Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil urges media bodies to discuss ethical guidelines for reporting on accidents and tragedies, citing public complaints and potential viewer trauma.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Minister has called for immediate discussions on ethical reporting standards for graphic accident and tragedy footage.
Fahmi Fadzil said the Malaysian Media Council and Malaysian Press Institute must identify balanced measures for broadcasting such content.
This follows complaints to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission about uncensored video clips posted by media company social media accounts.
He expressed concern that uploading uncensored footage, like tragic dashcam videos, could traumatise viewers.
“This matter needs to be given attention, because at this time we have not yet restricted those aged 16 and under,” Fahmi said.
He emphasised the need to balance reporting with shielding the public from overly graphic content like blood.
Fahmi addressed this after a briefing session by MCMC on content guidelines, which some criticised as impeding journalistic freedom.
He clarified that all MCMC actions are law-based and guided by public complaints.
“For media practitioners, we ask that self-control be implemented,” he stated.
Fahmi added that the discussion gives the industry an opportunity to gather and address the issue collectively.
He noted that platform community guidelines also address graphic violence from public accounts.
The minister spoke after witnessing a memorandum signing between MCMC and the Securities Commission on scam curbing cooperation.