WORLD Press Freedom Day falls on May 3 and Malaysia saw a significant improvement in this arena. The country leaped 22 spots from 145 to 123 in the Reporters Without Borders’ 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
Malaysia also came out ahead of most of its Southeast Asian peers but only behind Timor Leste, which placed 84 in the index.
Scores and ranking are based on the level of pluralism, media independence, the environment for the media and self-censorship, the legal framework, transparency, and the quality of infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.
Waiting has been a norm among journalists in Malaysia since May 9, 2018. A famous line in the industry says “waiting for five hours only for a five-minute moment”.
Despite all that, journalists play an important role to inform the people about the fact and truth without fear and favour in order to achieve better rank for the index. – May 3, 2019.
Members of the media cover ingtheir tripod with boxes to avoid the rain while waiting for a press conference at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media wait for a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur High Court lobby. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.A group of journalists compiling their report after an interview at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.A journalist (centre) filing a live-cross report for her agency during an evening in front of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media resting while waiting for the press conference at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.
Members of the media waiting for the arrival of former prime minister Najib Razak in his ongoing SRC International trial at the court house in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media waiting near the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media waiting outside of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) main gate after a morning rain in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.A reporter reading a book while waiting for a press conference with other members of the media at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.A group of journalists typing their reports after an interview at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Journalists using their smartphones to file a report after an interview at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil taking selfies with the members of the media who are waiting for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s release from the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital in Kuala Lumpur last year. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media preparing for a press conference during the trial of former prime minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.Members of the media interviewing former prime minister Najib Razak at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, May 3, 2019.
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