I only went on the last day, in my capacity as a staff with ACMS, so am not able to say much on other days. I have to say that today's dialogue session went way beyond what I expected, having gone in with the expectation that it is just another boring social/rubbing shoulders event dressed as some media conference. However, I have to say kudos to the chair (Dr Andrew Taussig) and the speakers for having done a great job in trying to engage the audience. Unfortunately, only an articulate few spoke and less than few have anything much to say. I found it interesting that someone (can't remember who) brought out the fact that after so many years, Malaysia has always remain at square one. We have never progress in the way we provide media content and services. We are still ruled by two things, stupid outdated guidelines and lack of imagination, as well as the assumption that media should only cater to the person with Standard Six (equivalent of primary 6 or grade 6 ) level of education. We are also stuck in this tired argument of western acceptability and eastern primness. Come on, this old tired argument doesn't hang anymore. Have all the conference you want here, but as long as people are still stuck in the old mode of thinking and YET think they have progress far, we aint gonna get anywhere. Pay all those progressive liberals, media experts, whatever, to tell you and to "dialogue" with you. The persons holding the purse strings did not even bother to attend. They only want to rub shoulders with the high and mighty and be seen as "progressive" and "philanthropic" but do not like dialogue. I say, you do. That is the usual rule they work by. With such neanderthal level of intellect at that level, no wonder we never go anywhere.
Buang masa aje (such a waste of time).
Anyway, to those of you who are interested to get the papers presented, check out the AMS website in a few days time.
Jeff Ooi has something to say about this (albeit a little) in his Screenshots
It is interesting to note that very few journalists actually attended the final day event, which is free and is suppose to be for them. Many who reserved, didnt't come. Some didn't seem to know. Talk about wide dissemination of informtion.