Ally Iskandar shares invaluable career insights

By: Maisarah Mohd

GOMBAK, 29 May 2024: With a career spanning two decades, Mr. Ally Iskandar, one of the esteemed TV icons captivated audiences by sharing valuable insights and experiences from his extensive career in the media industry, in a talk. It was one of the sessions for the Unleashing Potential: Empowering Students in the Digital Age event organised by the internship students of the Department of Communication, AHAS KIRKHS.

Participants were given the opportunity to engage with the renowned media personality, where he shared his personalised advice and perceptions. The session was heated as Mr. Ally was bombarded with questions.

He said, “Be curious!” when asked about the significant skills someone needs to have when joining the media and communication industry. “Don’t compare yourself with anyone else…not even your own colleagues,” he added.

Related to the main theme of the event, which was Digital Literacy, Mr. Ally mentioned how there are many trends online nowadays, to the point that people cannot even keep up with them. Thus, he stressed on how students should think about their ‘selling point’ to the media industry in the digital age.

The talk also delved into the trustworthiness of the media, both traditional and digital, where he stressed that today is more challenging with the emergence of the ‘citizen journalist’ and the large number of social media platforms, making the government as the only trustable source of news. “Back in the day, there were not many choices of news sources,” he said.

Throughout the session, Mr. Ally also recounted his journey by sharing how he joined the media industry “by choice” as quoted by him. He added how he would still do the same thing he did when he first stepped into the media world, as he believes that it is how he got to where he is today.

The event concluded with Mr. Ally encouraging the next generation of media professionals to remain curious and committed to lifelong learning. He stressed that the media industry, though demanding, is incredibly rewarding for those who are passionate and dedicated. 

To add, Mr. Ally is also currently serving as a part-time academician at the IIUM, as he is the instructor for the ‘Master of Ceremony’ skills (CCMC 1040) course offered by the Co-Curricular Activity Centre of the Students Affairs and Development Division.

Held at HSC Multimedia Lab, the event was attended by the Department of Communication community, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tengku Siti Aisha, the Head of Department, Communication lecturers and students. The program was sponsored by SKEM Driving Academy and Malaysian Community Care Foundation (MCCF).***