What welfare concerns do government bodies neglect for media?

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Government bodies neglect the media’s welfare by limiting safe access and basic support during the Covid-19 period.
Government bodies sometimes provide inadequate space for media coverage and restrict where reporters can stand, even in large venues such as the National Mosque. They have also limited media access to government events to designated “official media” outlets like Bernama and RTM, while other outlets face bans and even express prohibitions on documenting sensitive operations, leaving many journalists to work under harder conditions without the same support.
Reporters are given cramped, unsafe coverage space even when distancing is possible
When the first Friday prayers at the National Mosque were covered after the start of the lockdown, media representatives were reportedly cordoned off to a tiny area inside a massive mosque. They were not allowed to position themselves from other areas that would have made social distancing easier, despite public concern about adherence to spacing during the event.
Media outlets struggled to get essential protective supplies early in the pandemic
In the early weeks of the pandemic, media outlets reportedly had difficulty obtaining facial masks and hand sanitisers for their staff. Some outlets later relied on donations to fill the gap, even as journalists continued working on the ground in high-risk areas such as airports or government offices under enhanced MCO conditions.
Access to government events is restricted to “official media”, excluding others
Access to certain government-related events has often been limited to designated “official media” such as Bernama and RTM, with other outlets banned. Examples given include restricted coverage of assembly sittings in Melaka and Perak, and the upcoming one-day Dewan Rakyat sitting being described as restricted to “official media” after those outlets were tested for Covid-19.
Sensitive operations have been off-limits, including raids involving undocumented migrants
Media have also faced express limits on documenting sensitive events, including raids against undocumented migrants, where coverage was described as forbidden “by orders from above.” When some photos were captured despite the restriction, the accounts focused on children being taken to detention centres and women and men being detained, highlighting how withholding access affects what the public can see and verify.

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What welfare concerns do government bodies neglect for media?

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