BernieDec 30, 2022
M

I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable being on Twitter. I don't know if I am imagining it, but I am starting to get the sense that local news people are starting to get predatory with my thoughts and content, even publishing about me and my work without my consent. I am fine with being asked to provide comments to be quoted on, but I am not okay with being turned into news fodder to be capitalised on. Especially not without my explicit consent or permission.

Not everyone wants to be an "influencer", and that includes me.

Dec 30, 2022 at 10:04amWeb
Show threadDendan Setia (Nins)Dec 30, 2022
@muniramustaffa I'm trying to honour sentiments like yours, as I'm considering doing summary posts/roundups of twitter threads esp from Twitterjaya. I've replied asking if they have a fedi or longform version but i don't even get an answer. Sigh. But I'm not running a paper tho, true enough.
Show threadMDec 30, 2022
@cendawanita I don't mind you. But big time news media should know better, and sometimes I think there's a deliberate misrepresentation to work an angle. Then the nuance gets lost because of paywall. So I feel unsafe as a result.
Show threadDendan Setia (Nins)Dec 30, 2022
@muniramustaffa I'm super frustrated by those behaviours because I'm trained in that culture and i know it's a lot to do with a reluctance to be MORE restrictive with who are seen as public figures. Back in the day, it is more opportunistic because where exactly are public spaces, when exactly is a hot mic moment etc. That's why it can be really stressful and exciting to be a beat reporter. But with the internet we're well past due, especially with the context collapse.
Show threadMDec 30, 2022
@cendawanita Well said! Without trying to be over-dramatic, I need to add that the threat landscape has changed so significantly but it is still poorly understood by folks in Malaysia. Many still think it's a "sexy" career, without appreciating the fact that this line of work gets you targeted in various imaginative ways. As much as I want my work to be publicised, it also needs to be understood and contextualised properly. It's not a nice feeling to open social media riddled with anxiety.
Show threadDendan Setia (Nins)Dec 30, 2022
@muniramustaffa i don't know what happened to the whole concept of "unnamed sources". Mysterious! Exciting! Only your editor needs to know! Local journalism can be dire because the persistent problem of capacity. (You don't survive if you're actually good at skills that make you a good investigative reporter. Even a beat reporter. Well, if you want to make a living lol)