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The end of pre-publication censorship in Myanmar and the arrival of private daily newspapers made international headlines. But ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action research showed that nearly two thirds (63%) of people in Myanmar remained unaware of the reform process.

We worked to strengthen the capacity of state, local and private media in Myanmar to produce news and current affairs programming which reached people in both rural and urban areas, providing them with information on governance issues and creating spaces for diverse voices to be heard.

This work included supporting two new programmes – weekly TV news panel show Current Affairs (Myat Maut Yay Yar A Pyay Pyay) and daily interactive radio programme Lively News (Thet Win Hlote Shar Tha Din Myar), as well as wider support to the MRTV newsroom.

Our research analysing the standard of MRTV’s news output found there were improvements in editorial standards, such as reduced levels of reporter bias, less use of value-laden terminology, and slightly reduced focus on high-ranking officials.

Strengthening independent media

Through face-to-face training, an online iLearn course and innovative mobile journalism training, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action supported the development of a new generation of private sector broadcast journalists.

As part of this work, we  developed a partnership with the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), a formerly exiled satellite TV provider, providing advice and training on election reporting and supporting the launch of a news quiz programme, Funny News Week (Yay Ya Mor Ya Thadin Lor Ga).

In the run-up to the 2015 parliamentary elections, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action conducted eight rounds of a ground-breaking election reporting and mobile journalism course in six locations around the country. This highly innovative MOELJO course (mobile phone skills and election reporting for journalists) reached 170 journalists, many of them based in ethnic states or rural areas. The aim of the course was to help ensure accurate and impartial reporting as well as greater nationwide coverage during the elections.

Project information