Birdseye commented :
“Since the government is not ever going to tell them to print what they want, we, the people, can help to speed up their demise by not buying the papers. The internet provides all the news I care about so I have not bought a newspaper for the last three years.”
That’s what I, too, have been doing for some time now, until two nights ago.
Had a chat with someone on Monday night last and, as he rightly pointed out, the newspapers don’t care two hoots about the RM1.20 that we pay to read the rubbish they churn out.
That’s probably petty cash to them.
Their revenue comes from the sale of advertisement space.
Not buying their papers will not really hurt the newspaper companies.
Not buying products advertised in those papers, though, just might, if it became common knowledge in the commercial world that products and services were being boycotted because they were being advertised in a particular news daily.
It might also drive home the point that corporate citizens must also play their part in encouraging honest and transparent news reporting.
Birdseye, that’s what I’m doing.
I am going to boycott all products and services advertised in our local newspapers.
The People's Parliament 
yh
November 14, 2007
haris
when the sale of papers dry up, advertisement will go the same way. simply, if there are less readers, there is less incentive to advertise.
i have steadfastly boycotted nasty pee and his gang of related papers since their unfair suit against jeff ooi and rocky. after decades of support for “THE PEOPLE’s” paper, i am now jettison the now state propaganda paper.
Here, I come “THE SUN” and I am going to subscribe for “Malaysiakini”. My only wish is that they will be fair in their reporting and partisanship, please. Steven Gan and Nadeswaran gang of writers, thats all I ask.
And I exhort all readers to dump any state propaganda papers. It hits them where is hurt most and that is the most effective way to stop them from deviating from their role as credible publisher of news to become state apparatus to deceive the public.
yh,
Boycott papers + boycott of products and services advertised = quicker demise of liars & government propaganda machinery
Ellie
November 14, 2007
Pondans? Nazri called them pondans? Obviously he uses the term to refer to cowards,not homosexuals.
Isn’t the one who dare not do battle on a level-playing field and without cheating the coward?
Nazri,you pondan,try looking at yourself first.One who alleges wrongs in others that he himself is most guilty of is known as,yes,a hypocrite.The Cabinet is full of them.Birds of a feather flock together huh?
carboncopy
November 14, 2007
Lets have a well publicise one week (or more) no paper boycott. Call your own vendors to stop subscription for the week. Maybe CIJM and BERSIH can work together on this?
ewoon
November 14, 2007
As i was mulling over the 10-Eleven Yellow Walk, similar line of thoughts crossed my mind.
This historic event can be used to argue the case that the mainstream newspapers are NO LONGER RELEVANT.
They don’t report the truth. They help spread lies. They are propaganda machines. They have no credibility.
They are the enemy of the rakyat.
Who needs them, anyway? Advertisers should re-evaluate their media strategies and be proactive.
The turnout for 10-Eleven is proof that online news media is taking over. Did any mainstream newspaper help promote the event? No sireee but look at the turnout … i would put the numbers at >100K.
Down with mainstream newspapers! Boycott them. Let their advertisers know how we feel.
Eric,
I’ll take it one step further.
The mainstream media reporting on 10-Eleven vindicates the BERSIH memo complaint about media space for the alternative viewpoint come elections.
Birdseye
November 14, 2007
Haris,
You’re right that advertising revenue is key to their survival and makes it possible for papers like The Sun** to be given away free. The point to remember is that circulation numbers do have a role in determining the rates advertisers have to pay. In a rational world, advertisers will not pay high rates if the circulation numbers are low. Thus reducing the number of readers will hit the papers both ways.
I also agree with you that boycotting products and services can send a powerful message. However, they are so numerous in number that I don’t think it will be effective unless we collectively focus on certain targets. Some may feel that is not a responsible role for bloggers. There are the workers in such companies to think about.
But as Yoda will say, sock it to the papers we must. Question is how.
I still have 3 caps made for the Bersih event (yellow cap with the Bersih logo embroidered on it) the other day. See picture sent to you @gmail.com. I’ll send them to you to be given away to the three proposals you deem to be the most novel or practical, after you. Just for the fun of it.
**By the way, the mamak bistro near where I live hides The Sun so customers will have to buy the Star or NST.
Birdseye,
Your point of view about workers in companies whose products are advertised in the papers, if taken to its furthest possible, would work to paralyse any initiative to rehabilitate a system of governance that has gone desperately wrong.
