FCI academic and student clinched Gold Award in IVCCII Competition

Faculty of Creative Industries academic Dr Hooi Chee Mei and Master of Arts in Communication student Chow King, Darryl, clinched the Gold Award under the Professional Category at the International Virtual Competition of Creative and Innovative Idea (IVCCII). Their exceptional project, titled "Colour Coding of Metadiscourse Features via ATLAS.ti to Combat Misinterpretation in COVID-19 News”, not only earned them the coveted Gold Award, but also a RM 100 cash prize in the "YouTube Lucky Draw" category.

Dr Hooi and Darryl’s project were among the 60 remarkable creative projects hailing from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. The project, spearheaded by Dr Hooi and Chow King Darryl, focuses on the critical aspect of metadiscourse features in news articles related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Metadiscourse features are indispensable for achieving coherence, cohesion, and effective expression of viewpoints in written texts.

The primary goal of this ground-breaking study was to compare the textual and interpersonal functions and their respective forms within COVID-19 news articles. By doing so, the project aimed to shed light on the engaging content found in these news articles, with a special focus on creating awareness among journalists. The innovative approach employed in this study involved the use of colour-coding through ATLAS.ti version nine software. This unique method enables journalists to convey messages more clearly and engage readers effectively.

“In an era dominated by digital living, the role of newsrooms and journalists in disseminating accurate and comprehensible information on COVID-19 cannot be overstated. COVID-19 news has become an invaluable source of information for the public, making it imperative to ensure the clarity and coherence of news articles. Metadiscourse features play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. They facilitate the reading of COVID-19 news, enhancing public awareness of how climatic risks impact the transmission, perception, response, and lived experience of the pandemic,” shared by Dr Hooi and Chow King Darryl.

The innovation created by Dr Hooi Chee Mei and Chow King Darryl not only contributes to improved COVID-19 reporting, but also highlights the necessity of considering climatic risks in pandemic response and recovery measures. This holistic approach can enhance planetary health and reduce the transmission of COVID-19, ultimately benefitting society as a whole.

To encourage others to come out from their comfort zone and to challenge or leverage themselves to join various innovation competitions, Darryl and Dr Hooi have some meaningful quotes.

Darryl said, "There is never enough time, so we need to make time for the things that matter."

Dr Hooi mentioned, "It is time to step out of the comfort zone to do the things that matter and take up the challenge."

Dr Hooi and Chow King, Darryl