KEPALA BATAS, April 25 (Bernama) -- The National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration, which will be held in Penang this June, is expected to bring together about 1,000 media practitioners from within the country and abroad, said Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the highlight of HAWANA 2026 will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth (PICA) here on June 20.
He said the celebration will further strengthen its position as a key platform in fostering strategic cooperation within the media industry at both national and ASEAN levels.
“I will also invite communications ministers and information department representatives from ASEAN countries, international media representatives based in Malaysia, local media practitioners as well as industry veterans to attend this year’s celebration,” he said here today.
He told reporters this after presenting contributions from the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA to Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) assistant engineer Razif Saidin. Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin.
Fahmi said this year’s HAWANA is not only expected to be lively in terms of attendance, but will also feature a range of programmes beneficial to media practitioners.
He said one of its key focuses is to provide space for working journalists to strengthen ties among themselves, as well as to gather insights from industry veterans.
He added that the celebration serves not only as a platform to appreciate media practitioners, but also as a strategic space to empower the industry in facing challenges such as the spread of misinformation, shifting media consumption patterns and the adaptation of new technologies.
“It is not just about job opportunities, but job security for our colleagues in the media industry will be my priority moving forward,” he said.
HAWANA is celebrated on May 29 each year in conjunction with the publication of the first edition of Utusan Melayu on May 29, 1939, in recognition of the contributions and services of media practitioners to national development.
Organised by the Communications Ministry with Bernama as the implementing agency, HAWANA serves as the pinnacle platform in recognising the contributions, dedication and professionalism of media practitioners in Malaysia.
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