KUCHING: The Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) 2026 will adopt a fresher and more practical approach by focusing on the development of media practitioners’ skills, digital technology and preparations for the upcoming Sarawak State Election (PRN).

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said the third edition of the conference will be held on 8 July in a more compact format through a one-day conference, followed by a series of workshops at the Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) and TEGAS Digital Village.

According to him, the new approach is intended to ensure the programme content remains relevant, interactive and appealing to younger participants, particularly university students and emerging media practitioners.

“This time, we want to place greater emphasis on more practical workshops involving youths, university students and media practitioners.

“In addition to core media topics, we will also touch on entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, governance, ethics and regulations related to the media,” he said.

He said this during a press conference following the Symbolic Presentation Ceremony of the Special Incentive Contribution to Sarawak Media Associations at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex on Thursday.

In a related development, Datuk Abdullah said the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) is also planning to organise a special election journalism workshop in preparation for the upcoming PRN Sarawak.

He said the workshop aims to provide exposure for young journalists on ethics, guidelines and important terminology commonly used during the election period.

According to him, many new media practitioners still lack understanding of certain aspects related to the electoral process, including the differences between polling districts, polling centres, voting streams and offences under election regulations.

In this regard, he said UKAS is also considering establishing an Election Help Desk to assist journalists in obtaining important information such as candidates’ profiles, photographs and election-related information in a faster and more organised manner.

“We want to make things easier for media practitioners because not all organisations have a large number of journalists to cover all 82 state constituencies in Sarawak,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Sarawak-Level National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) celebration will also be held in the form of a dinner event, alongside the presentation of special appreciation awards by the Premier of Sarawak to media practitioners who have contributed significantly to the state’s journalism industry.

Also present were Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kee, UKAS Director Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan, Senior Press Secretary to the Sarawak Governor Samuel Simon, and President of the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) and Malaysian Media Council Board Member Ronnie Teo. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Gabriel Rommy
Photo: Ibanez Jeffery
Translator: Uilson Ng