Married To The News: Veteran Journalist Couple Recall Decades Of Chasing Exclusives

By Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop

KEPALA BATAS, May 18 (Bernama) -- In journalism, the pursuit of a ‘scoop’ or exclusive story often fuels fierce competition among media practitioners, sometimes even straining professional relationships.

Luckily, though, for veteran journalists Mohd Idros Mohd Ali and Zuraida Abdul Rahman, the race for exclusives never disrupted the harmony of a marriage built over decades.

Instead, the couple, who once headed different media organisations in Penang, regard the rivalry for exclusive stories as a unique and colourful aspect of life as husband and wife in the same profession.

Recalling his time as Berita Harian bureau chief in Penang in the early 1990s, Mohd Idros, 65, said he and his wife, who was then serving with Bernama, competed professionally to break exclusive stories ahead of rival media outlets.

“I was not only competing professionally with other media practitioners, but also personally with my life partner in the same profession. So imagine how it was. If either of us had a big scoop, we would never talk about it at home.

“A scoop is like a secret because it is an exclusive report. Only when the story appeared on the front page the next day would my wife find out. At times, she would sulk a little… After all, nobody likes getting scooped in the media industry. But the sulk never lasted long,” he told Bernama at their home in Bertam.

According to Mohd Idros, despite the professional rivalry, he and his wife always prioritised journalistic ethics and professionalism.

“Even as husband and wife, we remained bound by the ethics and rules of our respective media organisations. Not everything could be shared, especially since we were both bureau chiefs responsible for leading operations in the state,” he said.

Zuraida, 63, echoed the sentiment, saying the friendly rivalry throughout their careers never affected their marriage, but instead deepened their understanding of each other’s professional demands.

The mother of two said life as a journalist couple taught them tolerance, sacrifice and patience.

“When both husband and wife work in the same field, we understand the pressures and challenges each other face. So when competition happened, we knew it was only part of the job,” she said.

Reflecting on more than three decades in the media industry, the couple described their years as bureau chiefs as among the most challenging stages of their careers, as they were responsible not only for ensuring fast and accurate reporting but also for managing overall news operations in the state.

Unlike today’s journalists who benefit from digital technology, Mohd Idros said reporting in the 1980s and 1990s was far more demanding as everything had to be done manually.

Mohd Idros, who began his career at Bernama in 1986 after graduating from Institut Teknologi MARA (now UiTM) under a scholarship from the news agency, said journalists then had to think and act quickly despite the absence of the internet and smartphones.

“Back then, we only used word processors with green screens, not modern computers like today. News reports were sent through Bernama’s special transmission system.

“Once an assignment ended, the first thing we looked for was a public telephone. Journalists always had to carry coins, not only to send our stories over the phone but also to contact the sub-editors for updates or clarifications,” said Mohd Idros, who served with Bernama for five years before joining Harian Metro, Berita Harian and later with Penang state newspaper, Warisan Rakyat Pulau Pinang, until 2008.

Meanwhile, Zuraida also began her journalism career after graduating from ITM in 1988, initially joining a weekly tabloid before moving to Bernama six months later. She opted for early retirement in 2010 at the age of 47 to focus on her family.

Zuraida recalled that journalism during that era demanded not only physical endurance but also mental resilience, including travelling to assignments by mini bus.

“Every story had to be checked repeatedly, including punctuation. If there were mistakes, we would be reprimanded immediately. Editors were fierce and strict, but it was their tough-love approach that taught us the true craft of journalism,” she added.

For the couple, life as journalists was a journey filled with memories and challenges that shaped them personally and professionally, which makes the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) an important day to celebrate in recognition of the sacrifices of media practitioners, not only in delivering information to the public, but also to national development.

Now entering its sixth edition since its introduction in 2018, HAWANA 2026 will be held at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth on June 20 and graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

-- BERNAMA