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Doing Good Great
Chapter 8: Web of Democracy
PREMESH CHANDRAN & STEVEN GAN
Country: Malaysia
Organisation: Malaysiakini
Cause: Media Freedom
With some 35 laws restricting freedom of speech, one may hold little hope for the survival of objective and independent journalism in Malaysia. Malaysiakini, an online news portal that was created through a “Super Corridor” loophole, proves otherwise.
Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran, the website’s co-founders, were first inspired, while studying in Australia, by the democratic movement in Asia. After surviving their baptism by fire as journalists in Malaysia’s mainstream media where they had to deal with their editors’ self-censorship and bullying by the authorities, they went on to push through their own brand of fiery independent journalism despite reprisals and financial fluctuations.
Malaysiakini has survived for over a decade. It now thrives as one of the country’s top local websites and is financially sustainable. Its success lies with more than just launching at the right time and right place; it has the right formula of delivering content that the public craves, employing a canny mix of technology and bold journalism, and a revenue model of paid subscriptions. It is a testimony that idealism can be a profitable endeavor.
Brief facts
PREMESH CHANDRAN & STEVEN GAN
|
1962 |
Steven Gan born to Chinese parents in Bentong, Malaysia |
|
1969 |
Premesh Chandran born to Tamil father and Bengali mother in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia |
|
1982 |
Gan started studies at University of New South Wales and graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor’s degree majoring in economics and politics at La Trobe University |
|
1988 |
Chandran started studies at University of New South Wales and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics |
|
1989 |
Chandran and Gan met on campus through their involvement with the Network of Overseas Student Collectives in Australia |
|
1990 |
Gan went to Hong Kong and freelanced as a journalist |
|
1992 |
Chandran returned to Malaysia and became a lecturer in Physics at the Matriculation Program of the University of Malaya |
|
1994 |
Gan returned to Malaysia. Both Gan and then Chandran joined the newly launched newspaper, the Sun |
|
1996 |
Gan resigned from the Sun in protest and went to work as a journalist for the Nation in Bangkok. Chandran graduated with a Masters degree in International Studies from University of Sydney |
|
1997 |
Chandran returned to Malaysia and worked at Malaysian Trade Union Congress |
|
1999 |
Chandran and Gan started Malaysiakini with five staff |
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
MALAYSIAKINI
|
2000 |
The Edge’s 50 Movers and Shakers of the New Economy Reporters San Frontiers’ Press Freedom Award |
|
2001 |
Asiaweek’s 50 Most Powerful Communicators International Press Institute’s Free Media Pioneer Award |
|
2010 |
Putra Brand Award (Bronze Winner) |
PREMESH CHANDRAN
|
2010 |
TED Fellow |
|
2012 |
Malaysia Kancil Awards’ Media Personality Award |
STEVEN GAN
|
2000 |
Committee to Protect Journalists’ International Press Freedom Award |
|
2010 |
Malaysia Kancil Awards’ Media Personality Award |
|
2011 |
Businessweek’s 50 Stars of Asia |