Myanmar media industry sounds very interesting comparing to that of
others. Printed media is currently the most powerful tool to express
local and international news among locals. All TV News channels are
owned by government. Yet a number of Myanmar internet users
unconsciously transform themselves to be Netizens by participating very
eagerly on social network discussions such as Facebook. The facts about
news and media in Myanmar are sometimes unbelievable yet trending of
citizen media is pretty amazing.
TV Station (Local)
Surprisingly there’s no purely private own channel in Myanmar. At least 60% of each channel is managed by government directly. All four main news agency namely MRTV, MRTV-3 (mostly in English), MRTV-4 and MWD broadcast almost identical news everyday and 90% of those news are about the events, trips and activities of generals and government ministers where public shows very little interest on. People watch such channels mostly for Korean/Chinese drama series, some shows and special entertainment programs. Lately, a station called SKYNet gradually become popular as it rebroadcasts some foreign channels and updated local entertainment programs legally yet it has to be run according to government’s rules and regulations.
The hosts and news anchors in MRTVs and MWD are mostly government staffs while MRTV-4 and Skynet could hire private Television personalities.
Radio (Local)
There are one AM Radio station and several FM Radio stations in Myanmar according to state and division on the country but almost all of them are for entertainment only. There is no such thing such as radio news reporter nor anchor. People usually listen to those for daily entertainment and new songs.
Radio (Exile)
Exile radio channels where part or all of them include broadcasting in Myanmar language such as BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB were pretty famous and reliable for Myanmar public. As they stood up against military government for every issues, people welcomed and enjoyed listening to them. Recently, when Myanmar is about to be opened up, such channels’ popularity reduced due to some biased facts and figures.
Printed Media (Local)
There’s “no” private Newspaper in Myanmar. There are 2 major papers where the only differences are advertisements and both are owned by government. Mandalay city has its own Newspaper and an English paper is also distributed though those are less well-known comparing to two major papers.
90% Myanmar people assume that if it is released daily, it must be called “Newspaper”. Journals have to be released “weekly” and those produced “monthly” must be called Magazines regardless of content and forms.
Myanmar government hasn’t allowed producing a non-government paper yet more than a hundred of journals under several categories are being distributed each week under censorship. News journals and sports journals are the most famous types while entertainment and pop news journals may stand at second. Other categories include religion and beliefs, real estate and vehicles info, children comic, music and so on. At the beginning of journal trends, only those who have had good connection with government generals could have a chance to get the approved license to distribute. Lately, almost everyone who have enough financial support could apply to publish a journal.
Most of the editors and journalists working in printed Media industry are less well-trained. Lack of job opportunities after graduation indirectly forced most of them to work reporters though only very few of them have been dreamt to be a reporter. Due to lack of proper resources, training and knowledge on media ethnics, disputes are very often occurred among journalists and politicians, journalists and bloggers and journalists and celebrities. Recent disputes include an issue between a reporter and a security staff of Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy leader of Myanmar where reporter was believed to be against with staff’s direction on taking photo of Aung San Suu Kyi and got yelled by staff, a copyright issue between a blogger and a journal where the journal printed an interview translated by a Myanmar blogger abroad without permission nor acknowledgement, suing to one of the most famous celebrities by a Journalist where the journalist questioned inappropriately regarding to abortion of the actress which led actress to slap journalist in public and many more. Due to such unreliable factors, public tend to lose their interest and less depend on local printer journals ever than before.
Web/Digital Media (Local)
Most of the local digital media are set up mostly by printed media giants. Sometimes, they post the breaking news or hot news regarding to political and government related issues which they can’t publish in physical journals due to strict censorship. All of such sites are mostly in Myanmar language since it’s main audience are Myanmar people across the world. Sometimes, they post articels which are mainly isolated for personal purposes such as the speech given by CEO of the journal.
Some sites do allow commenting on the news article and some people found some of the threads there are brilliant. And those are the very beginning of citizen media in Myanmar.
Digital Media (Exile)
As local digital media are founded by local journals, likewise, exile digital media are run by exile radio stations.
Most of those sites are in bi-lingual, each language serve different audiences: Myanmar speakers and non-Myanmar speakers. International communities who have interest on Myanmar usually watch such exile media’s sites as sort of reliable source. Those were reputable digital media for locals as well until they push some articles too much to be with biased and unfair facts. Rakhine ethnic people in Myanmar felt insulted according to wrong figure on a Myanmar map in an article by BBC, most of the locals were furious about referring General Aung San, father of Myanmar as “Aung San” in Myanmar language which indeed was an unpolite and professional manner done by Irrawaddy, stepping on Myanmar new official flag by Burma Campaign UK made myanmar citizens express anger though locals are not fond of new flags. Such attitude and actions gained less number of people who rely on exile digital media.
Citizen Media
When avid news readers realize that commenting on websites are pretty limited, they tend to move to other places such as Facebook groups, Facebook pages and Blogs. Blogging have introduced to local and exile communities years ago and some of experienced bloggers tend theirs to be CMS and news portals.
As Facebook is the only social network where 90% of Myanmar Internet users enjoy using, voicing out there have affected some real world issues. Halting Myit Sone Damn project, By-election, NLD joining Parliament and many more political related and non-political related issues were willingly discussed and argued by netizens on Facebook. Not only public but also president’s secretary office’s staffs, senators from NLD and army staffs are on Facebook though there is no official page/account neither for president nor opposition leader.
Not only in words but also by photographs, public informed public with local news. Several citizen journalists known as CJs become well-known on Facebook. Some works individually while others formed a group to communicate and collaborate. Their photos also become a source for netizens to discuss more about the current issues.
