Zainul Arifin appointed CEO of PETRA News

KUALA LUMPUR – PETRA News, which operates the news sites The Vibes and Getaran, has appointed veteran newsman Datuk Zainul Arifin Mohammed Isa as chief executive officer effective the new year. 

Zainul, 59, who has more than 35 years of experience in the media industry, joined PETRA News in April as executive director of operations. 

His appointment was announced by PETRA group chairman and chief executive Datuk (Dr) Vinod Sekhar on December 23.

In his announcement to the group, Vinod said: “Datuk Zainul’s experience, tenacity, and integrity will ensure that PETRA News, and its various portals, will continue to grow in strength, but also become sustainable.

“With the leadership of the trio of Zainul, Terence Fernandez (editor-in-chief), and Datuk Ahirudin (Rocky) Attan (executive director), PETRA News will grow in strength, influence and trust in 2022,” said Vinod. 

“Media and journalists are critical to nation-building. PETRA News will play its role in supporting that, and ensure that all those in power and those aspiring for power are kept in check.”

In thanking Vinod and his fellow colleagues, Zainul said the appointment offers him exciting opportunities in the industry, especially with the changing media landscape, as well as the changes in news consumption habits and patterns.

“When I started, there were still a few typewriters in the newsrooms, and now social media, which is a relatively new phenomenon, dominates the news agenda.

“This is the challenge news organisations have, which is how to balance the various platforms used in the distribution of content. 

“At PETRA News, we are seriously looking at this and how to leverage the various channels of content consumption, both as avenues for news distribution as well as for our business partners to benefit from.”

He added that The Vibes and its sister Malay-language portal Getaran, which were respectively launched on September 19, 2020 and January 29, 2021, are now some of the fastest growing and most trusted news sites in the country.

“I believe 2022 will be exciting for both The Vibes and Getaran. Having spent a year or so establishing themselves, both the news sites will be something to watch out for this year.”

Zainul started his journalism career in 1986 as a cadet reporter with the New Straits Times, where he later went on to hold multiple senior positions, including becoming the newspaper’s first North America correspondent based in New York.

He was also later made the group’s managing editor where he was responsible for the newspaper operations of the Media Prima Group.

He was later appointed chief executive officer of Media Prima Digital, which was responsible for the digital business of the group. 

Zainul has a BSc from Universiti Malaya, and an MA from New York University. – The Vibes, December 31, 2021