Might it not also mean that I am also irresponsible to my employees, given my activities, as it may jeopardise their livelihood?
Workers in those companies must also be made aware that their employers are part of a support system that sustains a government that is robbing them and their progeny of any hope of a decent future in this country.
farida
November 14, 2007
I have just called my news vendor and cancelled my subscription to the Star. I asked for the Sun instead and he said it sometimes comes early and sometimes late. I told him he didn’t matter and to charge me delivery of 30 sen per issue though he said delivery charge is only for offices and companies.
By the way, birdseye, the 7-11 outlet near my house also hides the Sun under the counter and when i ask for it, I either get a ‘Finished’ answer or he sheepishly takes it out and hands it over to me.
.
Paul Warren
November 14, 2007
The advertisers have to know that by advertising in The Star, they too carry the burden of the lie propagated by The Star. Similarly the papers in the NST groups as well.
The question I would like to ask all these so called honourable advertisers is, how can we trust what they claim in their advertisements carried by a newspaper or a broadcast medium that lies to its audience and readers? Can the advertisers honestly say that what was reported by all these media over the 10/11 was honest and the truth? Was there not an attempt to deceive and lie to the people of the truth of what happened?
I dare say that the lackadisical attitude the advertisers take over the character and behaviour of the media in which they advertise speak volumes of themselves too. That being the case I wonder if the same also applies to their products and services.
Elanor
November 14, 2007
Dear Haris,
I read your blog daily and am truly gladdened by your passion. I share most of your sentiments.
This might be a minor quibble, but I disagree with the boycotting the advertised goods part you suggested, on the ground of economics. Refusing to buy the newspaper itself however, makes more sense.
I won’t bore you with an analysis, but to share a crude analogy, think of the boycotting of Danish goods.
Anak Malaysia,
Elanor
yh
November 14, 2007
farida
way to go and you have company. no more STAR paper for me. if the SUN goes the same way, I will not hesitate to jettison it.
Moses Foo
November 14, 2007
In order to prioritise, think of (mister) pareto…80-20. Think of some of the top 20% payers of the 80% ads revenue and we can send a message to them, loud enough for them to push the media bosses to re-evaluate why do they took up the media profession in the first place.
I for one don’t have Astro in my house, hardly watch tv.
newspaper? Hmmm…lets go all out then?
Ben
November 14, 2007
Hallelujah! We have seen the light! For a while I have been wondering whether I did the right thing by boycotting the mainstream media, newspaper and TV news, 6 years ago. Now I know I did the right thing and definitely have a better perspective reading real news like M2Day, socio-politic blogs and of course People’s Parliament. Thats the way we do it.
carboncopy
November 15, 2007
kudos to farida.
the question is how to mobilise masses? Maybe we can start with mob1900 style images to post on our respective blogs.
Avtaran
November 15, 2007
Boycotting the paper is one thing. Boycotting ALL the goods and services advertised is another thing all together. I agree with Elanor.
Buying the paper is important not from the monetary perspective but from the circulation aspect. If the circulation goes down the advertisers will become weary and look for alternatives. But government linked newspapers will always have advertisers from their patrons. No hope of killing off the revenue in any meaningful manner.
We must thnk things through not shoot from the hip. If not we become what we want to change. Bravado is one thing but being hasty is not the solution.
Advertisers need alternatives. Moving some of the advertisement to the web is an option. This is the trend in developed countries.
There must not be knee jerk reactions but well thought through actions and solutions. I am willing to sit down with anyone to discuss this further.
Let’s face it, Malaysians in general are a bunch of talkers. Having that in mind we need to tackle issues with that knowledge and see how best to ‘educate’.
Avtaran, Elanor, i hear you both.
No, we do not want to become what we want to change.
And, yes, we do not want knee-jerk reactions.
Please feel free to use this blog as the cyber forum to strategise.
animah
November 15, 2007
If you boycott all goods and services advertised in the papers, you will have to terminate your phonelines, your internet account – no longer be able to blog, Astro (not watch Al Jazeera), not be able to buy fuel for your car, use toll highways, close your bank accounts, cancel your credit cards, even stop WWF contributions. And you will no longer be able to be part of what you so strongly believe in.
Don’t cut your nose to spite your face.
Just stop buying the papers – yes advertisers do look at circulation figures.
