Why 63% of Malaysian Journalists Earn Below the Living Wage

In November 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed deep concern over reports that senior journalists—some with over a decade of service—are still earning as little as RM2,000 per month.

Widely reported by BERNAMA, The Star, and many news sites, these findings highlight a harsh reality: many media practitioners in Malaysia are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living despite their immense professional experience.

As a PR agency, we find this situation deeply alarming. We believe it is time to bring this issue back to light because the media serves as the “Fourth Estate” of our democracy, the essential pillar that ensures transparency and accountability within our nation.

And the simple truth is this: PR cannot exist without the Media and while the relationship between a PR practitioner and a journalist can be complex, it is deeply symbiotic. 

2026 Salary Comparison: Media vs. Digital Sectors

To provide context on the widening gap, we will compare the starting pay in traditional media against other high-growth digital sectors in the Klang Valley.

According to the Jobstreet 2026 Salary Guide and OpenDOSM Feb 2026 formal sector reports, a fresh graduate with zero years of experience in a digital service firm in the Klang Valley typically starts at an average of RM 2,800 to RM 4,200. 

“Bank Negara Malaysia’s places the requirement for a single adult in Kuala Lumpur to live comfortably is roughly RM 3,000 to RM 3,100”

How Do Low Salaries Impact Malaysian Media Integrity?

The wage crisis in Malaysia’s newsrooms will and has affected the quality and reliability of public information.

• Quantity Over Quality Near-minimum wages force reporters to prioritize “high-volume” content. Investigative depth is sacrificed because reporters lack the time and resources for thorough scrutiny.
• The Fact-Checking Compromise Burnout is the enemy of accuracy. Stressed, underpaid journalists are more likely to miss nuances, leading to a rise in “AI-slop” and unverified reports.
• The “Moonlighting” Trap With 63% of journalists earning below sustainable levels (IFJ/NUJM study), many take side gigs. This leads to exhausted newsrooms and potential conflicts of interest.
• Profit vs. Welfare Paradox While Malaysia’s services sector hit RM 677.8B in 2026, editorial wages remain stagnant. This “wealth gap” triggered the 2025/2026 government audit into media welfare.

“I will do my part to persuade… I will tell media companies to provide something that is fair and just. There is no reason [for low pay] when companies record impressive profits.” — PM Anwar Ibrahim, Nov 2025.

Impact Summary Table: The Cost of Underpaid Media

The Timeline of the “Media Squeeze” (2019–2026)

The decline of traditional media in Malaysia has also played a role in the decline. 

And this isn’t just about one or two papers, it is a total ecosystem shift. To put it in perspective, let’s look at a timeline,

2019: The Utusan Shock

• Event: Utusan Malaysia (founded 1939) and its sister paper Kosmo! ceased operations, affecting 862 staff.
• Why: A combination of RM261M in accumulated losses and a sharp decline in circulation (from 350k peak to 144k).
• Outcome: The 80-year-old giant collapsed in 2019 and  accumulated debts exceeding RM240 million.

2022: The “Print-Only” Death

• Event: The Malaysian Reserve (founded 2007) officially ceased its print publication, moving entirely to digital to survive.

2024–2025: The Digital Layoff Wave

• Malaysiakini (Oct 2024): Even the country’s most successful digital-native portal had to announce a restructuring plan and staff layoffs.
• Astro Malaysia:  After reporting a RM3.44 billion revenue drop in FY24, the group faced an unprecedented 58% decline in quarterly profit by late 2025. .
• Media Prima (2025): Continued “rationalization” of staff across New Straits Times and Berita Harian to offset a 7% drop in total Adex.

“Total advertising expenditure (Adex) in Malaysia fell by 22% in 2025 and is projected to fall another 9.5% in 2026, reaching a low of RM4.24 billion.” – Kenanga Research

The “Death of Print” in Numbers (2017 vs. 2026)

Why Are They Closing? (The “Trifecta” of Failure)

1. The Adex Leakage: 77% of every Ringgit spent on digital advertising in Malaysia now goes to Google, Meta, and TikTok. 
2. Legacy Cost Drag: Maintaining printing presses, broadcast towers, and physical distribution is too expensive for 2026. These companies are “asset-heavy” in a world that is “asset-light.”
3. The Consumption Gap: Younger Malaysians (Gen Z & Alpha) do not “search” on Google or read papers; they search on Xiaohongshu, TikTok and Lemon8. Legacy media has struggled to translate their authority into these short-form formats.

