Skip to main content

My year at The Rakyat Post




 

Dec 31, 2014, the last day of the year and the end of my one year stint at The Rakyat Post , an online news portal.

Educational is the best way to sum up my year at The Rakyat Post.

Leaving your comfort zone is intimidating at first; it has a steep learning curve. But now I wish I had done it sooner and the whole exercise reaffirms my motto: “learn, learn, learn”.

Einstein was spot on when he said, “Learning is not a product of schooling but the lifelong attempt to acquire it”.

When I left the New Straits Times to join The Rakyat Post on Jan 3, 2014, I didn’t know what to expect.

Nelson Fernandez, also known as Mohd Ridzwan Abdullah, had invited me to join him at the website this time last year.


Nelson Fernandez at his office at The Rakyat Post


He was charged with assembling a team to provide content for the portal. And I am glad I said yes.

Switching from traditional journalism to online journalism is challenging, as anyone who had made that transition will tell you.

Editorial content is disseminated by way of the internet as opposed to publishing through print or broadcast.

Think immediately, at once, suddenly, straight away, right now … the list goes on.


Azah Azreen is a designer at The Rakyat Post
Daunting turned into heartening as confidence set in and the job made easier through consistent practice.

And I am leaving today. My decision to depart from The Rakyat Post is in response to an deep desire to try something new but that is another story.

The best part of my experience at the portal has been exploring my creative possibilities and learning and working together with a group of hard-working and dedicated journalists, new and experienced.

We were siblings on a boat in the deep sea and strength and comfort came from a shared desire to survive.

Survive we did and much more.


Kesala is one of the uploaders at The Rakyat Post 


That The Rakyat Post was the 13th most visited local website on desktop computers and the third most visited local website on smartphones for the month of October 2014 was testimony to the fact that hard work, resilience and optimism are essential ingredients of success.

TRP staff deserve all the praises heaped on them.

The Rakyat Post is entering a new phase of its existence and quiet introspection can be extremely valuable. It is time to ponder on the next steps to take.

Sub-editor Tan Kok Tong is one of the pioneers at The Rakyat Post




Thank you very much The Rakyat Post.

I leave you with this quote: "At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer


This post was first published on Wednesday, Dec 31, 2014 (16.42).

Comments

Azreenchan said…
You were the first one that gave me a task on my first day at TRP, an infographic on Music Award - and I stayed late on my first day at work.

To tell you the truth, you are one of my favorite, the positive vibe. I'm glad I know you <3
Taylor Davidson said…
Glad to see that you are at Rakyat post. Are you no longer managing/updating this blog? It seems like a really nice blog.

Popular Posts

Rediscovering the traditional Malaysian Indian kitchen

I love this artwork (acrylic on canvas) by Jayashree Ramasamy @Jay, who has captured the mood of the traditional Malaysian Indian kitchen. Jay recalls her grandmother preparing meals for the family in a room which was equipped with ancestral cooking utensils and that was the inspiration for this painting. For more of Jay's creations head for the National Art Gallery where 'The Story Telling' exhibition is now being held (April 14 to May 15, 2011).  'The Story Telling' is a group exhibition showcasing the creations of four emerging artists including Jay from the Symbols Art Club . The other three artists are Kathiravan Subramaniam, Rohini Indran and Mohana Kumara Velu @ Mona Kv. Each work of art is a story that the artist tells about his or her personal experiences and observations of daily life. The launch this afternoon was in conjunction with the Tamil New Year today. 'Food is Served' by Kathiravan Subramaniam. The rationale: 'We may have diff

Plight of the homeless

  Homeless men in Kuala Lumpur Pictures show homeless men sleeping in shop doorways along Pudu Road, Kuala Lumpur. This pavement is apparently the favourite sleeping space of these two homeless men. Government claims that there are no homeless people in Malaysia are belied by these images. Homelessness exists on Malaysian streets. Homeless people can also be found in Penang, Ipoh and Johor Baru, among other states. How do we help them especially young homeless people who become ensnared in a life of crime? The more important question is: do we want to help them? Everyone has a story. What's theirs?                                                        

The genius of Shunya Susuki

Japanese creativity teacher Shunya Susuki is a man of unusually great artistic ability. His wide-ranging creations which include solar electric cars, kites of unusual designs, sculpture of women and computer graphics animation reveal a highly-inventive mind. His recently completed Jang Geum Robot ( see picture ) is remarkable for its resemblance to Korean actress Lee Young Ae, who played historical figure Dae Jang Geum in the popular 2003 television series produced by South Korean television channel Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. The robot will bow with a smile when it meets a person. Susuki's creative endeavours display a commitment of time, energy and resources which is very encouraging to those who wish to hone their artistic skills. Some would call him a creative genius and I think that description is apt. Oxford Advanced Learner's dictionary ( Seventh Edition) defines a genius as a person of unusually great intelligence, skill or artistic ability.