I linked a reporter earlier who went there solely to find out how the situation is there and how these people think and go about their lives. I find it incredibly brave and worthwhile. Should he have been stripped of his citizenship just because he went there?

What about people who go to North Korea or China or other states that murder innocent people?

I find such blanket statements strange, it always depends on what you do there, not just where you geographically go.
And if the head of the government has to sign off every single reporter who wants to go somewhere, that would also be/allow censorship of the press.