Malaysiakini has endorsed a trained grassroots movement for a joint reporting mission during the coming general election.

Some 60 of 150 active citizen journalists were issued media tags at a gala dinner last Saturday, in conjunction with the third annual conference of Citizen Journalists Malaysia (CJMY).

This will make them the country’s first volunteer group to provide media coverage during the 13th general election in an organised manner.

They will be deployed in their states of origin and work hand-in-hand with Malaysiakini journalists, in locations such as the Klang Valley,  Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Sarawak.

The CJs received basic training in journalism and video-recording before being selected for an intensive internship programme at Malaysiakini , which began early this year.

NONE Having produced reports and videos that have often prompted swift response from various authorities, the CJMY movement will now be able to live up to its conference tagline, ‘Contributing to The Change’.

Programme manager Maran Perianen said the troop would employ a grassroots-centric method for its election coverage, to reflect local sentiments.

“They can highlight what’s happening on the ground by talking to people, to show how the grassroots view the entire electoral process and the candidates,” Maran said.

During the conference, several CJs were recognised for their contributions.

Sabah-based David Thien won the ‘Best Article’ award for his interview with renowned scientist-turned-monk Ajarn Brahms.

Sathis Kumar from Penang clinched the ‘Best Video’ award for his moving depiction of a diabetes-stricken retiree who lives in a container.

Website updated

An updated version of the CJMY website was also launched, with the addition of extensive social media modules and adoption of a new ranking system among CJs.

NONE Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who launched the website during the dinner, commended the CJs for collectively publishing over 1,900 videos and 2,000 reports.

“CJs ... have shaken up political parties, highlighted community struggles, covered religious and ethnic issues and other stories that mainstream media journalists would normally shy away from,” he noted in his speech.

Lim reminded CJs to keep in mind the values of humanity, integrity and professionalism in writing as these are “elements that make a great story”.

T NONE he three-day conference ended on Sunday with a flash mob session at a shopping mall, with 60 of them freezing in motion to demand an end to violence against journalists.

The CJMY programme is powered by International Centre for Journalists, whose vice- president Sharon Moshavi attended the conference.

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