But there is one factor we have yet to mention, and that is AI.

Efficiency Paradox: Saving Time vs. Losing Trust

• The “81% Adoption” Wave: As of early 2026, over 81% of Malaysian media professionals use generative AI to automate routine tasks like transcription and copy editing, saving an average of 15 hours per week.
• The Traffic Cliff: While newsrooms work faster, referral traffic such as AI “answer engines” (like Gemini and SearchGPT) provide information directly to users, bypassing news websites entirely.
• The AI “Slop” Crisis: Generic, unverified, and low-quality automated content is everywhere. For journalists, navigating this means moving away from “Breaking News” (which AI can do) to “Breaking Verification” (which only humans can do).

Conclusion: A Path Toward a Sustainable Media Ecosystem

The data we’ve shared isn’t just a collection of stats, it’s the daily reality for the majority of Malaysian media practitioners. 

When 63% of journalists are earning below a living wage while navigating a “traffic cliff” caused by AI and shifting Adex, the traditional PR-Journalist relationship needs to evolve.

At PRESS, we know that in today’s climate, a journalist’s time is their most stretched resource. Our proposal is to support the media through a symbiotic partnership that focuses on three key areas:

• Clients Ready to Feature & Advertise: We represent a portfolio of high-value clients who are specifically looking to be featured in or advertise on your platform.
• Reducing the Editorial Burden: We provide “journalist-ready” access to industry experts and verified data. This allows reporters to produce high-authority content without the exhaustive hours typically required for primary research.
• Mutual Digital Growth: By combining our SEO expertise with your editorial authority, we can ensure that high-quality journalism remains visible and competitive against the rising tide of unverified “AI slop.”

The simple truth is that PR cannot thrive without a healthy, well-paid, and respected Media. So as the saying goes:

“Sustainable journalism requires sustainable partnerships.”

If you are a journalist, editor or newsroom looking for collaborations, let’s talk. 

Contact us: +60 10 2001 085

Source:

• Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM): Quarterly Services Statistics, Fourth Quarter 2025 (Released Feb 10, 2026). This report confirms the RM677.8 billion revenue figure for the services sector and the 5.0% increase in total salaries/wages.
• OpenDOSM Dashboard: Services Sector Performance Monitoring (Last updated Nov 2025). Used to verify the 7.0% to 8.0% annual growth trends in Information & Communication and Professional Services. 
• DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey Report 2024/2025: Used to benchmark median monthly wages (approx. RM2,793) against the proposed living wage.

• Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) & EPF: Belanjawanku Expenditure Guide (2024/2025 Edition). Confirms the living wage benchmark for a single adult in the Klang Valley at approximately RM2,967 to RM3,100. 
• Ministry of Economy Malaysia: Progressive Wage Policy Implementation Roadmap (2025-2026). Supports the claim that the government is auditing private sector wages to transition toward a performance-based, progressive model.

• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) & NUJM: Voices Under Watch: Malaysia Media Report. Provides the specific statistic that 63% of journalists surveyed earn below sustainable levels despite regular overtime. 
• BERNAMA & The Star: PM Anwar voices concern over low pay for journalists (Nov 16, 2025). This primary source documents the Prime Minister’s specific shock at senior journalists earning RM2,000 and his directive to the Ministry of Communications to find solutions.

• Jobstreet by SEEK: Interactive Salary Guide 2026 (Updated Feb 2026). Used to verify salary ranges for Digital Marketers (RM2,700–RM4,200) and Digital Marketing Specialists (RM3,800–RM5,500). 
• Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad: Media Sector Update (Jan 28, 2026). Confirms the projected 9.5% decline in Adex for FY26 (to RM4.24 billion) and the structural shift where digital platforms dominate 75%–85% of the total ad budget.