3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
We are sorry, prime minister
PETALING JAYA : The misuse of video outtakes on social media has become a growing concern recently, with netizens editing clips to malign public personalities, distort narratives and mislead audiences.
With content zipping around social media almost instantaneously, an innocent moment can be turned into a controversy almost immediately.
Unfortunately, FMT found itself a victim of this recently, with our popular Malay news presenter Nur Hailee Izzati unwittingly putting herself in the spotlight.
Hailee had on May 30 posted a seemingly harmless outtake of herself laughing as she struggled to begin reading a news item that made mention of the prime minister.
Unfortunately, the video clip was misused by a netizen who edited it to include a disparaging caricature of the prime minister, making it appear as though FMT and Hailee were mocking him.
As a result, Hailee was forced to issue an apology, which she readily did.
Misused video outtakes can cause grave reputational damage which may be hard to undo. The consequences can also be severe, with both FMT and Hailee receiving instant backlash from all corners, bringing harm to the brand and jeopardising careers.
Ultimately, media outlets like FMT and journalists like Hailee must exercise care in what they do both in their professional and personal capacities.
Meanwhile, netizens, many of whom are now themselves content creators, must do their part by consuming and using content ethically to maintain proper digital discourse.
That is a tough ask, and can only be achieved if everyone plays their part.
FMT and Hailee regret the manipulation of one of our unused video clips in a way that has brought ridicule to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
We sincerely apologise to him and to all our readers and viewers.
