International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific

#Malaysia: Progressive media legislation and an industry commitment to innovation and sustainability were the two key lessons Malaysian media representatives cited from a media mission to Indonesia this week. The IFJ organised the Malaysia-Indonesia Solidarity Mission for journalists, lawyers, and civil society activists to build ties between media workers from the two countries and to strengthen advocacy efforts at a critical time for Malaysia’s media reform agenda.

#Malaysia🇲🇾: A significant new report on Malaysia’s media highlights the urgent need for meaningful and ongoing government commitment to the principles of media independence if the country’s media is to survive and grow into the future. In launching the report, IFJ and its Malaysian affiliate, National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia, jointly assert that a stronger media can only come with a loosening of controls and a vision for a more collaborative, sustainable media ecosystem. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gyPMXdbF #MediaReform #PressFreedom #MYMedia

🚀 #MYMediaInnovation: Malaysiakini’s AI-Driven Vertical Videos 🚀 Malaysiakini, Malaysia’s independent news website, is transforming its approach to engaging younger audiences with an AI-driven media innovation project.   📊 The Challenge: Youth (18-30) in Malaysia mostly rely on social media for news, with only 4% using traditional news websites. Readers are aged 40+, presenting Malaysiakini with audience and revenue growth challenges.   💡 The Solution: With support from the #MYMediaInnovation grant, Malaysiakini is developing an AI-powered system to convert news articles into vertical videos, tailored for social media. The aim is to boost brand awareness among younger, social-media-savvy readers. This process is inspired by Sophina, a bot created by UK journalist Sophia Smith Galer. Unlike generative AI, Sophina is trained on Galer’s own scripts to ensure quality and ethical accuracy. Malaysiakini’s new bot will be trained in three languages, aligning with their editorial standards. 💬 Aidila Razak, Special Reports Editor at Malaysiakini, is sharing where she is at on this journey: “The bot is now able to churn out scripts. While the scripts can be used already and everything is factual, there still needs to be human editing to make the scripts better. For example, in our editorial judgement the sentences are still too long for social media reels. So, we are still working on the bot to train it to churn out better scripts.” 🎯 The Goals: Increase engagement with younger audiences. Enhance social media presence and expand revenue potential. Continue fostering independence in journalism through innovative solutions.   Stay tuned for more updates on #MYMediaInnovation!   🌍This project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) as part of its "Strengthening Malaysia's Media For Change" project. #AIinJournalism #MediaInnovation #DigitalStorytelling #SocialMediaNews #JournalismTech #Malaysiakini Photo Credit: MalaysiaKini and Aidila Razak

🌍 Call for Evaluators of EC Project 🌍 IFJ is inviting independent experts to submit Expressions of Interest for the final external evaluation of the 2020 to 2025 EC project "Strengthening Malaysia's Media For Change Project" (CSO-LA/2019/410-655)   Please read the Terms of Reference and get in touch with any questions.   🔑 Selection Criteria: - Relevant experience in international development, media and journalism, human rights, freedom of expression, and/or unions and labor rights movements. - Extensive experience with designing and conducting evaluations, preferably of EU-funded projects. - Knowledge of Malaysia’s local context. - Quality of technical proposal and evaluation design. - Quality of financial proposal and pricing.   📅 Due Date: 12 January 2025, 11:59pm (GMT+11)   Don't miss this opportunity to assess this multi-year program in Malaysia and contribute to media development in the region!   🤝 The project is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the International Federation of Journalists #EUProject #CallForExperts #Evaluation #Journalism #MediaDevelopment #MediaForChange #HumanRights #FreedomOfExpression #Malaysia

🌏 On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, our grantee the All Women's Action Society (AWAM) launched the #MediaToo campaign, spotlighting the critical issue of gender-based violence against female journalists and media workers in Malaysia. ♀️ AWAM’s 16 Days of Activism will highlight the severe impact gender-based violence, drawing attention to the need for change and offer practical resources for women in media. 🎤 The AWAM team has been working hard to produce a series of interviews with journalists and activists in Malaysia sharing their experiences about GBV. Their voices shed light on the impact of gender-based violence in the media industry. Follow All Women's Action Society (AWAM) on socials to hear their powerful stories and join the movement for change! 🤝 This initiative is part of the IFJ Asia-Pacific Gender & Diversity program funded by the European Commission as part of its Strengthening Malaysia's Media For Change project. Together, we can amplify the voices of women in media and work towards a world free from violence. Photo Credit: AWAM #SupportWomenInMedia #GenderEquality #GenderEquity #Diversity #MediaToo #NoExcuse #GenderBasedViolence #EndGBV #MYMediaMatters #Malaysia

