Myanmar: Inclusive, independent media in a new democracy – 5th conference report

This report summarises the main points from the 5th Myanmar media development conference held in Yangon from 7 – 8 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 where Minister of Information, U Pe Myint, expressed continued commitment to the media reform process.

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.

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.