Going off the beaten path

“Why did you become a journalist?”

I’ve been asked this questions several times. Usually I would just smile and refute: “Why not?”

Why Journalism

Four years ago, I had a hard time explaining to my peers the reason I had decided to abandon a seemingly brighter career in engineering to study journalism, too.

The most common reaction I received when I told my friends I wanted to become a reporter was: “But why, you scored 5As in STPM?!” They only stopped short of saying out loud: “Are you mad?!”

Fortunately, my family and best friends were supportive of my decision.

At that time, I didn’t know public confidence in the media was at its all-time low. I didn’t know how oppressive an environment the media was, and still is, operating in. I didn’t know the print and broadcast media were owned by or linked to Barisan Nasional. I didn’t know about the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, or the Communications and Multimedia Act. I didn’t even read the newspapers every day.

I admit, I was an apathetic and naive youth.

I decided to study journalism because I wanted to become a writer, that was all.

And I thought being able to meet all sorts of people – politicians, corporate people, artists etc – on the job was cool.

But buried deep down, which I’ve only dare mentioned to a few, is that, I thought it would be awesome to become an investigative journalist – to reveal instances of injustice, uncover governments’ wrongdoings and corporations’ abuses, speaking up for the marginalised and most importantly, standing up for what’s right.

Oh yes, I was an idealist, and still is.

Political Awakening

I wasn’t interested in politics.

During my undergraduate years, I had to choose between a minor in political science or advertising so I chose the lesser of the two evils.

That was when I first received my political education – about democracy, human rights and different political systems worldwide.

Then the 2008 political tsunami happened.

I was in awe and started to take an active interest in Malaysian politics. “We’re living in exciting times,” people were whispering to each other.

Hope was in the air.

I remember thinking: I wished I was already a journalist then. I wished I had the chance to cover the historic elections and witness history first-hand as it unfolds.

A Journalist now, so?

It’s been three years since 2008. I graduated in May 2010, worked at online news site The Nut Graph for three months before it scaled down its operations, and joined a new community paper called Selangor Times in Nov 2010.

It’s been a humbling journey.

My university education and The Nut Graph exposed me to national politics, and I’m learning about community issues and how local politics work now at Selangor Times.

“Why do I want to become a journalist?”

The question still pops up in my mind from time to time, especially at times when being a journalist becomes merely that – a job.

(to be continued...)