Unit 5: Impacts of Cutting Internet and Tele-communications on the News Media There are about 30 townships in Kachin, Chin, and Shan states, and Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay Regions where internet blackout occurs. Due to the internet outage, it is reported that news outlets face difficulties in acquiring and reporting accurate news on time. According to the interviews with 80 journalists, they reflected that internet outage becomes a likelihood in the areas SAC face significant resistance. They remark that timely access to the realities becomes delayed, fact-checking the information they received becomes complicated, and accessing the photos and videos footages for reporting becomes challenging. Since almost all the reporters and journalists take count of their safety and security, they rely on communicating with the local sources who are directly engaging or experiencing the conflict in those areas. Difficulties because of the internet outage and telecommunication cut-offs produce challenges for the journalists and news media. In summary, the journalists agreed in our survey that the internet and telecommunication outages bring challenges for accessing the realities on the ground, fact-checking, and promptly reporting the events. Repeated Dark Age of News Media 27