PRN13: Speed Of Reporting Must Be Matched By Factual Accuracy
MIRI: The speed at which news is reported must be matched by factual accuracy during coverage of the 13th Sarawak State Election (PRN13) to ensure the public receives authentic and reliable information.
The Borneo Post Miri Chief Reporter Philip Kiew Hieng Siong stressed that every news report must be verified against credible sources before publication.
“In our profession, we cannot afford to rush. Cross-check the facts and use credible sources,” he said.
He said this when sharing his experiences covering previous PRNs, including lessons learnt and areas for improvement, at the Northern Zone NEWS360 Workshop: The Art of News Writing and Special Reporting for TV, Radio and Digital 2026, here on Wednesday.
Additionally, Philip reminded media practitioners to prioritise safety while on duty, especially when facing risks related to travel, adverse weather or tense situations on the ground.
“No story is worth risking your life for. Your life is more valuable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the two-day workshop brought together 55 media practitioners from the Northern Zone of Sarawak, comprising journalists, photographers, videographers and representatives from various departments, public agencies, associations and media organisations.
Apart from Philip, the workshop featured Associate Professor Dr Nik Adzrieman Abdul Rahman and Associate Professor Dr Bahtiar Mohamad as speakers, with additional sessions conducted by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) Deputy Director Mohamed Faizal Shah Ali and UKAS Assistant Director Yushairi Raduan.
Workshop secretariat representative Wilma Stanley Geramong said the UKAS-organised workshop combined the fundamentals of news reporting with practical training in interviewing, fact-checking and news editing.
She said participants also produced short news articles and feature stories on local community issues as a basis for publication and information sharing with the public.
The programme marked the third instalment of the workshop series following sessions in Sibu on 6 and 7 November and Kuching on 9 and 10 November. -UKASnews
