人間通訊社

For the first time, media professionals from Singapore and Malaysia jointly organized a symposium entitled “Positive Energy of Letters.” The symposium commenced on December 4th at the Shagari-La Hotel in Singapore, and invited senior media professionals to talk about the positive function of letters for society. It is hoped that the symposium will lead to the interaction of media professionals from Singapore and Malaysia, as well as making a vow to abide to the original intent of generating positive energy to both purify society and beautify the heart.

This majestic meeting hosted media-related workers from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and France, and originated from Venerable Master Venerable Hsing Yun’s suggestion in 2016 that “Singapore and Malaysia jointly organize a symposium on media-professionals,” when 40 media-professionals of Singapore and Malaysia visited the Master, who is the founder of Fo Guang Shan Monastery. The Master claimed that medias should possess “wholesomeness-beauty, knowledge, funs, inspiration,” lessen negative thoughts, and increase the warmth of human nature. He wishes that medias bring purified trends to society, and help create a harmonious society of truth, wholesomeness, and beauty.

The Chief Editor of Singapore Shin Min Daily News, Mr. Zu Zhi Wei, who is one of presidents of the symposium, said that “in this era of citizen-reporters by all people, the subjectivity and truth of media information becomes the most serious challenge for the medias. This first collaboration of Singapore and Malaysia medias want to call on the media professionals’ attention to abide by their original intents and to correct the societal chaos, indicating the unusual meaning and the enduring task for this symposium.”

“I am deeply inspired by Venerable Master Venerable Hsing Yun’s philosophy of Half-Half,” said Mr. Zu Zhi wei. The society contains brightness in half and darkness in the other half. The medias’ broadcast of truth-wholesomeness-beauty would enable a subtle transformation to more brightness and broaden the scope of societal positive energy. This is the duty of media professionals.

Since 2009, “Shin Min Daily News” has been creating the “A Dot of Wisdom by Venerable Master Hsing Yun” series with nearly three thousand articles to date, in which the Master writes a short daily story to convey the philosophical meanings of life and wonderful ways to face the world. Mr. Zu Zhi Wei pointed out that the series has successfully led Singaporeans to face the disturbing and uneasy aspects of society with calmness and wisdom. He also welcomed 150 university students from related departments to plant the seed of truth-wholesomeness-beauty in this symposium, and to become the important force in leading societal advancement.

“Whom should we believe? What should we believe?” asked Singapore Culture, Community, and Youth Ministry Parliamentary Secretary, Baey Yam Keng, in his invited address, which hinted that the underlying worries about the numerous fake news stories and the derived conflicts among ethnic groups. He said that the medias play a key role in developing societal values, just like how water is able to make a boat sink or float. He wished that media professionals abide by professional ethics, enhance the ability of reading and listening to the news among the public, collaborate on fighting fake news, and contribute to the well-being of society.

Mr. Baey Yam Keng stated: “The Mandarin Medias in Singapore and Malaysia are an important carrier for transmigrating the essence of Chinese cultures. Besides broadcasting information and messages, the Mandarin media workers also carry the immense responsibility of leading the young generation to understand and adore Chinese culture.”

The “Singapore-Malaysia Media Professionals Symposium” lasted for 2 days and was jointly organized by Singapore and Malaysia medias, with major financial support coming from the “Charitable Trust-Hsing Yun Education Foundation.” The symposium set the first example of the opening ceremony at Singapore and the closing ceremony at Malaysia. On the first day, the Global Views-Commonwealth Publishing Groups founder, Charles H.C. Kao, presented the plenary speech, “Positive Energy of Broadcast-Advancement Idea,” which was followed by two sessions of panel discussions. Moving to Hsing Ma Temple on the second (and last) day, the symposium invited nearly 200 media professionals for brain-storming and exploring the new directions for the Mandarin medias under the model of the “Global Coffee Shops” study setting.

The Overall President of the symposium, Zhu Zhi Wei, and the editorial chief of Malaysia Sin Chew Daily, Pu Fo Hai, presented gifts to the former chief editor of Hsin Min Daily News, Pan Zheng Lay, the former chief editor of Lianhe Zaobao, Lin Jen Chiung, the chief editor of Sin Chew Daily, Guo Ching Jiang, the vice president of Malaysia Tunku, Abdul Rahman University Ewe Hong Tat, the French cultural commentator Lin Zhu Chiang, President of Taiwan Merit Times, Zhing Su Ching, the President of Taiwan L'Hotel de Chine Group, Sheng Chih-jen, the Secretary General of BLIA World Headquarters, Ven. Jue Pei, plenary speakers including Mr. Charles H.C. Kao, and VIP Guests including Mr. Baey Yam Keng, the Deputy Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Singapore, Ven. Miao Mu, and the Vice President of the BLIA Singapore Chapter, Huang Ai Lian. The Head Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand-Indonesia-Brunei Region, Ven. Jue Cheng, also presented friendship gifts to both Presidents of the symposium, Mr. Zhu Zhi Wei and Mr. Pu Fo Hai.

(Translated by Hungwen Jen of BLIA Detroit, USA)