SARAWAK TO ORGANISE MEDIA CONFERENCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH HAWANA 2025

KUCHING, April 9 (Bernama) -- The state government will organise the Sarawak Media Conference (SMeC) in conjunction with the 2025 National Journalists' Day (Hawana) celebrations, which will be held in June.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs, Information and Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS)) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said the conference would primarily focus on the media and the influence of artificial intelligence (AI).

“SMeC is a one-and-a-half-day programme, and we will invite external speakers. The main subject will be about the media, especially the influence of AI across various aspects.

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“Some have suggested that we discuss the role of radio. We don’t want it to become a ‘sunset’ media platform,” he told reporters after the UKAS Berambeh Raya Programme here today.

Abdullah explained that the role of the media was not limited to journalists but also involved those working behind the scenes, including editors.

“We want to celebrate the creative people behind the media in conjunction with the Sarawak state-level HAWANA.

“Although we are not hosting (the national-level HAWANA celebration), we will retain several elements from last year, like the Sarawak Premier Appreciation Award for journalists from the state and veterans,” he said.

Abdullah said that the Sarawak state-level HAWANA would also feature several sports events for media practitioners, involving three zones, namely Kuching, Sibu, and Miri.

The HAWANA celebrations this year will serve as a platform to bring together media organisations from across ASEAN, aiming to strengthen ties and cooperation while identifying the latest challenges in the industry.

--BERNAMA