Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Asian Media Battle Authorities to Report on Coronavirus

Ralph Jennings

   TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media outlets covering the coronavirus pandemic in
   Asia are having to circumvent authorities to report about the
   disease--including the threat of being trolled online, or worse.
   News media around a continent with a population of about 3.4 billion
   people face major barriers in getting out the facts about a national
   health care crises and the accompanying economic stimulus measures,
   according to analysts who follow journalism.
   Not only is it challenging for reporters to meet their sources in some
   spots because of lockdowns, but officials frequently curb reporters'
   movements and obscure information, as well. Persistent reporters face
   trolling, the risk of jail, or even disappearance.
   Journalists are running up against those barriers partly because
   authoritarian governments, particularly China, control media content
   with an iron grip. Other nations, like India and the Philippines,
   typically allow a certain measure of free speech, but they resent
   challenges to their tough emergency measures aimed at protecting public
   health.
   Governments in Asia often lack open-records laws that would require
   turning over details about fragile health care systems and the
   mechanics of economic stimulus.
   "Generally, in a period of crisis, there is an excuse for the
   authorities not to be fully transparent, because it's difficult to know
   what comes from the circumstances and what might come from an ill will
   from the authorities to communicate information," said Cedric Alviani,
   East Asia bureau director with the advocacy group Reporters Without
   Borders.
   As a result, analysts say, Asian media cover COVID-19 mostly through
   easily available numbers, such as new infections and deaths. And those
   figures can be inaccurate.

.