But what are the alternatives – more ugly advertising billboards?
shar101
November 15, 2007
Time to reflect on boycotting the goods and services option, bro.
Not a good idea.
As for the MSM hardcopies, yes. The fourth estate has been effectively neutered, via the top echelon editorial staff, to ‘toe the line’ with BN propaganda.
Nonetheless, I’ve met individuals from the Star and M.Mail who are pushing the envelope despite the constraints. And let’s not forget NST’s AD’s priceless incisive interview with NA recently. Can we not have constructive engagements with these upstanding journos to chart our mutual future course? After all, the ‘hidden’ key to a better fourth estate lie in the hands of shareholders.
The advent of Web.2 point towards information dissemination via the new electronic medium. It’s already happening in the developed nations, so much so, that advertisers are capitalising on the Net as their new frontier to reach the masses.
Hence, let’s have more pragmatic strategies, shall we.
Yes, people let’s come up with a game plan!
Shar, I like the idea of engaging the good guys and gals in the journo world.
Want to try and organise something?
shar101
November 15, 2007
Haris,
Here’s a link to provide insight on the power of the Net:
http://jelas.info/2007/11/14/govt-lies-about-microsoft-survey-on-blogs-deceptive-repackaging-to-mislead-rakyat
to lend credence on where advertisers are going.
Game plan? Input from others will be highly appreciated.
Helen Ang
November 18, 2007
I’ll walk you guys here through Journalism 101, Malaysian syllabus. Forget Woodward & Bernstein.
In free-to-air TV, programme breaks are slotted between the commercials. Haris writes that newspaper revenue comes from the sale of advertisement space. That’s correct. Advertising is King, Marketing Queen. But I’m not sure how far people outside the media/publishing industry are able to latch on to this aspect though to me, it’s as clear as day.
About the cover price of newspapers: RM1.20 will not cover their cost of newsprint, ink & operating expenditure, especially with some of the ‘bumper’ issues that can knock a person out if you hit him over the head with it – it’s that thick with pages & heavy … chockfull of ads & advertorials.
Now which will hurt the papers more? Birdseye’s views are cogent. I’d go with hit their circulation first. The papers are practically anal over numbers crunching. That’s why The Sun rose in a tizzy when AC Nielsen gave that free paper a poorer readership than its two English competitors. Then The Sun fairly eclipsed itself trying to explain away the ratings agency’s methodology as being faulty.
Media planners look at audited circulation figures & readership demographics when they map their ad campaign. So a lower readership is less attractive to advertisers who want their money’s worth in terms of reach.
Paul Warren, you made a trenchant comment: “The question I would like to ask all these so called honourable advertisers is, how can we trust what they claim in their advertisements carried by a newspaper or a broadcast medium that lies to its audience & readers?”
That’s the line to take! Remember People’s Parliament last tango with Pizza Hut where we had visitors posting that they’d stop patronising the outlet? PH sat up & paid attention.
About boycott, note, Animah: “If you boycott all goods & services advertised in the papers, you will” … [be cutting off your nose to spite your face] & Moses Foo: “Think of some of the top 20% payers of the 80% ads revenue”. You’ve both got it right.
So the strategy is: We speak with one voice, loudly, widely in cyberspace (engage blogosphere), with one game plan & target selected big advertisers who think we’re stupid.
One example: CIMB. It obviously paid enough to The Star for that ‘newspaper’ to move heaven & earth for it. On Sept 8, 2006, the paper placed the bank’s ad at its masthead position, i.e. where its red logo usually resides tagging itself “The People’s Paper”. Screenshots has the story titled ‘We would move The Star for you’ & pix at http://www.jeffooi.com/2006/09/
An advertiser, such as CIMB, that believes a newspaper can be so bought (I won’t waste my breath on the other half of the equation – the ones ‘selling’) is definitely in our shortlist. We’ll keep an eye out for which other ones.
Shar 101, you said: “Nonetheless, I’ve met individuals from the Star and M.Mail who are pushing the envelope despite the constraints & let’s not forget NST’s AD’s priceless incisive interview with NA recently. Can we not have constructive engagements with these upstanding journos to chart our mutual future course?”
Shar, pls read my most recent mKini column.
But Shar, you want reform in the Fourth Estate to come from within the system? Reflect on my analogy: Umno can be reformed from within. Realistic?
