FIVE DECADES OF JOURNALISM: A TIRELESS JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND TECHNOLOGY

By Mohd Noor Iqram Rosli

PASIR PUTEH, May 16 (Bernama) -- The world of journalism has not been immune to the sweeping tide of technological advancement, evolving from ink and paper to keyboards and touch screens. Yet for Wan Muhamad Wan Adam, 78, his passion for writing has remained unwavering, undeterred by the changing times.

For over five decades, the native of Cik Siti Wan Kembang served as a part-time journalist with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), adapting gracefully to shifts in writing styles, language, and technology, never once voicing a complaint.

bootstrap slideshow

Few would have imagined that his journey into the world of writing began quietly among the bookshelves of a bookstore in Pasir Puteh, where he, at age 25, worked as a manager. That was in 1972.

“I started by writing about the lives of fishermen, farmers, and villagers, then sent those stories to Utusan Melayu and Berita Harian. Back then, it wasn’t about the payment, I just wanted the voices of ordinary people to be heard,” he recalled in a recent interview with Bernama at Kampung Telaga Gayong.

Alongside his job as a general worker at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kamil 1, Wan Muhamad joined Bernama as a part-time journalist in 1973 and remained dedicated to the agency for a remarkable 50 years. Half a century may have passed, but his spirit for storytelling never dimmed.

“I have gone through countless ups and downs, all to ensure that accurate information reaches the people,” he shared.

Reflecting on the significant changes in journalism over the years, Wan Muhamad recalled witnessing the evolution of Malay spelling firsthand, a transformation few today would remember.

“We used to write ‘dzat’, now it’s ‘zat’. Words like ‘tidor’, ‘kampong’, ‘warong’, they have all changed with the times. I consider myself fortunate to have experienced that transition with my own eyes,” he said with a smile, reminiscing about the nostalgia of handwritten news reports.

A father of three and grandfather to ten, Wan Muhamad has also seen how technology has reshaped the writing landscape.

“I used to scribble my reports with a pen in a notebook. Now, it’s all done with mobile phones and laptops. It’s certainly faster, but the challenges are different,” he reflected.

Sharing the joys, sorrows and unforgettable memories of his career, Whan Muhamad recalled one of the most defining moments of his life as a journalist.

It was in the 1980s while covering an assignment in Lojing, Gua Musang, a time when proper roads had yet to reach the remote area, and communist insurgents still posed a threat in the dense forest.

“I followed the late Tan Sri Mohamed Yaacob, who was then the Kelantan Menteri Besar, along with a team of soldiers on foot from Lojing to Cameron Highlands. There were no paved roads, just forest trails, and the fear was real. But for the sake of telling stories for the community, I was willing to take that risk,” he said, the memory still vivid in his mind.

As the country prepares to celebrate National Journalists Day (HAWANA) on May 29, Wan Muhamad offers words of wisdom to media practitioners, especially in an era dominated by rapid technological advancements and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Always be ready to adapt to change. But remember, the soul of a journalist doesn’t reside in gadgets or technology, it lives in the spirit and honesty of conveying the truth,” he said.

The highlight of the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebration will be on June 14 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).

The event, scheduled to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to draw around 1,000 media practitioners from local and international organisations.

Now in its fifth edition since its inception in 2018, HAWANA remains an important platform to honour and recognise the vital role and contributions of journalists in nation-building.

-- BERNAMA