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KUALA LUMPUR: ‘Etika Teras Kewartawanan Mapan’ has been chosen as the theme of this year’s National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) celebration slated to be held in Kuching, Sarawak, from May 25 to 27.
The selection of the theme was announced at the HAWANA 2024 Strategic Partners meet-and-greet event graced by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil at the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) headquarters, Wisma Bernama, here today.
Present were Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communication and Creative Industry) Nik Kamaruzaman Nik Husin, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) director Samuel Simon.
At the event, Fahmi also launched the HAWANA 2024 logo, which features the silhouette of the Hornbill, an icon of Sarawak also known as the Rhinoceros Hornbill, categorised as the largest species of hornbill in the world.
The HAWANA 2024 logo has the four colours found on the Malaysian flag, namely red, blue, and yellow, symbolising cultural and racial diversity, and depicting the three regions, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, that form Malaysia.
The logo also includes an illustration of a pen to depict the world of journalism, where journalists write and report news without borders for the benefit of society.
HAWANA 2024 in Kuching will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on May 27.
The date of May 29 was chosen as National Journalists’ Day in commemoration of the first publication of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939.
The first HAWANA was held on April 11, 2018, at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur with the theme ‘Championing the People, Building the Nation’, successfully gathering 1,000 media practitioners from across the country.
HAWANA was not held for three years from 2019 to 2021 due to COVID-19.
In 2022, HAWANA returned with the theme of ‘Suara Jelata, Aspirasi Negara’ (People’s Voice, National Aspiration), organised by the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia (now the Ministry of Communication) in collaboration with the Melaka State Government and Bernama.
Last year, Bernama once again hosted HAWANA in Ipoh, Perak, with the theme of ‘Media Bebas, Tunjang Demokrasi’ (Free and Secure Media, a Pillar for Democracy).