Butterworth: Amid the glitz and fame of show business, legendary band Exists fondly recalled how journalists and editors once played a pivotal role in shielding artistes from potentially damaging controversies.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the fact-checking culture and editorial diligence practised by mainstream media during the peak of the print era provided an important layer of protection, ensuring issues were properly vetted before publication. Exists' lead guitarist, Along, highlighted the critical role editors played in reviewing complaints or allegations against artistes before they were published.
"In the past, journalists and editors really helped protect artistes a lot. If fans had complaints or stories to share, they would write to the editor. If it was sensitive, it would be checked and reviewed first before being published. Journalists would also reach out to the artistes involved for clarification," Along explained after the Riuh Pi HAWANA concert at the PICCA PICCA Arena Butterworth Convention Centre parking lot.
Along further noted that this approach helped avoid misunderstandings and safeguarded artistes' private lives from becoming the subject of unfounded gossip. He contrasted this with today's media environment, where individuals can discreetly capture photos or videos and upload them to social media without considering the impact.
"These days, everything happens so fast. Some people just upload content without checking first. Eventually, the comment section gets filled with all kinds of views and criticism. If artistes read too many harsh comments, it can affect their emotions. That's why artistes today need to be stronger, careful, and just stay out of trouble," he said.
Meanwhile, Exists vocalist Mamat highlighted the close ties with journalists since the band's early days as a key factor in keeping the group relevant and maintaining its presence in the industry. He appreciated journalists not only for reporting on the group's career developments but also for supporting them through challenges.
Reflecting on his experiences, Exists bassist Musa shared a light-hearted story from 1997, illustrating the close relationships once shared between artistes and journalists. An entertainment journalist even rented a recording studio just to experience jamming with the band.
For Musa, such experiences showed that the relationship between artistes and journalists went beyond professional duties, evolving into friendships built on mutual interest and respect. He emphasized the continued importance of professional journalists in the entertainment industry for their skills and responsibility in delivering accurate and ethical information.
"Real journalists are trained. They're careful with their language, understand sensitivities, and know what shouldn't be published. In fact, they can also set an example for other writers to produce more responsible content," said Musa, who is preparing for the Memento Mori Concert at the Unifi Arena on Aug 1.