Moving forward ....

"All of us have responsibility to move Bernama forward...to be the best at least in South and South East Asia! And I thank you for being on this journey." -- General Manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong on July 13, 2013.

This message was conveyed  to Bernama editorial team via WhatsApp, the cross-platform instant messaging application for smartphones.

The use of WhatsApp has been a boon for editors to share information about  work and generate coordination.

It has enabled actions to be taken swiftly and clearly.

Over the past four weeks, two strategic "brainstorming retreats" were held for senior editorial and non-editorial staff to ponder on ways to take Bernama to higher ground.

To mobilise the various departments into shaping Bernama as a dynamic, wholesome organisation, the 'Blue Ocean Strategy'  took centrestage at the meeting to review ISO procedures at the beach-front Corus Paradise Hotel in Port Dickson on June 20 and 21.

Although the sea was no where blue as visibility was hampered by the haze, the lively discussion inspired participants to work together (berganding bahu) to push the Bernama vessel towards unchartered waters.

Fresh from the PD outing, the editorial team headed for Palm Garden Hotel, on the fringes of Putrajaya, for a self-assessment meeting on July 4 and 5.

The "Editorial Retreat: Bernama's news coverage: The Way Forward" dwelt at length on various efforts to improve service of all Bernama news platforms -- wires, radio, television and portal.

Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, once said: "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."