And do you think AD’s “priceless incisive interview with NA recently” would have been published with its naughty bits intact if it had not got the green light from her bosses? Do you think reporters have any role or any say at this level of decision-making? Or do you allow that the owners & political masters set the agenda?
Haris wrote the above post in disgust at the spin over 10-11. As I write this (four days later), there’s been more spin amounting to a psych war, which tells us what, Shar? (If you like Shar, we can discuss your optimism – which to me seems a tad misplaced – further over a private channel & not bore the others. My e-mail: z.sunday@yahoo.com)
In my comment to Haris’ earlier post “Why I will walk tomorrow”, I mentioned my NST senior, an award-winning environmental journo. This is what I remember of her. She was dedicated, diligent, passionate about the cause (‘greenie meanie’, but a lovely person), had a nose for news & a darn good writer who valiantly, as Shar would say, tried “to push the envelope”.
Immediately after giving her resignation letter, she just walked out. I consider her a friend & know the story but her frustrations are not within my purview to share with this audience.
Nonetheless, what I know about the NST set-up: In the old days (but before my time), the paper’s greats were Indians. With the passing years, its editorial-corporate structure has become so Malay-ised (politics, that’s why NST is known as government mouthpiece) that its performance is similarly NEP-ised.
Recently I had a chat with a dear friend. She’s Malay & my former NST colleague. I asked her: “Who do you think is the Chinese holding the most senior editorial position in NST today?” She gave it brief thought & replied: Probably X (a mutual friend of ours) & we had a laugh, because X is someone from our batch (& we’re not that old!). NST has an attrition rate of its Chinese staff … I don’t have to elaborate why.
However, those who were editors when I was a rookie are today mostly Datuks … I don’t have to elaborate why either, do I?
… to be continued, if there are takers & Haris permits. This is already too lengthy for a comment.
Haris permits. Please do continue.
Others, please get in on this. This is a very important aspect of any ‘move-forward’ strategy and needs to be well thought out.
Helen Ang
November 28, 2007
This discussion continues at ‘Helen’s Journalism 101’ thread.
Din Merican
November 29, 2007
Dear Haris,
Shalom to you.
The “media arus perdana” is a disgrace. They are–and have been–flouting the rules of their craft, which is to report fairly and with a sense of responsibility. In stead, their editors are hired persons to do the bidding of the UMNO-BN clique.They have become instruments of propaganda and misinformation for the political establishment.
I fully support the boycott by the public of the major newspapers like the NST, The Star, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia and others. This initiative should be welcome by all Malaysians. But please use it as means to also promote the cause of free media and freedom of speech.
Thanks, Haris, for your public spiritedness and I hope I will have a chance to meet up with you and Malek Imtiaz Sarwar.
Regards, Din Merican (din.merican@gmail.com)
Shalom Din.
Sending you the photo of you in the BERSIH rally soon
VicRail
November 29, 2007
What a wonderful idea.
However, may I suggest a hybrid of the “Boycott of advertisers” –
That we do is to pick a day in December or January – say December 20th. Then we set up a campaign to encourage everyone to boycott any advertiser that appears on that day in the Star / NST newspapers.
That way we are all focussed on the products to e boycotted. That way – even the advertisers are focussed on what day to avoid. And on that day – the Star will lose alot of money !
Fait acompli !
Easier to manage . And easier to ensure success.
So how ?
As an on-going thing – we could even make it that every 20th of every month is the boycott day. So, after awhile – all advertisers will avoid the 20th day of the month. And the newspapers will feel this pinch.
VicRail ( vicrail (at)gmail.com )
balmen
November 30, 2007
VicRail’s suggestion sounds good. I intend to boycott all MSM on the 20th of every month to start with.
Valter
December 1, 2007
why do not think abt the setting up of a “folio” to be distribute at the monorail stations, LRT, Commuter. In many countries “free” papers are widespread and they usually carry the real indipendent information. “The SUN” is a clear example of how you can fast vehiculate a paper (lately you can find in almost everybody hands).
CTLee
December 1, 2007
The idea of boycotting the mainstream newspaper is good. But will the impact be significant? It will end up with the insignificant numbers of us ‘enlightened’ intellectuals who will be doing the boycotting.
Why not ‘BERSIH’ or some relevant ‘Ngos’ organise another peaceful (multi-racial) march to the Ministry of Information or the newspaper coperate offices to protest the rots in the media reporting. This will catch the attention of our fellow Malaysians whether urban or rural so as to arouse their interest in the issue, in particular before the coming GE.
