Transcending information delivery: how Malaysian online news portals report on COVID-19 crisis response

AbstractMalaysia has experienced its most significant socio-economic setback since the outbreak of COVID-19. Amid this unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis, various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and community members, generously provided livelihood assistance in various forms to help affected Malaysians, alleviating issues such as hunger, food insecurity, and cash flow constraints. However, the impact of these efforts would not have been as profound without the media’s coverage. During the pandemic lockdown, over 80% of Malaysians turned to smartphones and online news to stay abreast of COVID-19 updates. Online news outlets evidently played a pivotal role in safeguarding livelihoods. Drawing upon crisis-response reporting and framing theory, this study examined COVID-19 response reporting in leading Malaysian online news portals. The researchers content analyzed a total of 860 news articles from 2020 through 2021. The findings indicate that these portals not only provided timely information on livelihood relief efforts but also vigorously advocated for more mature pandemic-response policies. Additionally, practical analyses were featured to inspire better-informed decision making during challenging times. However, several limitations were linked to the lack of more balanced and “softer” news coverage. The findings are poised to enrich the literature on little-explored crisis-response reporting.Keywords: COVID-19crisis-response reportingnews framingonline news portalsMalaysia Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 Reformasi refers to a political movement initiated and popularized by Anwar Ibrahim in 1998 after he was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister by Malaysia’s then-Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. The movement, which eventually evolved into a reformist ideology, served as an important impetus for the democratization process in Malaysia.2 The Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative was introduced by the Malaysian government in 1996 to establish a high-technology zone aimed at attracting multinational company investments and accelerating the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy. Its Bill of Guarantees, which outlined the commitments made by the government to companies operating within the MSC, included the promise of no Internet censorship.3 See McQuail (Citation1987, p. 79) for more information on media’s “correlation” function.4 See Dominick (Citation1990, p. 35) for more information on mass communication’s “interpretation” function for society.Additional informationNotes on contributorsKenneth Tze Wui LeeKenneth Tze Wui Lee is a lecturer and head of the Department of Mass Communication at the Faculty of Creative Industries, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. His research interests include media, ethnicity, and nation-building.May Chuen EngMay Chuen Eng received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Linguistics, as well as a Master of Arts in Communication from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Her research interests include mass media and ethnic studies.Yang Sheng TanYang Sheng Tan holds a Bachelor of Communication (Honours) in Broadcasting from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management & Technology and a Master of Communication in Screen Studies from Universiti Sains Malaysia. His research interests encompass mass media, film studies, and social studies.Mei Yin LiongMei Yin Liong completed her education at both Robert Gordon University and the University of Dundee. Her research focuses on communication and social studies.