Trending Topics From the COVID-19 Media Coverage in Malaysia

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is dominating the news landscape in Malaysia, where the month-long government-imposed Movement Control Order (MCO) has been extended by another two weeks to April 28 as infections continue to soar.

According to data from Cision Communications Cloud^®, the number of COVID-19 related news articles in Malaysia increased steadily to more than 30,000 in mid-March, exceeding the number of non COVID-19 news.

For many news outlets, covering the developments of COVID-19 is their utmost priority as the impact of the virus is severe and far-reaching, from bringing the global economy to a standstill to disrupting everyday routines.

Like the evolving situation, the news focus has also shifted, from the reporting on the government health measures and infection/casualty figures initially to the economic impact on businesses and livelihoods. PR Newswire catches up with four business journalists in Malaysia to find out the key trends and topics that have emerged from this crisis. They are Poovenraj Kanagaraj, Deputy Editor at Business Today Malaysia; Azleen Abdul Rahim, Co-Founder at Marketing in Asia, Charlotte Chong, Assistant Editor at NNA Kyodo News and Kevin Davasagayam, Newsdesk Reporter at The Sun Daily.

Here are four topics and areas that these journalists are keen on exploring more as part of their COVID-19 news coverage.

1. Business Diversification and Collaboration 

Opportunities can emerge in times of crisis. More companies are venturing into new business areas and collaborations, from offering delivery services to rolling out new products that alleviate the concerns of their stakeholders during this period.

What journalists are interested in:

Charlotte: This is the time for businesses to seize the opportunity to diversify into other sectors such as healthcare. Currently, some companies are working with foreign companies to produce masks and test kits. Others are focusing on digitalizing their businesses and are looking for ways to win customers. I will also try to look for industries that are impacted by the pandemic – some companies could undergo mergers and privatizations, while others are raising capital during this difficult time.

Poovenraj: One of the stories that I am working is on several movements by social enterprises and businesses in the same industry that help one another to survive the storm.

Relevant news from APAC Brands:

• Program Keusahawanan Taylor’s-CIMB Islamic takes its community programmes online
• RedDoorz partners with Governments across Southeast Asia to help frontline health workers combat the spread of COVID-19

2. Industry Insights

Leaders play a crucial role during a crisis. They make key decisions that make or break a business. They can also provide first-hand industry insights on the issues that they are facing and how they are coping with the crisis. Communicating a company’s plans and outlook is also a way of reassuring stakeholders during this challenging period.

What journalists are interested in:

Poovenraj: Strong opinions by business leaders in their respective fields on how the private and public sectors can adapt in order to brace the COVID-19 storm are very much appreciated. Business Today Malaysia is always open to featuring stories from any industry that can offer a fresh take on things, as well as good profile pieces. I am also on the lookout for young leaders who have created a positive impact on the industry and society.

Azleen: We are always looking out to feature credible mainstream and independent personalities from any industries, though those from the marketing industry are preferred.

Kevin: I would be keen to speak to people from the medical sector. One of them is the Health Ministry’s Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on how he is managing those on the frontline. I would also like to interview front-line staff such as nurses, doctors and paramedics on their experience in treating COVID-19 patients. I am also keen on getting perspectives from government officials and policymakers on how much is Malaysia in debt after the stimulus packages were announced. Lastly, I would like to hear from private business owners on their losses incurred during the lockdown period and if they foresee more people getting retrenched.

Charlotte: I would like to get an outlook for the tourism sector, which includes airlines, hotels and casino operators, and the retail industry, which comprises shopping malls, REIT, and to a smaller extent, the property industry as construction work has come to a complete halt.

Relevant news from APAC brands:

• Mindray Chairman’s Statement on Efforts to Combat COVID-19
• Frost & Sullivan Experts Present the Market Impact of COVID-19: How to Respond, Reset, and Rebound

3. Human Interest Stories

The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the health and economy of people around the world. In the face of hardship and adversity, communities have rallied together to lend a helping hand to those who have been affected. This has yielded a rich pool of human-interest stories that can be uplifting and hopeful for audiences.

What journalists are interested in:

Azleen: Empty news today will no longer be relevant tomorrow but those with substance or carry moral values will go further.

Kevin: I’m working on a story on how musicians in the nightlife industry are coping with the Movement Control Order (MCO). It is very sad to see that these performers do not have enough savings to go about their daily lives during this period. They live from paycheck to paycheck so it’s hard for them to save up. No one thought that COVID-19 would invade their lives and livelihoods.

Relevant news from APAC brands:

Vietnamese entrepreneur and artist Minh Beta released a song,  “Viet Nam oi! Danh Bay COVID” (Let’s Fight COVID!) to uplift the country’s spirit as it battles the pandemic. 

• Business forced closed during COVID-19, this Vietnamese entrepreneur turned around to release the national hit song to fight back the pandemic
• Delivery riders win support and empathy amidst COVID-19 pandemic by sharing experiences on Kuaishou

4. The Rise of E-commerce Businesses

With stay-home measures and remote work arrangements becoming more common, a new digital normal is emerging. The pandemic has accelerated the growth of services on e-commerce platforms. These services include retail, gaming and telemedicine.

What journalists are interested in:

Charlotte: I am most keen on e-commerce – online sales have jumped tenfold for companies like GrabFood and Foodpanda, which are certainly the winners during this outbreak. Another interesting development is that e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Zalora and Shopee have branched out to sell essential goods.

Relevant news from APAC Brands:

• Alibaba Cloud Supports Retailers with E-commerce Solutions to Fight Against Coronavirus Impact
• Ping An’s Auto Service App Ranked Top in China with Over 100 Million Users, COVID-19 Spurs Demand for Online Auto Service
• Hong Kong Companies Boost Online Commerce with SAP Customer Experience Solutions

Click here to read more stories on how journalists in APAC are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

This blog post is written by Christine Pereira, the Senior Audience Development Executive at PR Newswire Malaysia. Christine is in charge of partnerships, expanding media network, organizing the bi-annual Media Coffee events, conducting media interviews, and other company-wide projects for the Malaysian market. You can contact her at christine.pereira@prnasia.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.