World Press Freedom Day celebrations, Kuala Lumpur

CIJ (Center of Independent Journalism is organizing the World Press Freedom Day celebrations. Details are as follows:

Date: 3 - 4 May 2008
Venue: Central Market Annex, (Pasar Seni)
Jalan Hang Kasturi
Kuala Lumpur
(refer to map near bottom of page)

Objectives of World Press Freedom Day celebrations

Malaysians are invited to help shape the road map to media freedom for Malaysia. Here is a chance for media practioners (reporters, journalists, editors, even bloggers who have now become untrained journalists) and politicians to have their say as to the future of media freedom after March 8 General Election, the so called "political tsunami". I think it is the hope of the organizers to get ideas as to how to reclaim media freedom for Malaysia.

Activities at the World Press Freedom Day celebrations

There will be discussions, public talks, workshop, exhibition, wall-painting (huh? what wall? surely not the actual wall of Pasar Seni Annex walls?), survey, etc.

Program of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations

3 May 2008:
Public talk I - Towards Ethical Media
Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Speakers: Zainon Ahmad, Jacquelin Ann Surin, Wan Hamidi Hamid
Moderator: Gayathry Venkiteswaran

High on the issues that would be discussed would be the preference for alternative media like blogs, independent online newspapers like Malaysiakini, proposed boycott of MSM (mainstream media) by highly irritated Malaysians, biasness and blackout of the opposition parties by MSM, perceived unethical and unprofessional media coverage.

4 May 2008
Public talk II- Towards Media and Information Law Reform
Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Speakers: YB Teo Nie Ching, Andrew Khoo Chin Hock, HR Dipendra
Moderator: Wong Chin Hua

Opportunities for legislative reforms related to media and access to information will be on the agenda. This will not only about such possibilities in "opposition" (actually PR is not opposition in the states they control) controlled states, but also mechanisms to introduce and push for nationwide legislative reforms. CIJ will talk about their commitment to media and information law reform as well as their efforts at lobbying for them.

For more information, contact

Centre for Independent Journalism, CIJ
No 27C, Jalan Sarikei,
Off Jalan Pahang,
53000 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA.
Tel: +603-40230772 / +603-40249840 / +6016-3123478
Fax: +603-40230769
URL: Center of Independent Journalism Malaysia

Map to Central Market (Pasar Seni), Kuala Lumpur

Map to CIJ (Center of Independent Journalism) Jalan Sarikei off Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur

Maps curtesy of MapDoo