Myanmar’s government reiterates support for media reforms

Yangon, 10 November 2016 –  Gender inequality in media and the challenges of ethnic and community media were at the heart of discussions at the annual Myanmar Media Development Conference this week, where Minister of Information, U Pe Myint, expressed continued commitment to the media reform process.

The exceptionally high turnout of more than 300 representatives from the media, government, military, judiciary, civil society and international press freedom organisations at the meeting from 7-8 November in Yangon was, if anything, a clear illustration of the continued sense of importance invested in the media reform process in Myanmar.

Under the heading “Inclusive, independent media in a new democracy”, the annual conference was the first to be held under the new democratically elected government. All ministries were represented by their designated spokesperson and also the military had sent high-ranking officials to engage in debate. A less stringent, hardtalk-like format paved the way for a less formal setting and a more frank discussion than that of previous years.

“This meeting is an opportunity to meet across sectors, ministries and media,” U Pe Myint, Minister of Information said in his opening remarks.

“Compared to the situation in the previous 5 years, media is more accessible than ever. Yet, there are still restrictions in collecting news and information by journalists.”

Head of UNESCO in Myanmar, Ms. Min Jeong Kim, added:

“The broad representation of government representatives, media owners, human rights activists, and media practitioners, both women and men, from different ethnic backgrounds gathered at this conference to openly discuss media development, freedom of expression and access to information is testament to how far Myanmar has come in such a short period.”

Picking up on the themes of previous media deveopment conferences, panelists from Myanmar’s media community, government and invited international media development experts took stock of media reforms in areas such as media law, the safety of journalists and community media. Crucially, the involvement of the judiciary in this year’s conference talks through the Attorney General’s office and the Supreme Court meant that there was a direct dialogue with those tasked with interpreting the key legal rules supporting freedom of expression and the safeguarding of journalists’ rights. The drafting of the Right to Information Law is thus under way, designed for the benefit of the whole populace.

While women now make up the majority of staff members in the country’s media environment, the majority of news sources continue to be men. Women face challenges in terms of culturally rooted stereotyping of women, lack of maternity leave opportunities in private media. In addition, panelists raised the fact that the Myanmar News Media Council only has one female member. It was generally agreed that more awareness is needed to address these stereotypes and that media could do its part in this by diversifying sources and promoting role models of leading women in politics and economics.

“If large parts of society from women to minority and ethnic groups are not represented in mainstream media, they are unable to engage in and contribute to the country’s ongoing democratic process,” said Glen Swanson, IMS-Fojo Programme Manager at the meeting, referring to the new report “Gender in the Myanmar Media Landscape” published by the Swedish government-funded Fojo Media Institute with IMS support. Read it here: http://www.fojo.se/research-publications/in-english/1511-gender-in-the-myanmar-media-landscape-2016.

Reforms in the Myanmar media sector have come a long way, but much remains to be done. In her closing remarks, Ms. Min Jeong Kim of UNESCO suggested that the recently published analysis of the Myanmar media sector by UNESCO and International Media Support could inform the next steps in the country’s media reform process. For more information, visit: https://www.mediasupport.org/publication/assessment-media-development-myanmar/

The 5th Myanmar Media Development Conference is organised by the Myanmar Press Council, Myanmar Journalist Association, Myanmar Journalist Network, Myanmar Journalist Union, Burma News International and Myanmar Journalism Institute with support from  Myanmar Ministry of Information (MoI), UNESCO, the IMS-FOJO Media Development Programme in Myanmar, Deutsche Welle Akademie, USAID, Centre for Law and Democracy, Internews, DVB, ARTICLE 19, Mizzima, and FHI 360.