KUCHING: The 2024 National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) celebration, themed 'Etika Teras Kewartawanan Mapan' to recognise the role of media practitioners in Malaysia, kicks off today in Sarawak.
The three-day event begins with the 'HAWANA 2024 Excursion with Students' programme at the Sarawak State Library, involving 200 students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak.
The inaugural programme will be launched by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
The HAWANA 2024 Excursion with Students programme aims to expose selected public institutions of higher learning students to the world of media; allowing media practitioners to share their knowledge and experience; instilling interest in the field of journalism among students; and helping them apply this knowledge in their future careers.
The programme also aims to build confidence and hone the talents of students when facing the public or entering the workforce, as well as to promote the HAWANA 2024 celebration in each state during the tour.
The programme will run until October, targeting communications and media studies students or other related fields.
Today, knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions on topics such as 'Fact-Check' with MyCheck Malaysia and Bernama Data Journalism Unit editor Sakina Mohamed, as well as Mobile Journalism (MoJO) by Bernama's Digital Media Desk senior journalist Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman will be held.
Another major attraction is the HAWANA 2024 Exhibition at the main atrium of the Plaza Merdeka shopping centre here, where various agencies will showcase their services and provide visitors with information and organise various activities.
Old media equipment and the history of media in Sarawak will also be exhibited.
Tonight, Fahmi will launch the Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM), which consists of 14 state media clubs, namely the Putrajaya Media Club, Melaka Media Practitioners Club (PENDIKA), Kedah Elite Media Club (KMEK), Federation of Sarawak Journalists Association (FSJA), Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Media Club and Johor Media Club (KMJ).
Others are Terengganu Media Journalists Club (KAWAT), Negeri Sembilan Media Club (MANIS), Pahang Media Club (Media Pahang), Perlis Journalists Association (PWP), Perak Media Club (KMP), Sabah Journalists Association (SJA), Penang Media Club (MUTIARA) and Kelantan Darul Naim Media Club (KEMUDI).
GKMM aims to unite all state media clubs into a national umbrella body to voice the views, opinions, and interests of its members, who are media practitioners, to the government, its agencies, and related parties.
HAWANA 2024 is attended by about 1,000 media practitioners from more than 11 countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Brunei, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Qatar. – BERNAMA