5 mass communication

Pre-Independence Media Overview

• The Malayan media landscape during the pre-independence era spans the period from the $1800s$ to the $1950s$.

• The historical progression of Malaysian media is categorized into four primary domains: the origins of the English Press, the origins of the Malay Press, the evolution of broadcasting (Radio and Television), and the Golden Age of Malaysian Film.

Origins of the English Press in Malaysia ($19^{th}$ Century)

• The 'Government Gazette' was the first English-language newspaper established in Malaysia. It was published in Penang on $1\, \text{March}\, 1806$.

• The publication was later renamed the 'Prince of Wales Island Gazette'.

• The newspaper was established by an entrepreneur named A.B. Bone under the administration of the East India Company (British).

• The target audience was strictly limited to colonialists and expatriates; it was not designed for the general public.

• The publication lasted for a duration of $21$ years, with its final edition being released on $21\, \text{July}\, 1827$.

Origins of the English Press in Malaysia ($20^{th}$ Century)

• 'The Straits Echo': This was a daily newspaper published in Penang that operated from $1903$ to $1986$. It claimed the distinction of being the first English-language paper to represent the Chinese community.

• 'The Malaya Tribune': This daily newspaper was founded in $1914$. Its primary mission was to champion the aspirations and protect the rights of the Malayan Asian population. The publication ceased in $1951$.

Origins of the Malay Press ($19^{th}$ Century)

• During the early $1800s$, Malay-language newspapers were almost non-existent due to two primary factors:     - The poor economic status of the local community, which prevented them from funding publications.     - A lack of formal education, resulting in a low literacy rate among the population.

• 'Jawi Peranakan': Established in Singapore in $1876$, this was the first Malay-language newspaper. Its initial purpose was to disseminate information reflecting British viewpoints, though it later incorporated Arab and Egyptian perspectives.

Origins of the Malay Press ($20^{th}$ Century)

• 'Utusan Melayu': The first issue was published on $7\, \text{November}\, 1907$ by the Singapore Free Press. Its goal was to provide the Malay community with an "intelligent and impartial view of the world’s news, and current affairs of Malaya."

• Mohamed Eunos bin Abdullah:     - He served as one of the editors for 'Utusan Melayu' and is regarded as the "father of Malay journalism."     - He was a proponent of the Malay cause, focusing on cultural identity and community issues.     - In $1914$, he left 'Utusan Melayu' to edit 'Lembaga Melayu', which was the Malay edition of 'The Malaya Tribune'.     - 'Lembaga Melayu' functioned as the voice of moderate and progressive Malay opinion for many years.

Origins of Broadcasting: Radio

• 'Radio Malaya' was established on $1\, \text{April}\, 1946$ as a public broadcaster for both Singapore and the Federation of Malaya, with its headquarters originally in Singapore.

• Post-Independence Split ($1957$): Following Malaysia's independence, Radio Malaya was divided. The Singapore studio became 'Radio Singapura', and 'Radio Malaya' moved its operations to Kuala Lumpur.

• Renaming: On $16\, \text{September}\, 1969$, Radio Malaya was officially renamed 'Radio Malaysia'.

• 'Rangkaian National': On $1\, \text{January}\, 1971$, Radio Malaysia became 'Rangkaian National' (National Channel), marking the country's first $24$-hour radio station.

Origins of Broadcasting: Television

• The first TV broadcast in Malaysia began on $28\, \text{December}\, 1963$ via the government-owned station 'Televisyen Malaysia'.

• The station was officially launched by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, at $6:00pm$. The initial broadcasts were in black and white.

• Formation of RTM: In $1979$, Televisyen Malaysia merged with Radio Malaysia to form 'Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)', integrating radio and television services under one entity.

The Golden Age of Malaysian Film

• The Shaw Brothers: They dominated the cinema and film industry from the $1930s$ to the $1960s$. Their productions were a primary source of entertainment throughout Asia prior to the widespread availability of television.

• P. Ramlee (Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh): A visionary artist who defined Malaysian cinema in the $1950s$ and $1960s$.     - He began his career with 'Malay Film Productions (MFP)', owned by the Shaw Brothers.     - His films thematic focus included Malaysian identity, social issues, and cultural values.     - His work is characterized by the "old-school black-and-white" style and remains iconic in Malaysian culture.

Traditional Media vs. New Media

• Traditional Media Characteristics:     - One-way communication (sender to receiver).     - Scheduled consumption (fixed times for news/shows).     - Physical or broadcast-based (newspapers, TV, radio).     - Passive audience with no direct interaction.     - Slower news delivery speed.

• New Media Characteristics:     - Interactive and two-way communication.     - On-demand consumption (available any time).     - Digital and online-based (websites, social media).     - Active audience that engages with content.     - Instantaneous news delivery.

Q&A and Discovery Session

• The session included a discussion to discover the current state of Mass Communication today and a sharing session for students to explore the modern media landscape.