Why not also write to our fellow reporters in the press to have their own inhouse protest or boycot. I believe there are still righteous people among them. ( Better still resign in protest if your conscience pricks you ).
We have one senior politician from the Gerakan and one from the MIC who had stick out their heads to speak the truth. Will we have some one from the Press?
CTLee
You ask whether a boycott would have asignificant impact?
Why don’t we give it a try first, before we look at other options?
Helen Ang
December 1, 2007
CT Lee,
My cousin Kee Thuan Chye, a veteran journo, HAS stuck his neck out to speak the truth. Pls read:
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/11/19/kee-thuan-chye-on-kerismuddin-and-spaceman/
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/11/23/kee-thuan-chye-interview-2-a-culture-of-fearing-the-truth/
However, it’s my strong opinion that others within the system will not follow suit. They will not turn around to bite the hand that feeds them. They are enjoying their paycheques, perks, payolas, junkets and countless other benefits.
I do not believe reform can emerge from the inside.
Yong
December 1, 2007
I stop reading newspaper since last year! Will continue to do so.
Can we list out some companies that we want to ban?
How about this year end, xmas and new year break, DO NOT TAKE PLUS! All go by the old highway! Will be fun!
How about taking this as a protest this festive session. NO PLUS! And we can stop by kampung.
Haris, can you guy start something, everyone take the old road! everyone wear Yellow! Tell the kampung people to set up store/food business.
We can also take the opportunity to tell the kampung people NOT TO VOTE BN!
How about that, 2 birds with one stone!
EVERYONE NOT USING PLUS! I promise NOT TO USE PLUS to go back to PENANG THIS HOLIDAY!
Yong
susah-hati
December 1, 2007
Now is the time boycott all the government mouthpieces
NST,MALAY MAIL, Utusan and the Rest.Turn to independent
news sources.Dont read bullshit.We cannot be fooled anymore.
Kean
December 2, 2007
To do something is FAR BETTER then doing nothing!! So to those who hesitate to boycott the newspaper, don’t complaint next year when the petrol, toll, electric and water bill rose high up. You choose to keep silence so be it when the government rise the price after the election.
I agree that we boycott them during the festival season. No point doing it randomly and it won’t make an impact on those MSM companies. Make it a big event like the Bersih/Hindraf rally and boycott them for 1 or 2 weeks before the Christmas and New Year festival.
I’ve been boycotting local newspaper for more then 2 years and I happy to continue until they are free from the grasp of our useless government. Want local news? Goggle la, duh. Why so stupid paying RM1.50 for The Star just to read all those lies!
abanghamza
December 3, 2007
Press freedom is one of the fundamental ingredients of a civil developed country, which our Bolehland will sadly not be able to claim a right to. I don’t see it happening as long as the BN Govt is in power. All it seeks to do is to try and mislead the people and “control” their minds through falsehood and inaccurate reporting. Thank God for the internet!
CTLee
December 4, 2007
Helen Ang,
I agree with you that reform cannot come from within.
The mainstream media is used us a propaganda mouthpiece for the BN government. During past GE’s, they had put up full page advertisements to subtlely threaten the electorates to vote for them.
In the STAR yesterday (3th Dec), the EC Chairman was quoted to say that the PM had always encourage him to be fair. If that is so, can we demand that he make a ruling that no advertisements be allowed from ALL political parties during the coming GE campaign period. Failing which we shall make a report to SUHAKAM or other international bodies to expose their so called “fairness”
ipohcrite
December 11, 2007
To my mind, the biggest liar is the Attorney-General. He is a law unto himself. He’s not accountable to anybody except his political masters whom he bends backwards to serve. It’s time we lobby to remove him from his post. He’s practically getting away with murder – killing the innocent!
Ian W
December 21, 2007
If you’re not happy with your local MSM try the international press like the International Herald Tribune.
If you want to bring them down too, then know your enemy and check out http://www.ihtreaders.blogspot.com
tokio
December 23, 2007
One more can make a difference. I’ll terminate my subscription to the STAR newspaper and will not buy any other MSM.
Syabas, tokio. Every little bit is going to make the difference.
dczhen
January 13, 2010
I’ve already stopped a long time ago. Why read propaganda and pay for it? It’s brainwashing at its best. NO MORE!