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.
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.
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