RTM needs more than just extra funds and staff

RTM needs RM385 million and an additional 1,000 workers to improve its services, according to newly-appointed Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir (formerly Minister of Cuture, Arts and Tourism).

He also reportedly said: “We want to set a high standard, style and benchmark for other stations to follow. The Government should set the standard for the private sector and it should not be the other way around” (New Straits Times, 7 April, page 4).

Hardly anyone will dispute the minister that RTM is in dire need of improvement. However, we think his ideas for achieving it are inadequate because he was focusing only on the hardware side of the RTM problem, as in acquiring the latest digital technology and refurbishing the studios.

A different mission needed

We hope he will also consider the software side, which is arguably more important. RTM should work on improving its programs especially in two major areas.

First, RTM programs should not be a slave to ratings in order to chase after large
advertising ringgit. Since funding for RTM comes largely from taxpayers, the national
broadcaster should be free from the mentality that grips private, commercial TV stations of airing frivolous entertainment to draw the attention of viewers to be sold to advertisers.

Rather, it should acquire or develop entertainment-based programs that go beyond merely jostling for public attention. The programs should also be educational and get the public to think critically or consider the various aspects of an issue.

As long as the programs are created with high production values, educational does not mean lacking in entertainment. It is not one or the other. For example, the children's programme “Sesame Street” shown on US Public TV, which does not carry commercial advertisements and is largely funded by tax dollars, is educational, fun and entertaining. This wonderful program has been a tremendous success since the 1970s in providing educational points in an entertaining way to children not just in the US but also throughout the world.

In other words, RTM should avoid offering programs aimed at the “lowest common
denominator” of the mass audience and pander to their wants. They should challenge the audience to think for themselves and in a critical way. That is the essence of interactivity.

After all, we already have enough private TV stations jostling for large audience and
advertising ringgit with their “lowest common denominator” programming.

If abandoning the “lowest common denominator” approach means RTM programmes are more elitist, that should not be a problem, should it? Given that the private, commercial stations are slaves to ratings and always on the lookout for attention-grabbing programmes, only RTM is in a good position to offer programs that are food for thought, thanks to the taxpayers. RTM should take full advantage of that.

In short, RTM should be different or have a different mission from those of the private stations. This will add to the diversity of TV programmes for the viewers.
The second area of programming RTM needs to work on concerns the news and current affairs programmes. RTM currently needs a lot of work in this area.

The main problem with these RTM programs for the longest time now is that they are
mouthpieces or cheerleaders for the Barisan Nasional. That is a blatant abuse of tax money.

Taxpayers are not all BN supporters. Even in one of its most resounding victories in the election on 21 March, the BN managed to capture only about 63 per cent of the popular votes. There are also many non-BN supporters and they are just as Malaysian and patriotic. It will be the height of conceit if the BN thinks it has a monopoly on patriotism or what it takes to be Malaysian.

People from the opposition parties as well as civil society groups and non-governmental organizations are also tax-paying Malaysian citizens. They, in their own way, also toil diligently and peacefully to help create a better Malaysia for all.

Their views and activities are also important and RTM should not ignore them, as they have been doing. They should also stop the childish behaviour of covering opposition parties only in connection to negative events.

Yes, the views of the opposition, activists and NGOs often differ from those of the BN but is that a reason for RTM to deny them air time? Is the BN afraid of differing views? Do BN members think they are the only ones who have all the right answers?

Benefits of fair and balanced approach

By incorporating news and views from other than the BN in their news and current events programmes, RTM will go a long way in cultivating something that is shamefully and sorely missing in the mainstream media--a fair and balanced approach to journalism. Such an approach will have at least four major benefits.

First, it will bring about news and current events programmes that are not so predictable to the public and a turn-off for them. It also treats the public as adults and respects their intelligence. Surely, this will create additional appeal for the programmes; no one likes to have their intelligence insulted.

Second, the public will be well informed to think and decide for themselves when the programmes offer differing views. This benefit cannot be overestimated today when information has become a major part of the globalised economy and culture. When people are informed and challenged to think and decide for themselves, they will be empowered to be more independent thinkers. This brings with it an untold amount of other benefits. For instance, people will be motivated to be creative, and we all know how important creativity is to the economy and culture today.

Yet another benefit of programmes offering different views is that people would have
adequate information to decide on voting for a political party or candidate during an election. The winning candidates can then genuinely take pride in their victories knowing they were well earned. They will be truly respected and admired by the public as well.

The fourth major benefit of RTM taking a fair and balanced approach to news and current events programming is that it will help achieve Information Minister Kadir’s aim for RTM--to set a “benchmark for other stations to follow”. So far, the other stations have very much ignored news or views not from the BN or acted as though they could not be bothered with them. RTM could help change that if it were to take the lead in fair and balanced journalism.

The taxpayer-supported national broadcaster can be improved and even made into a path-breaking broadcaster if it is willing to offer programmes that are fair and balanced as well as educational and thought-provoking.