✨What a night! The National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia Diamond Jubilee Gala on November 12 was an unforgettable celebration of 62 years of journalism excellence, resilience, and unity! Journalists, supporters, and special guests from across Malaysia and beyond gathered to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look to the future of the Malaysian media community. With Uyaina Arshad as host, stellar performances by Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza and Nadeera, and awards presented from Young Digital Star to Lifetime Achievement—we commemorated the importance of a free and independent media. Thank you to everyone who made this evening so special, and to the European Commission for its support under the IFJ-EC project ' Strengthening Malaysia's Media for Change'! 🖊️💫 #NUJM62 #DiamondJubilee #MediaStrong #JournalismMatters #PressFreedom #NUJMGala Photo credit: NUJM / Chan Tak Kong

Congratulations to all panelists, organisers, and attendees who made the Malaysia Media Summit 2024 a resounding success! 🎉 Yesterday's event brought together journalists, union leaders, and media professionals from across Malaysia and beyond for a powerful dialogue on securing a sustainable, independent future for media in the digital age. From insightful discussions on technology's impact to the vital role of unions in defending press freedom and workers’ rights, it was a day of collaboration, inspiration, and action. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and special thanks to our partners National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia and Geramm, and the support from European Commission. Together, we’re shaping the future of Malaysian media. Photo credit: NUJM / Asyraf Hamzah #MalaysiaMediaSummit2024 #MediaInnovation #PressFreedom #DigitalTransformation #UnionPower #JournalismMatters #FutureOfMedia

📢 Join Us at the Malaysia Media Summit 2024: Future of MYMedia - The Price for a Free Press in the Digital Age 🗓 Date: November 12, 2024 ⏰ Time: 11.30am to 4.30pm 📍 Location: World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur The Malaysia Media Summit 2024 kicks off with an important panel discussion on the role of unions in protecting both worker rights and a free, independent media. With the theme “Safeguarding Worker Rights and a Free and Functioning Media for All,” this session will address the intersection of labor rights, media freedom, and the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital age. This will be followed by a second discussion on "The Future of Free Media: Survival, Sustainability, and Digital Innovation." As the media industry faces rapid transformation, this panel will explore how news organisations can adapt to a digital-first world while maintaining independence, integrity, and sustainability. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g4JQV7nW Last chance to REGISTER ☝ and be part of this critical conversation on the future of media and the role of unions in safeguarding democratic values. Let’s unite to protect press freedom, advocate for journalist welfare, and ensure a thriving, independent media ecosystem. The Malaysia Media Summit 2024 is hosted by National Union of Journalists Peninsula Malaysia (NUJM), Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia Pacific, with support from the European Commission (EC), and brings together local and regional journalists, media professionals and academics to discuss current obstacles and opportunities of the future of Malaysian media. #MalaysiaMediaSummit2024 #UnionStrong #FreePress #JournalismMatters #MediaFreedom #WorkerRights #DigitalTransformation #IndependentMedia #GenderEquity #DiversityInMedia #FutureOfJournalism

#IFJBlog📝 As the media landscape in the #Philippines🇵🇭 underwent significant upheaval during the COVID-19 pandemic, more journalists turned to freelancing amidst industry-wide layoffs and closures. In response, National Union of Journalists of The Philippines launched a groundbreaking initiative to organise and empower freelance journalists, culminating in the creation of the Filipino Freelance Journalists' Guild. Their journey offers valuable lessons on solidarity and resilience in the face of challenging conditions, writes Paul Soriano.

#Malaysia: Nineteen journalists employed by Malaysian investment company Petra Group have issued a public statement announcing their resignation unless several months of outstanding wages and staff entitlements are paid in full. International Federation of Journalists National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia