A total of 20 booths have been set up at the main atrium of Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall.
KUCHING (May 25): The 2024 National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) exhibition is now underway at Plaza Merdeka Shopping Centre here until Monday, with 20 booths set up by various media outlets and agencies showcasing their works and news production equipment.
Kuching Division Journalists Association president Ronnie Teo said over 300 media practitioners from Peninsula Malaysia have gathered in Sarawak for the three-day Hawana programme as well as to tour Kuching city.
Ronnie Teo
“I believe these Hawana events give an opportunity and platform to showcase what the media community in Sarawak have that is different from other states in the country.
“I think in Sarawak, we have quite a tight-knit bond within the media fraternity and I think we have that sense of community whereby the media people will always help each other but of course, there is always going to be that sense of competitiveness among various media outlets as we strive to do our best to get the news out,” he said when met at the venue today.
Teo, who is also The Borneo Post business editor, remarked there was a real sense of Sarawakian culture which has been inculcated within the local media community and expressed his hopes that the Hawana programme will shine a light on the functions of the local media on a national platform as well as to the public.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) reporter Gabriel Rommy said the Hawana programme will allow the public to gain information and insights about the government’s directions and initiatives and experience first-hand being a news anchor at a makeshift studio set up on the exhibition floor.
Gabriel Rommy
“This programme gives up an opportunity for engagement between the public and lcoal media community. They can also come to experience reading news in front of television broadcast cameras here,” he said.
Karuna Sho Hei Pohim, a reporter from Kuching-based radio station CatsFM, was delighted the Hawana celebrations this year could be held in Sarawak and the programme organised can serve as an appreciation and recognition towards the important role of the media in society.
Karuna Sho Hei Pohim
“We are showcasing what CatsFM is doing at our booth and especially during these times of digitalisation, we can take this opportunity to explain to the public about our works on the ground as well as in the studio,” said Karuna.
The three language newspapers under See Hua Group, namely The Borneo Post, See Hua Daily and Utusan Borneo, have also set up a booth at the exhibition whereby visitors can enquire about the attractive subscription packages for digital and print newspapers.
A member of the public registering at the See Hua Group’s booth before receiving a free copy of the newspaper.
The exhibition is open from 10am to 5pm.
Media representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Brunei, the Philippines, Timor Leste, Vietnam, China, South Korea and Qatar are also convening in Kuching for the 2024 Hawana Media Conference starting Sunday and the official launching ceremony will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday.
