Celebrating the Chinese New Year, former
deputy chief sub-editor Yeap Boo Yam remembers
fondly his time in Bernama despite having been away for almost 15 years.
"I was in Bernama for a total of 21
years -- 16 years on my first “tour of duty” and five years in the next. On
both occasions, I resigned for better job offers," he said today.
"Bernama gave me a solid grounding
in journalism and in life.
"For one thing, I was taught not to
compromise on accuracy.
"The opportunity to interact with
people of various races and backgrounds made me a rounded person.
"The daily task of editing stories
as a gatekeeper honed my skills in making judgment calls.
"I also learned not to be a clock
watcher. These traits have served me well," said the 57 year-old Yeap, now
part-time editor at Berita Daily.
He said of his long career in journalism,
he spent only eight years as a reporter, including three years in Sarawak.
"I will always treasure my stint in
the Land of the Hornbills.
"I was in my early 20s then, and the
experience gained in Sarawak was invaluable for my personal and career
development.
"It definitely gave me a better
understanding of Sarawak and our Sarawakian brothers and sisters.
"As a sub-editor, I always looked
forward to working in situ at major events.
"The 1998 KL Commonwealth Games,
where I was deputy chief sub (English), was the highlight of my involvement in
such assignments," he said.
Yeap, who has worked in four major
organizations, said the camaraderie in Bernama "is second to none".
"The willingness to help out each
other and to work for the common good of Bernama has fostered enduring
friendships.
"I can still remember the day I
reported for work at MCOBA in 1980 together with Zukiman Zain, the late Siva
Kumar and Nazri Hashim (who later joined Utusan Malaysia).
"Going out for meals and drinks
together after work was not uncommon. I believe activities like treasure hunt
and family day were also key in nurturing the “semangat kekeluargaan”," he
said.
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