Af Helle Wahlberg, International Media Support (IMS)
Der er sket meget inden for pressefriheden i Burma (Myanmar), siden landet indledte en demokratiseringsproces for knap fire år siden. Men både regering og medier skal lære at tænke i nye baner, siger en af hovedmændene bag mediereform.
En munk læser avis i hovedstaden Yangon. Foto: Chris Beckett
Major challenges still face the media and freedom of the press in Myanmar despite the fact that the current media environment represents one of the most open in the country’s history.
“Both the government and the media must learn to changes their ways,” says one of the leading figures in Myanmars media reform process today, U Thiha Saw.
A new Media Law, a Printing and Enterprises Law, a Code of Conduct for journalists and private dailies on the streets.
Media reform in Myanmar has come far in the almost four years since a democratisation process was initiated under the leadership of a new civilian government in 2011 after a 50 year media blackout.
While citizens and civil society in the Middle East and North Africa fought for democratic reform in the streets, in Myanmar it was coming from the top without violence or uprisings.
Media reform a central issue
Discussions about the future of Myanmar’s media sector remain fervent.
This was clearly demonstrated when stakeholders within Myanmar’s media environment, including journalists and editors, government officials, academics and civil society, came together for the third annual conference on media development organised by UNESCO, International Media Support and the Myanmar Ministry of Information in September 2014.
While not everyone agrees on the extent of progress in the media sector, especially in light of some backstepping by both government and the media itself in 2014, media reform remains very much a central issue of scrutiny on the public agenda.
Abolishment of censorship
U Thiha Saw, Vice President of Myanmar Journalist Association, and a member of Press Council (Interim), is a prominent figure in Myanmar’s media environment today, having played an active role in the establishment of the country’s first Press Council (interim), as well as in the Myanmar Journalist Association and the first private Myanmar Journalism Institute.
In his eyes, one of the most significant changes in the media environment in Myanmar over the last four years was the abolishment of censorship.
“In 2012 the censorship board was dissolved, more than 400 monthlies and weeklies were released and pre-censorship abolished. The arrival of private dailies in the media market was a result of abolishing censorship.”
“On the down side, there is a lack of knowledge of journalism ethics with examples of journalists writing whatever they choose. Still, there are journalists who are sued or imprisoned because of their media products. I would not only blame the government for this. The media community needs to become more ethical. Both the government and media must learn to change their ways.”
“Another of the major challenges that still face the media and freedom of the press are the legal frameworks, the state and big business ownership of media, as well as lack of professionalism in journalism.”
The power of the unions
Læs videre hos International Media Support
