Journalists' working conditions hit hard by coronavirus

  working conditions of news reporters around globe have deteriorated during coronavirus pandemic amid job losses and attacks on media freedom, according to a survey published Thursday by International Federation of Journalists.

Three out of four journalists have faced restrictions, obstruction or intimidation while covering coronavirus crisis, group said, analyzing responses from 1,308 journalists in 77 countries.

Two-thirds of staff and freelance journalists said y have experienced worsening working conditions, including pay cuts, lost revenue and job losses.

“se results show a worrying trend of declining media freedom and cuts to journalism at very time when access to information and quality journalism is so crucial," said Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary. “Journalism is a public good and it deserves public support and an end to political obstruction and interference."

Nearly every freelance respondent reported losing revenue or work opportunities in survey conducted in April. Meanwhile, working during coronavirus crisis has also taken a toll on journalists' mental health, with more than half suffering from stress and anxiety.

Brussels-based IFJ also said more than a quarter of respondents said y lack right equipment to work from home in safe conditions amid lockdown measures widely implemented to slow spre of virus. One in four lacked proper protective gear when reporting in field.

“When asked about state of media freedom in ir countries vast majority said it h got worse," IFJ said, ting that dozens of journalists have been arrested or faced lawsuits since outbreak started.

Almost one in four journalists said y have struggled to access information from ir government or official sources, and many complained about restrictions on free movement or on asking questions during press conferences.

“From Greece to Indonesia and from Ch to Peru, journalists used words such as precarious, problematic, terrible, worse, declining and restricted to assess media freedom environment," IFJ said.