Juarawee Kittisilpa
The Nation June 5, 2013 1:00 am
Although the Myanmar press has recently enjoyed more freedom after key reforms and the abolition of media censorship, more still has to be done to improve the capacity of journalists and deal with those ignoring the changes.
Journalists in Myanmar, many from the younger generation, have become enthusiastic in covering news after the quasi-civilian government started easing restrictions on the media in 2011.
Mon Mon Myat, a Yangon-based freelance journalist, compared recent changes in the media with the picture in 2007, when only foreign correspondents could cover political issues because local reporters had to endure scrutiny by government censors.
“Before 2010, media censorship was a big issue in my country… But now, the younger journalists are enjoying new freedom so they are now everywhere. When something happens – you know, fire or conflict in Arakan State – they are everywhere,” she said.
Although the government ended pre-publication censorship last year, harsh press laws remain in place and self-censorship is still rife. Some people in state agencies have also refused to adjust their old perceptions.
“We have to face people who have old ways of thinking as they are familiar with the old regime – especially those from government sides – even though everybody knows we have changed. They don’t exactly know what is change, what is democracy,” said Kyaw Min Swe, chief editor of The Voice Weekly.
The country’s decades-long isolation has resulted in a vacuum of journalistic skills. Various Myanmar media companies are now seeking help from neighbouring countries, while training has also been offered by people and groups further abroad.
Link to webnews: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Myanmar-press-reforms-still-patchy-30207614.html
