Astro takes down ‘damage control’ article

By admin-s On Jul 21, 2014

Satellite TV station Astro Awani has taken down an article, criticised by some journalists, in which a columnist called for doing away with Question & Answer sessions at press conferences, in order to carry out better “damage control”.

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Taken down by Astro Awani a day after publication

The writer, Astro Awani reporter and news anchorIzzah Izelan, called for only Bahasa Malaysia to be used at press conferences, even if attended by international press.

She also called for a “pawn” to be appointed as spokesperson — perhaps she meant a scapegoat who would appear in public and thus spare the blushes of bumbling politicians or officials.

Several journalists were aghast at the suggestions, especially the one that no Q&A sessions be held. “The whole point of us reporters attending press conferences is to ask questions,” one journalist said on Facebook. “We’re not there to just to take down what they want to say,” another journalist said.

Why journos shouldn’t be allowed to ask questions

Izza said this would:

‘minimize even further, any opportunity for errors, opportunity for merciless attacks by questioners, and opportunity for the speaker to look stupid in front of the entire world. No offence. Also, because every information that we know and want to announce, would have been included in the statement prepared (as I mentioned in point #2) so everything else that people would want to ask would be things that we have yet to verify (hence no point in them asking, and us attempting to answer with a “We will have to check on that”).

A couple of journalists and friends were so taken aback by the article they thought it was meant as a joke, perhaps written ironically or as satire. “I had to read it again to make sure, I think she sincerely believes what she wrote,” said one.