The year 2017 marks 50 years of Bernama's presence in the area of disseminating and sharing news in the country and internationally.
Over the five decades since its establishment under an Act of Parliament in 1967, the Malaysian National News Agency has served in accordance with the objectives of its formation - to prepare and disseminate widely news and information accurately and fairly in the national interest.
In his congratulatory message, Bernama chairperson Azman Ujang said that in the 50 years of its existence, Bernama has played a successful role as a disseminator of accurate and truthful information, news, images, audio and visuals.
He said he was proud and hoped that Bernama would continue to be relevant in a drastically changing media landscape, especially with the social media and news portals inclined towards releasing supposedly dramatic news that is often found to be false.
It is in this aspect, he said, Bernama played an instrumental role in safeguarding and disseminating truthful news to counter the false and, ultimately, getting it to be accepted by readers, listeners and viewers as authentic.
In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee celebration, Bernama made arrangements for the release of a special commemorative stamp that was launched today by general manager Zulkefli Salleh at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur.
At a press conference on the celebration, Zulkefli said Bernama, which started out by providing the basic service of news reports, has developed into a media organisation that delivers various services, such as radio and television broadcasts, content provision, multimedia products, event management and portal operations.
He said that to meet the latest requirements of broadcasting and information communication technology, Bernama equips its staff with knowledge and training especially to enhance its skills in journalism as well as technological knowledge in media-related fields.
Bernama, he said, has arranged for various events in conjunction with its Golden Jubilee celebration as a token of appreciation to its long-serving and new staff, loyal media and non-media clients as well as readers and viewers of its news and information products over the past 50 years.
The highlight of the celebration is the Bernama Golden Jubilee Appreciation Dinner at the Dewan Perdana Felda in Kuala Lumpur on May 22, 2017, that is scheduled to be attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, cabinet ministers, corporate leaders, and media and non-media clients as well as long-serving and new Bernama staff.
That night, several awards are to be presented to those who contributed to help build Bernama to what it is today. These awards include a Special Award for the creator of the Bernama logo, the first batch of Bernama staff and appreciation for Bernama's loyal clients.
Among the guest artistes who will perform on that night are Khatijah Ibrahim and the Suara Band buskers.
- Bernama
