Former newsman subscribes to 10 print newspapers daily

Free Malaysia Today

19 hours ago

Media consultant and political analyst G Manimaran says many insights, especially detailed reports or archived material, are still best found in print. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR : We might be in the digital media age, but former journalist and editor G Manimaran still flips through the pages of not one – not two – but 10 newspapers daily.
For the past 30 years, the 58-year-old media consultant and political analyst has spent over RM7,000 annually on print publications. Some might consider this excessive but, to him, it is a worthwhile investment in knowledge.
'I don't see it as a waste of money. Some say you can read news online for free, but not everything is available on portals. Many insights, especially detailed reports or archives, are still best found in print,' he told Bernama when met at his home recently.
Growing up in Paloh, a small town in Kluang, Johor, Manimaran's hunger for knowledge began early. As a primary school pupil, he would save pocket money to buy a newspaper, then priced at 50 sen – a hefty sum for a child.
'When I worked as a journalist and editor, I would read at least six newspapers a day to keep up with developments and because of the competitive nature of news reporting,' he shared.
Today, he subscribes to 10 Bahasa Malaysia, English and Tamil dailies, costing him about RM600 a month, and adds Chinese papers – solely for archival purposes as he does not read Mandarin – during major national events such as general elections or budget announcements.
More than just reading material, newspapers are part of his identity and professional toolkit. His home houses a personal library stacked with archived clippings, election reports and books. Even while on vacation, he makes sure to catch up on every paper upon returning.
'I cut and keep clippings of important stories, especially on politics and policy. When I need to refer to something, I don't have to search online as I already have it. This habit has helped me immensely in writing and analysis,' he said.
He has started passing on the habit to his 10-year-old daughter, encouraging her to embrace the same reading routine that fuelled his lifelong passion.
Manimaran showing articles written by him during his time at Utusan Malaysia. (Bernama pic)
Manimaran has written three books, including 'Pilihan Raya Demokrasi Malaysia: Tanding, Pilih, Menang & Tadbir', co-authored with former Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman. It was completed in just three months during the pandemic lockdowns.
Three more books are expected in the coming months.
His love for news was shaped in his youth watching 'wayang pacak' – outdoor screenings by the information department in the 1970s and 80s that entertained and informed rural communities.
That early exposure, coupled with a fascination for current affairs, led him to a communications degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, an internship at Bernama, and a journalism career with Utusan Malaysia in 1991.
'Years of reading, archiving and analysing news naturally shaped my path into becoming a media consultant and analyst. It's all connected,' he noted.
Manimaran acknowledges the challenges facing print media today but remains optimistic – provided the industry reinvents itself.
'The role of newspapers today should not just be about breaking news, as people get that online instantly. What's needed is value-added content, insightful analyses and exclusives,' he said, likening it to how traditional kopitiam outlets blend familiarity with innovation to survive.
'Maybe someday we will read news on our smartwatches, or newspapers may be printed in A4 format, which I saw in Cambodia in 2006. But the core – credible journalism – must stay,' he concluded.