Friday, April 11, 2008

The Sun - Press Coverage on BUM 2008

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Friday April 11, 2008

Taken from The Sun

Bloggers To Discuss Their Roles

by Joshua Foong

SUBANG JAYA: The increasingly relevant role of bloggers as part of the new media will be examined and built upon at “Bloggers Universe Malaysia Gathering 2008” (BUM 2008) to be held next month.

In the wake of the general election, which saw the ruling party losing its two-thirds majority and control of four states, underlining the influence of the alternative media, bloggers are gathering to discuss and re-evaluate their roles.

BUM 2008, with the theme “Towards a Civil Society” is organised by blogging individuals in association with the Centre for Policy Initiatives, to focus on building civil society via interaction among bloggers.

BUM 2008 will be held at the Lake View Club, Subang Jaya from 3pm to 8pm on May 1. The two dialogue sessions include “Fostering Civil Society: Various Voices” and “The Fifth Estate (Bloggers) as Agency for Change”.

Panel speakers are National Alliance of Bloggers president Ahirudin Attan aka Rocky, former judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Idid, academician Dr Azmi Sharom, and theSun deputy editor (special reporting) R. Nadeswaran aka Citizen Nades. Others are journalist Jacqueline Ann Surin, blogger-turned-MP Jeff Ooi, lawyer-MP William Leong, human rights advocate Haris Ibrahim, Malaysiakini. com editor-in-chief Steven Gan and Centre for Policy Initiatives director Dr Lim Teck Ghee.

“Bloggers are part of the growing new media. It is incumbent on the bloggers to mature along with the civil society,” said organising committee chairman Chong Yen Long.

“Although the existence of blogs in Malaysian media is still at a stage of infancy, many have recognised that blogs are a channel that cannot be ignored. This awareness is shown by leaders notably the newly appointed information minister who has laid plans to engage bloggers through dialogue,” he added.

Those wishing to attend are required to pay RM50 per head to Yew Wei Keat 1-12080-24112-4 (Maybank) and email a note to tonyyew@gmail.com, stating the name to be registered and date of payment.

Participation is limited to 120 people. For details, call 012-9702285 or visit bum2008-desiderata.blogspot.com.

1 comment:

chong y l said...

Dear Esteemed Readers All:

REF: "Participation is limited to 120 people. For details, call 012-9702285 or visit bum2008-desiderata.blogspot.com." -- the original news report in theSun, caried my HP number wrongly -- two digits "0" and "7" were transposed -- ie 012-9072285 was wrong! Apologies to those who tried this number and met a deadend. I did try to get through to the owner too, via SMS and calls, but no response. -- YL Chong