Media Coverage

3 in 1 means to mix 3 ingredients together so that standardization can be ensured within a shorter time frame. It is efficient especially when it comes to making a choice considering that time is limited and you need to pick and select an item immediately. However, it might not be cost effectiveness as multiple events tend to the focus dilution. An event might be marginalised due to the significant of another event. I learned this lesson from our last LA21 activity.

MBPJ launched The National 51st Independent Day Celebration and Community Bus Service as well as presenting prizes to the winners for the Tourism Slogan and Photos Contest on last Friday. The event with the presence of community representatives, councillors and staff of MBPJ went smoothly. The event started with the singing of National Anthem, presentation of national flag, flower and publicity material to the 24 organising partners, flagging off ceremony for the mini car convoy to Kuala Trengganu on the 23th August, the launching and distribution of the flyer for community bus service and later the official launching speech by Mayor and the prize presentation. The launching of programmes for Independent Day celebration is significant as this is the the 5th year that such programmes are organised by MBPJ partnering the community organisations throughout PJ, a feet that none of other local authorities in Malaysia have done so. Similarly to the Tourism Slogan and Photos Contest, a first for MBPJ whom is eager to promote PJ as a premium tourism destination for Shopping, Health care and Educational services.

Both events were not highlighted in the news and to me, the media coverage is rather disappointing. Although 24 celebration programmes within a month is fewer than last year in which a total of 74 programmes were organised, this is sufficient and newsworthy as for the past one week media highlighted the lack of celebration activities by various agencies and corporates. I was wrong.

Media chose to highlight the service route for the community bus and the other two programmes were not reported. Media has the right to select newsworthy happenings and perhaps in this case they are having different thinking as what I have.

Perhaps for the future event, it is worthwhile to organise an event at a time so that media coverage is guaranteed.