JUNE 6 ― As someone who has been involved in newsdesk operations, I was asked to give my two sen worth on The Star’s May 27 front page which was meant to commemorate the first day of the holy month of Ramadan.
By now everyone knows what this is about so no need to go into details. But to be frank, I did not notice the problem with the page until it was pointed out by the various groups who accused the paper of being, at the very least insensitive and careless; and at worst deliberately insulting and provocative.
I would like to attribute me being oblivious to the issue of the unrelated headline and picture to being out of full-time journalism for almost two years, and not due to my own perceived insensitivity.
Perhaps as there was a demarcation ― albeit barely ― between the headline and the picture, I did not see it as an issue. Or because subconsciously I do not equate Islam to terrorism, as some obviously have.
What I did notice though was the bareback model at the bottom panel advertisement ― now was it a spa ad or a mobile phone promotion?
My eyes did not go there because of the attractive woman in that page who looked like she was in seventh heaven; but in my experience as a news editor we have been trained and reminded by our bosses to be extra cautious when it comes to ethnic and religious sensitivities.
I remember being berated by a reader who called the newsdesk over a news report that referred to a revered Hindu holy man by his name and not the requisite Guru or Swami prefix that is a sign of respect.
So for the holy month of Ramadan for instance, we would be on our toes ― no alcoholic beverages advertisements on the front page; no pictures of scantily clad people and anything else that can be deemed “insensitive.”
On a daily basis there would be other considerations too ― no pictures of alcoholic beverages on the same or facing page of images of mosques or the Sultan or Yang Di-Pertuan Agong; and no images depicting the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
There would be several checkpoints to save us the dreaded tea-and-curry puffs meeting at the Home Ministry. This usually starts at the newsdesk and section desks with two or three assistant news editors and section heads; then the layout artist and his boss, the head of graphics, then the production or/and night editor and finally in some cases, or all cases when it is the front page, the editor-in-chief or managing editor.
Other checks and balances come from the advertising department and the folks at ad traffic who will indicate on the “dummy” i.e. the blueprint for the following day’s pagination where the advertisements are allocated ― the client, product being featured and ad size.
Sharp-eyed output and distribution team members can also alert the editorial team on any concerns before the paper goes to print where changes can be made.
Newsmen are not infallible but for such an important job, it is imperative that one takes extra precautions or end up in hot soup ― or bak kut teh ― as we are reminded by another unfortunate incident courtesy of the No.1 English daily in its dining pullout a few years ago, inappropriately titled “Ramadan Delights.” (Where’s that face palm emoji?)
The Star, however, is not the only organisation that has found itself in a pickle and now even subject to a sedition investigation.
Utusan Malaysia, for instance, earned the anger of the Chinese community for racist headlines and written provocative exposes targeting Christians.
But while The Star can defend itself as being careless, there is no excuse for the deliberately seditious and provocative articles as the ones in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.
Which is why the reaction to The Star must be proportionate to the lukewarm response by the authorities to previous insensitive reports by other mainstream news organisations.
Two senior editors, including the editor-in-chief, have been suspended in an attempt by The Star’s management to defuse the situation.
This should be sufficient, and as a paper owned by the MCA, the second largest party in the ruling coalition should show that it can at least protect its own paper and editors or be accused of cowardice against its big brother in the Barisan Nasional.
Perhaps, as suggested by others, a senior Bumiputra editor or managing editor is the antidote to ensure no similar problems in the future that can earn the wrath of the nation’s majority group.
In the present environment where the Press is under attack, the media needs to be extra vigilant and not make silly mistakes and oversights.
We do not need to provide more ammunition to those who want to muzzle the Press by turning our own mistakes against us.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
