Page 8 - E-BOOK PULSE@FASS ISU NO.01/2023

R E S E A R C H @ F A S S
Research Focus: FASS Early Career Research Grants

The Faculty is fortunate to have a good number of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) joining our fold. As part of our support
system for these ECRs, the Faculty is providing each ECR with an Early Career Researcher Grant (ECRG) for them to carry
out a research project of their own design.

While providing some funding for research activities, the grant will also allow ECRs to build leadership skills as a Principal
Investigator and familiarise themselves with the University's Research Grant Management System. In this PULSE Issue, we
highlight the ECRs who have received Faculty Grants in 2021. We wish our ECRs all the best for the successful
completion of their projects!
"How have Malaysian media companies responded to technological
development? The case studies of Astro Malaysia, Media Prima, and
The Star Media Group"

documentary sources of data, particularly from the
Principal Investigator: companies' annual reports, press releases and other
Dr Fadli Abdullah, Department relevant secondary sources.
of Media and Communication
Studies What is the significance of your project from a societal
perspective?

What is your ECRG project As a whole, I hope this project will contribute to further
about?
understanding and discussion regarding the impact of
The advancement and innovation of technologies have technological development on the media industry in
tremendously transformed the media industry landscape. Malaysia. As the project will highlight the specific case
It is noticeable that the strategic environment of the media studies, I also hope it will benefit the policymakers,
and business practices in the industry have changed, and industry players and other relevant stakeholders.
new technologies are becoming more central and
significant. Based on past studies, it is evident that many How did the ECRG help you as an ECR?
media companies are now transforming their business
practices and strategies to adapt to the changes for the As an ECR, securing some of the big grants from the
survival of their businesses. university or external sources as a PI is sometimes quite
difficult. Therefore, getting the ECRG is an opportunity for
Looking at these developments, my ECRG project me to build my research profile as a PI.
attempts to explore how media companies in Malaysia
respond to these developments by focusing on the three Any advice for other ECRs?
large media companies: Astro Malaysia, Media Prima, and
Star Media Group. The project relies entirely on Just grab whatever opportunity comes your way.

"Media Industry in the Face of Covid-19 Pandemic: Mediatization and
Changing Role of Media Organisation"

Principal Investigator: including in Malaysia, as program content production is
Dr Rosya Izyanie Shamshudeen, getting slower due to lockdowns and economic
Department of Media and constraints. This has altered television scheduling and, in
Communication Studies turn, has created concerns among broadcast industries.

What is your ECRG project about? This research aims to examine the adjustments made and
possible solutions and strategies employed by TV Alhijrah
My ECRG project focuses on the during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic
media industry in Malaysia and its period. The research is underpinned by qualitative data,
changing role during the COVID-19 pandemic. The drawing on in-depth interviews with media personnel and
pandemic has impacted the media landscape worldwide, the production team of TV Alhijrah.

7 | Pulse @ FASS