Malaysian Government Censors Travel Writers
- Artist/Author/Producer: Journalists
- Confronting Bodies: Malayasian government
- Dates of action: 1991
- Location: Malaysia
- Description of the Art Work
- Any journalist taking part in travel press trips subsidized by the
Malaysian Government.
- Description of incident
- "... Journalists participating in travel press trips subsidized by the
Malaysian government must now agree in writing to submit articles and
photos for the host country's approval prior to publication. The
restrictions are intended to prevent any "detrimental" images of
Malaysia from being published..."
- Results of incident
- "The new policy now being instituted by Malaysia could hurt the country's
tourism in the long run. 'Censoring how the press covers a destination
means first rate travel journalists simply won't cover it,' said Irv
Hamilton of San Francisco based Aviso Inc., a firm that represents the
Australian Tourist commission."
Source: Public Relations Journal, "Malaysia censors travel writers", pg. 9, July
1991