News Online or Newspaper?

One of my early morning routine, if I can manage it, is to get myself a copy of newspaper, especially The Sun (because its free) to catch up with the current news. However, of late, I can hardly get my hands on any copy because its always finished by the time I arrived at the office. Since I prefer to get my news for free, I've stop buying other newspapers, be it English or Malay, for several years already. There are few reasons to this, the news are more and more crappier and who would pay for crappy news since you can get it better for free. Since there are only one title that is offered for free for the public, where else can I go than the Internet.

If I can help it, I would still try and find a hardcopy of my favorite newspaper and only if I can't borrow or steal one, only then I will go online. Since I don't make it a habit, as always, I'm the last to get update on the current/recent events. I'm a traditional kind of guy, preferring to have newspaper in one hand while coffee with the other. But seeing my other friends, they prefer to go online for news, and hardly buy a copy off the news stand.

Not having time to conduct a proper research, I asked a few colleagues and classmates, why do they prefer online news. This topic isn't really new, couple of years back, we've been asked in class why younger generation prefer online news, and three quarter of the class would say is because they would rather not pay when they can get it for free and of course, less hassle of carrying one around. No wonder kids today don't do newspaper cutting anymore.

While for some, its more of the environmental issue, read your news online and you shall save few trees.

According to onlinenewspapers.com, there are about 29 online newspaper or the virtual version of the traditional ink on paper news, in Malaysia right now. Out of these 29, there are a few that does not have the printed version of newspaper, being purely online news such as Malaysia Today.

The emerging trend of online news has started since the mid 90s where The Star Online, web version of English daily The Star became the first to offer its news online. And I did not stumble upon it until sometime 2004. In mid 90s? I can't even get myself near any computer to play games.

I would assume and I believe its fair to do so that the younger generation prefers online news only for its convenience. In most places today, it is quite easy to access the Internet, and allow us to get our news online. It is much easier and faster too. Well, you know how the Internet works. Plus, with the presence of mobile devices especially smart phones, we can now access online news portal using our phones.

An interesting paper Trends & Future of the Malaysian Mass Media, written by the President of National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ), Norila Mohd Daud, discussess about the future of mass media in Malaysia, one of them being the newspaper. She mentioned that:

"The old generation between the age of 40 and above are still ardent supporters of newspapers while the younger generation to be much in tune with computers and the Internet"

While it is hard to disagree, there seems to be not much other explanation to this phenomenon. For generations already exposed to electronic devices at very early age, the Generation X and Y, it is much easier to read news while they check their email, chatting with friends through instant messaging (IM) applications, or social networking like Facebook, Friendster, Myspace and zillion others, as compared to the Baby Boomers or probably first half of Gen Y, meeting in coffee shops and having newspaper on the table.

As of 2007, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reported that there are as many as 14.9 million Internet users, and out of this figure, I would say half would be the young people like me, accessing Internet at work, colleges and universities or whenever possible. With this, it is clear that online news would be the main venue for younger generation to get their news feed everyday.

With the presence of mobile devices and the availability of fast speed wireless Internet connection at most places and the mobile Internet network, accessing online news has never been any easier. Although the devices are very limited, as technology evolves, I'm sure there wil be more devices will be equipped with function to access online news portal. I'm sure too that soon enough, this feature will come standard, and would further kill the popularity of newspaper among the younger generation, or whatever that is left of it.

It is apparent that newspaper will go out of style with the younger generation. It is lacking the power to respond, a two way vertical communication from bottom to top between the readers and editors. The younger generation is generally very engaging, in the sense that they want to be involved, although they not always appear so. Why is that when we have so much power of publishing opinion through online means, it still only attract mostly the younger generation to leave comments (some I can tell from the 'tonal' quality of the comment left whether they are younger or older reader) compared to the veterans Internet users?

I believe, it is the power of being heard, with each and everybody's say is published for the rest of the world to see, to influence opinion or rather languishing at the system, that draws the younger generation towards online news. Besides, the nature of news offering of the online news is not the typical mainstream news, this provides alternatives to which the younger generation is accustomed to. Having the power to choose, is the main characteristics that can describe the younger generation. I would continue to choose, in which,  I would not pay for news until I feel its worthy of my money to pay or until I feel I'd become a tree hugger and stop buying newspaper or using toilet paper altogether and go purely online for news. Which ever way it is going to be, it will not be good for newspaper existence, if they don't innovate or somehow will continuously fail to attract younger readers.

