From self-regulation to oversight: Understanding media council models
Keywords:
Media Council, Regulatory models, Freedom of Press, Media Law, Human RightsAbstract
The passage of the Media Council Act 2025 marks a historic milestone in Malaysia’s media regulatory landscape, enabling the long-anticipated establishment of the Malaysian Media Council. Designed to function as an independent body, the Council aims to uphold press freedom while balancing other societal interests such as privacy, decency, misinformation, and public order. This paper critically examines three key regulatory models; the state-led, industry-led, and co-regulatory (co-led) models, drawing on comparative insights from selected jurisdictions. Through textual analysis of legal instruments and a review of secondary data, the study evaluates the practical implications, governance structures, and operational challenges of media councils worldwide. Special attention is given to how each model preserves journalistic independence, promotes ethical standards, and ensures accountability. While Malaysia's Council leans towards a co-regulatory framework, the paper argues that its success will depend on the clarity of its mandate, inclusivity in stakeholder representation, and insulation from political interference. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen the Council’s credibility and effectiveness, with the broader goal of fostering a balanced and resilient media environment in Malaysia.
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