KUCHING: Journalists risk their lives providing news coverage during the ongoing war Covid-19 pandemic.
Recently, after a photo of journalists keeping close to one another while covering Friday prayers at Masjid Negara went viral, the public accused the journalists of not adhering to standard of procedures (SOPs) for social distancing.
The photo also caught the attention of Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who urged journalists and event organisers to observe social distancing during events.
Ismail, who is also Defence Minister, agreed that the situation at Masjid Negara occurred due to a confined space designated to a large group of journalists.
“The government will raise the matter with event organisers to formulate a specific standard operating procedure (SOP) involving media coverage,” he said yesterday.
New Sarawak Tribune reached out to several journalists for their comments on the issue.
A reporter from Utusan Sarawak, Cheryl Law, agreed social distancing must be strictly adhered to during media coverage of events to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“It is important for event organisers to formulate specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a large group of journalists.
“For example, the event organisers should mark the spots designated for the journalists to ensure compliance with social distancing SOPs,” she told New Sarawak Tribune, yesterday.
Law added event organisers could limit the number of journalists allowed to cover the events if space was limited.
“The event organisers can also provide press releases to journalists so that they don’t have to enter the area. They can allow only photographers to enter and take pictures,” she said.
Cats.FM broadcast journalist, Mohd Nazirul Haziq said,”It is our job to cover news but there should not be any excuses not to abide to the SOPs provided.
“We need to be fair. If other people are complying with the SOPs, journalists should also. We are protecting not only our own lives but also the lives of others.”
BorneoTalk Journalist, Farihah Fuaad said that event organisers should mark spots, especially for photographers, as they had to take good pictures.
The event organisers could also have designated photographers who would distribute pictures later on to all the journalists.
“They could also limit the number of journalists attending their events and inform the media organisations earlier on.
“Both parties should be in touch with each other before the events. My concern is for photographers as they have to get close to each other and their subjects. Journalists, on the other hand, can stand further away,” she said.
