Professional Media Workshop Report

This report examines the issue of cyberbullying in Malaysia, focusing on its prevalence, impact, and the role of public relations in addressing it. It begins by defining cyberbullying and outlining its various forms and consequences. The report then discusses efforts made by the Malaysian government and other organizations to curb the problem, including the establishment of regulations, educational programs, and awareness campaigns. A key focus is on the crucial role of public relations in raising awareness, educating the public on responsible internet use, and promoting proactive measures to prevent cyberbullying. The report also analyzes the issue through a PESTEL framework, examining the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors that contribute to the problem. Finally, the report concludes with recommendations for effective strategies to combat cyberbullying, drawing on examples from other countries and emphasizing the importance of proactive measures and public education.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL MEDIA WORKSHOP 1
Professional media workshop
Lecturer
Name
Date
Introduction
Cyber bullying is one of the most recent social evils which public relations can help eradicate
it. It is the act of harassment that uses electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones
(Shariff 2008). The crime is common among teenagers and can take various forms such as
posting rumors about a person, use of photos and videos with wrong intentions, sending

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humiliating messages online, among many other types (Wang, Iannotti, & Nansel, 2009).
Victims usually suffer depression and may also develop low self-esteem. There have been cases
where victims have gone to the extent of committing suicide (Smith 2008). The magnitude of the
effects caused by this evil has caused the government, corporations and NGOs take measures in
trying to eradicate the problem in Malaysian society.
Efforts Were Made To Curb the Problem
Data from Cyber Security Malaysia, an agency under the Science, Technology, and
Innovations Ministry, show that a total of 2,428 cyber-crime incidences were reported between
January and April this year (Susan 2009). The government, therefore, established a regulation
through the national cyber security agency (NCSA). The company was charged with a
responsibility of punishing the perpetrators. Such a reactive measure is not the best; instead, the
measure should be proactive, that is before the crime occurs.
Another effort that the government has shown is by establishing foundations and funds that
will help in the prevention of such offenses example of such a body is Malaysia Crime
Prevention Foundation. The major responsibility of such institutions is to educate the public
especially students who are majorly affected (Mishna, Khoury-Kassabri, Gadalla, & Daciuk,
2012). The move is proactive and such foundations need support from even the NGOs and civil
societies.
Incorporation of cyber bullying, violence, and pornography into the children modules and
system of education has helped reduce the risk of vulnerable children becoming the victims. The
chief executive officer of Cyber security Malaysia, Dr. Abdul while speaking with “The Star”
notes that individual parents also should access such modules for them to learn how to keep safe
their children (Hindujah 2009).

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The Role of PR in Cyber Bullying
Public relation as a discipline has got a major responsibility in the abolition of this crime.
Firstly the subject should evolve to incorporate emerging disciplinary issues such as those of
online harassment. Ways of avoiding them should be part of the curriculum and even the social
evils that will subsequently follow. Emphasis on the methods in which one can continuously find
themselves getting deeper into this moral decay should also be part of the module. The aim here
is to ensure the society is aware of the dangers resulting from these acts. Another way in which
Public Relations can help is by creating awareness of the existence and forms of cyber bullying.
When people are aware of these issues, they can avoid them since some of them find themselves
in them unaware. According to a recent study by Malaysia National cyber security agency, many
unsuspecting persons engage in cybercrimes unaware. An example is when someone constantly
keeps on sending a humiliating text message, they may be ignorant of the effects it has to the
recipient (Mitchell 2007). The objective, in this case, is to ensure no one is caught oblivious in
furtherance of this moral issue.
Educating the public on the responsible use of internet and electronic devices is also very
important in helping deal with cyber bullying. When children are introduced to the web
responsibly, they will eventually grow using it well and eventually be responsible users. People
should be discouraged from vandalism and with time and constant reminder, they will stop the
crime.
PESTEL and Cyber Bullying
The environmental factors have to lead to the development of cyber harassment in some ways.
Politically people are more aware of their rights, and this means that you cannot deny them

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access of certain recourses such as the internet. They will demand them and technicalities that
can be involved in regulating such scenarios are nearly impossible. The crimes are also used by
the political class to advance their political ambitions. Politicians use propagandas to ensure their
opponents fail and thus the notion of preaching water and taking wine applies. They cannot
discourage what they are practicing lest they are contradictory.
Economically today, people have become empowered and thus can access expensive devices
which initially they would not have afforded. Statistics show that on average a Malaysian citizen
earns MYR 52 353 (Government 2013). Such a salary allows parents to buy devices for their
children which if misused leads to this crime. Internet services have also become cheap and
easily accessible. The risk of its abuse increases with constant access and its ease of use.
There has been a massive growth of technology in the recent past, and this has made cyber
harassment easy to commit. Sophisticated devices such as i-pads and smart phones have been
introduced in the market, and people can access them since they are not very expensive. These
gadgets can perform tasks that promote cyber-crimes, for example, sending annoying videos via
WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media platforms. This can be dealt with through proper
education by sellers and manufacturers to their buyers. Manufacturers can also establish internal
measures that will inhibit users of their products from accessing some of these sites.
Conclusion
Finally, I would like to recommend the actions taken by the United States government in
eradicating the problem through the establishment of guidelines that requires all stakeholders in a
child development, plays a role in discouraging the behavior (Shariff 2008). For example, it is
mandatory for all the schools in the US to have anti-bullying rules. Children will, therefore, grow
knowing the evils associated with this crime. Such policies will also work for Malaysia since

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they are proactive and will be inbuilt. The success of this method depends on the right
application of mass communication concept of interpretative. The concept implies that once a
person interprets information, they will believe in it then act in accordance with it.

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References
Commissioner of law, 2013. Laws of Malysia Act 601. Maaysia: commissioner of law Revsion.
Government, M., 2013. Growing Awareness amonf malaysian schools. Malaysia: Government
printer.
Hinduja, S. &. J. W., 2009. Bullying beyond the schools: preventing and responding to cyber
bullying. California: Corwin Press .
Michell, K. &. F. D., 2007. Examing characteristic and distress caused by cyber bullying. New
York: Pediatrics.
Mishna, F., Khoury-Kassabri, M., Gadalla, T., & Daciuk, J., 2012. Risk factors for involvement
in cyber bullying: Victims, bullies and bully–victims. Children and Youth Services Review,,
Volume 34(1), pp. 63-70..
Sharrif, F., 2008. Cyber bullying;. London: Routledge.
Smith, P. &. F. M., 2008. Cyberbullying; its nature and effects in secondary pupils. The journal
of Child Psychology, pp. 346-382.
Susan, R. &. P. W. &. A. P., 2009. Cyber bullying; a pevention curriculum for grade 3. Centre
City: Hezelden Foundation.
T, W. F. &. N., 2007. Cyber Bullying and cyber Threats. Champhain: Research Press.
Wang, J., Iannotti, R. J., & Nansel, T. R. , 2009. School bullying among adolescents in the
United States: Physical, verbal, relational, and cyber.. Journal of Adolescent health, Volume
45(4), pp. 368-375.

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