Blogging: How far it can take you?

I remember when I first stumbled upon blogs, few years back, I can't help thinking how powerful blog and blogger can be. Just take for example some of our local bloggers, some made it to the Parliament while some being hauled to the court. Well, they still get some sort of publicity.

But seriously, how far blogs can take you? Now everybody blogs just for the fun of it. Seeing your thoughts and opinion published. A power that many years ago can topple a government and in fact it still is. How powerful publication can be whether on or offline.

With power, come responsibility. Since everyone now can access to what you think and what your opinions are in regards of certain issue, its a first step to influence public opinion. And that probably will affect our decision making along the way. Especially with nature of blogs where you can respond right away, a two way communication here can help generate ideas, fueling argument or simply providing you free meals and lodging under the Internal Security Act.

I think it can really takes us to places, depending on how you harness the power of online publication.

To speak or not to speak

While enjoying my rojak dinner at my favorite mamak, I get to spend some time catching up with current news since they put on Buletin Utama on the hue screen. Among some amusing things happening in the past few days is the resignation of an assemblywoman following exposure of her semi-nude photos while asleep. I'd say the ex-boyfriend is a complete idiot, and so does everyone else who'd care to comment about it. We have far more pressing matters need to be addressed here. Morality issues, put that aside, I'm really sick of what we have to read and listen in the news today.

However, one caught my attention that is the handing over of a memorandum to Education Minister regarding the discontinuation of English usage to teach Math and Science subject. It seems we're not over this and people still think we could do better using Bahasa Melayu to learn both subjects in which not a big deal to me. Its just quite funny when these kids furthering their studies they have to learn the same language but this time most probably in English. Worst case scenario is English text book, lecture in Bahasa Melayu. I just feel sorry for them for having the system messing them up.

I would not go on saying we should still learn the subjects in English or Bahasa Melayu. I'm no expert on this. What I would think that holds much importance is to make our kids speak more of the language, English.

In my current line of work, I get to meet plenty of graduates whom seek for employment. They all say they are looking for something to suit their qualification. Fair enough, only that probably they did not realized with some of their current level of English and communication skills, they can only dream to work in the private sector with decent pay, to avoid underemployment. Even luckier if they can get a job in any fast food joint.

Having seen close to 500 graduates so far, I'm still wondering what's in their head, on what sort of employment opportunities are awaiting them out there. What with the current economic situation, they still wish for something that suits their qualification. I just don't get it, since I don't get the luxury of having a job that suits my qualification. I settled with what can pay me the amount that I'm looking for. That's about it.

When it come to these graduates, seeing them in interviews, I'd say they'll keep on searching for their dream jobs for the rest of their life. Its just appalling, the state of their communication skill. Some even refused to speak in English though they can clearly understand every word that I said, and how I stressed that English would be able to secure a decent job for those who care to speak the language.

For a good 11 years we learned the language in school yet we left unable to speak it. Lets think, whose fault that could be?

I'd say its just that we're lacking the effort to stress the importance of SPEAKING the language in school. Not just that, where ever possible that we can use the language. 3 years (to get a diploma) from their first employment, no one bothered to tell them they have to be able to speak English to stand a better chance of securing a job out there right now.

I'm so happen to be in an industry that can pay you well if you are able to speak the language. Communicating is literally how we earn our living and I'm still doing it. And that's all what it takes, other than being a graduate of course, is just to speak English. And its a fact that English is the preferred medium of communication in the most major corporation out there. 

I just hope, our education system can be adjusted to encourage or make students converse in English at school more often, if not more than using Bahasa Melayu. Probably something like singing songs and reading out loud to the whole class. Like pre-school yes, because its the same method we're using with our graduate students in which from what we can see, its working alright though they are not 5 or 6 years old kid anymore. The way I see it, we need more environment to encourage English usage. That's all.