I am no journalist, just an ordinary Malaysian who needs to work 10 hours a day to keep his family together. I cannot write as well as Jacqueline Ann Surin ([#1]Unfair comment on journalists[/#], Dec 8), but surely, am able to read as well as she.

I do not know what professional journalism is all about and what is required of journalists when carrying out their duty, both ethically and morally. But I do know what is right and what is wrong, and what I am reading and what you are writing.

So, may I suggest that those in the mainstream media, before going about defending themselves and the media companies they work for, first ask themselves an honest question: What's wrong with the mainstream media and their journalists today?

When what is reported is not exactly what is happening, then something is wrong with the journalist and the media who published it should be held responsible. Ordinary Malaysians like me have turned away from the mainstream media and TV news to malaysiakini , freemalaysia , etc. Why?

Zakiah Koya need not promote malaysiakini ; the online daily promotes itself simply because we, the readers, know the difference between the mainstream media and malaysiakini . Surin, too, should know, for her words, "But I think it is time for malaysiakini to acknowledge that by running Zakiah's article, it has not lived up to the standards of responsible journalism, accurate reporting or fair comment" evoke the same incredulous response to our PM's comments on Anwar Ibrahim's trial, that "If this is not a fair trial, then I don't know what is a fair trial!"

We all know what is for real; we are not stupid.