Some expressed their disappointments regarding time-taking and endless arguments on Facebook yet others begin to value the importance of citizen media and diverse opinions. It would not be an easy journey for netizens to voice out between inaccurate government media and biased exile media. But, yes, the journey begins.
TV Station (Local)
Surprisingly there’s no purely private own channel in Myanmar. At least 60% of each channel is managed by government directly. All four main news agency namely MRTV, MRTV-3 (mostly in English), MRTV-4 and MWD broadcast almost identical news everyday and 90% of those news are about the events, trips and activities of generals and government ministers where public shows very little interest on. People watch such channels mostly for Korean/Chinese drama series, some shows and special entertainment programs. Lately, a station called SKYNet gradually become popular as it rebroadcasts some foreign channels and updated local entertainment programs legally yet it has to be run according to government’s rules and regulations.
The hosts and news anchors in MRTVs and MWD are mostly government staffs while MRTV-4 and Skynet could hire private Television personalities.
Radio (Local)
There are one AM Radio station and several FM Radio stations in Myanmar according to state and division on the country but almost all of them are for entertainment only. There is no such thing such as radio news reporter nor anchor. People usually listen to those for daily entertainment and new songs.
Radio (Exile)
Exile radio channels where part or all of them include broadcasting in Myanmar language such as BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB were pretty famous and reliable for Myanmar public. As they stood up against military government for every issues, people welcomed and enjoyed listening to them. Recently, when Myanmar is about to be opened up, such channels’ popularity reduced due to some biased facts and figures.
Printed Media (Local)
There’s “no” private Newspaper in Myanmar. There are 2 major papers where the only differences are advertisements and both are owned by government. Mandalay city has its own Newspaper and an English paper is also distributed though those are less well-known comparing to two major papers.
90% Myanmar people assume that if it is released daily, it must be called “Newspaper”. Journals have to be released “weekly” and those produced “monthly” must be called Magazines regardless of content and forms.
Myanmar government hasn’t allowed producing a non-government paper yet more than a hundred of journals under several categories are being distributed each week under censorship. News journals and sports journals are the most famous types while entertainment and pop news journals may stand at second. Other categories include religion and beliefs, real estate and vehicles info, children comic, music and so on. At the beginning of journal trends, only those who have had good connection with government generals could have a chance to get the approved license to distribute. Lately, almost everyone who have enough financial support could apply to publish a journal.
Most of the editors and journalists working in printed Media industry are less well-trained. Lack of job opportunities after graduation indirectly forced most of them to work reporters though only very few of them have been dreamt to be a reporter. Due to lack of proper resources, training and knowledge on media ethnics, disputes are very often occurred among journalists and politicians, journalists and bloggers and journalists and celebrities. Recent disputes include an issue between a reporter and a security staff of Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy leader of Myanmar where reporter was believed to be against with staff’s direction on taking photo of Aung San Suu Kyi and got yelled by staff, a copyright issue between a blogger and a journal where the journal printed an interview translated by a Myanmar blogger abroad without permission nor acknowledgement, suing to one of the most famous celebrities by a Journalist where the journalist questioned inappropriately regarding to abortion of the actress which led actress to slap journalist in public and many more. Due to such unreliable factors, public tend to lose their interest and less depend on local printer journals ever than before.
Web/Digital Media (Local)
Most of the local digital media are set up mostly by printed media giants. Sometimes, they post the breaking news or hot news regarding to political and government related issues which they can’t publish in physical journals due to strict censorship. All of such sites are mostly in Myanmar language since it’s main audience are Myanmar people across the world. Sometimes, they post articels which are mainly isolated for personal purposes such as the speech given by CEO of the journal.
Some sites do allow commenting on the news article and some people found some of the threads there are brilliant. And those are the very beginning of citizen media in Myanmar.
Digital Media (Exile)
As local digital media are founded by local journals, likewise, exile digital media are run by exile radio stations.
Most of those sites are in bi-lingual, each language serve different audiences: Myanmar speakers and non-Myanmar speakers. International communities who have interest on Myanmar usually watch such exile media’s sites as sort of reliable source. Those were reputable digital media for locals as well until they push some articles too much to be with biased and unfair facts. Rakhine ethnic people in Myanmar felt insulted according to wrong figure on a Myanmar map in an article by BBC, most of the locals were furious about referring General Aung San, father of Myanmar as “Aung San” in Myanmar language which indeed was an unpolite and professional manner done by Irrawaddy, stepping on Myanmar new official flag by Burma Campaign UK made myanmar citizens express anger though locals are not fond of new flags. Such attitude and actions gained less number of people who rely on exile digital media.
Citizen Media
When avid news readers realize that commenting on websites are pretty limited, they tend to move to other places such as Facebook groups, Facebook pages and Blogs. Blogging have introduced to local and exile communities years ago and some of experienced bloggers tend theirs to be CMS and news portals.
As Facebook is the only social network where 90% of Myanmar Internet users enjoy using, voicing out there have affected some real world issues. Halting Myit Sone Damn project, By-election, NLD joining Parliament and many more political related and non-political related issues were willingly discussed and argued by netizens on Facebook. Not only public but also president’s secretary office’s staffs, senators from NLD and army staffs are on Facebook though there is no official page/account neither for president nor opposition leader.
Not only in words but also by photographs, public informed public with local news. Several citizen journalists known as CJs become well-known on Facebook. Some works individually while others formed a group to communicate and collaborate. Their photos also become a source for netizens to discuss more about the current issues.
Some expressed their disappointments regarding time-taking and endless arguments on Facebook yet others begin to value the importance of citizen media and diverse opinions. It would not be an easy journey for netizens to voice out between inaccurate government media and biased exile media. But, yes, the journey begins.
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