By the founders of Supernewsroom

In the past few days, we have witnessed how journalists tirelessly worked around the clock to bring us updates, breaking news and the latest reports about the election, and now the post election.

We have also noticed (unfortunately) that many quarters are attacking certain media agencies and their journalists, even to the extent of demanding for the closure of certain TV stations and newspapers that were seen to be “pro-government” in the past.

What many fail to understand is that most journalists who are reporting for these media outlets are doing their duty in terms of providing reports that they were asked to do.

We have also witnessed many talented and highly experienced journalists (some who have won international recognition) who had to leave after years of being a reporter to either online media outlets or to other industries because they decided it was enough. However, there were many others who couldn’t. Why? Because the job provided for their families, and maybe their sheer optimism that one day things would change.

Today, we hear calls to shut down TV3. It is easy to say, but TV3 (or Media Prima Group) employs approximately more than 1,000 people. Where would they go? We have personally witnessed the frustrations of our fellow former colleagues who wanted to report without fear of favour.

The mainstream media did pay the price for political interference – the decline in readership due to trust, which eventually caused the decline in advertising revenue.

So, it came full circle and the owners had to go back to their political masters for funding. Unfortunately, those who paid the price were the journalists. Those who stayed, either stayed because of their passion, or for a job that provided for their families.

But today, we see the same journalists going all out – covering the news day in and out and giving us the best reports, because today they are free from that political pressure.

So before we judge them, before we attack them and before we ask for them to be shut down, think about the journalists and their families.

It is time for change. Let’s bring the glory of the Malaysian media back!

Manminder Kaur Dhillon and Puspavathy Ramaloo are founders of Supernewsroom.

The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.