000 previously.

Meanwhile, Mano said the course was an initiative to expose Tamil media practitioners to the future of the media industry and the use of new technologies, following requests by the vernacular media to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil recently.

“The minister proposed that opportunities be extended to Tamil media practitioners following a town hall session with them, where they highlighted the need to enhance their skills, particularly in adapting to technological changes such as AI.

“We brought together media practitioners in the northern zone and engaged experienced trainers to provide insights into the future of media and how they can apply this knowledge to improve themselves and ensure accurate information reaches the Tamil-speaking Indian community,” he said.

A participant, S. Hemananthini, 33, from news portal Thisaigal News, said the programme was highly beneficial in enhancing journalistic skills as the session provided a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge on producing innovative and creative news, as well as understanding technical aspects such as the use of AI.

“I gained a lot of new knowledge, including tips from speakers on producing accurate and engaging news content for today’s audience,” she said.

-- BERNAMA