Fahmi said that headlines could influence readers’ sentiments and lead them to draw conclusions without reading the entire report.

Referring to the discharge and acquittal as well as the RM60,000 fine for the founder and director of the popular convenience store chain over the sale of controversial socks, Fahmi said some media outlets had chosen to highlight the fine while others went with headlines focusing on the discharge and acquittal.

“These reports were referring to the same matter, but which is the truth?” he said when officiating the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia conference on ethical and responsible communication here.

Fahmi said in this instance, headlines that focused on the fine or the acquittal “appeared to be correct”.

“But what kind of message are we sending and for whom is the news written?

“The reality is, people don’t read the news but they read snapshots of news posted on social media which may not reflect the whole story.”

Yesterday, the Shah Alam sessions court acquitted and discharged Chai Kee Kan and his wife, Loh Siew Mui, of intentionally wounding the religious feelings of others over the sale of socks bearing the word “Allah”.

The court also acquitted and discharged three officers from Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, the Batu Pahat-based vendor which supplied KK Mart with the socks.

The couple’s company, KK Supermart and Superstore Sdn Bhd, was however fined RM60,000 for the offence. Xin Jian Chang was also slapped with a RM60,000 fine.