Myanmar’s first private dailies hit the streets

For the first time in almost 50 years, private daily newspapers are now available on the streets of Yangon

Milestones for the media in Myanmar

  • April 2011: The newly appointed President underscores for the first time media’s role as fourth estate of a democracy and the importance of free press
  • June 2011: Nearly 200 entertainment publications are allowed to publish without pre-publication censorship
  • June 2011: Aung San Suu Kyi and other opposition figures start to appear in private publications
  • September 2011: Restrictions on 30,000 blocked internet sites are lifted
  • December 2011: Some 54 business publications are allowed to publish without pre-publication censorship
  • January 2012: A large number of prisoners of conscience are released, including thirteen video journalists
  • March 2012: The conference of Media Development in Myanmar is held in Yangon
  • April 2012: Bi-elections to the Parliament are held. Journalists are given free access to cover the campaign. The media are granted accreditation to cover parliamentary sessions
  • August 2012: Ministry of Information announces the abolishment of pre-publication censorship
  • August 2012: An interim Press Council is established with 28 members nominated by journalist associations, the government and other institutions.
  • September 2012: The new Minister for Information announces that the Government’s draft print media law will be shelved leaving the Press Council tasked with providing content for the media law
  • April 2013: Myanmar sees its first ever private daily newspapers published

Marking a milestone in Myanmar’s democratic reform process, private daily newspapers such as The Standard Times Daily saw the light for the first time on 1 April. Previously, mainly state-owned daily newspapers were available to the public. The move to allow private dailies is another positive step forward for media in the country after more than a decade of harsh restrictions. In August 2012 the government abolished the notorious Censorship Board and media are thus no longer required to submit content for censorship prior to publication.

Sixteen papers have so far been granted licences, although only four were ready to publish on 1 April, according to BBC. Out of the 16 private daily newspapers given permission to publish, four dailies – Pyidaungsu Daily (Union Daily), Shwe Naing Ngan Thit Daily (Golden Freshland Daily), San Taw Chein Daily (Standard Times Daily) and Voice Daily – began publishing on Monday.

“The publication of private daily newspapers is a major step forward on Myanmar’s road to democracy. It is now possible to read independent news on a daily basis. However, it is important to stress that the newfound freedom of expression must be accompanied by a sense of responsibility for what and how you cover issues as a journalist in the public sphere. There have been examples of coverage which has incited violence and therefore it is vital to install a sense of ethics in journalism and an awareness of the consequence of words in the media community,” says Esben Q. Harboe, Programme Manager for International Media Support’s (IMS) activities in Myanmar.

Conflict sensitive journalism

With five decades of military rule, Myanmar’s journalists are only just adjusting to a system free of heavy censorship and repressive media laws. Since October 2012, IMS has trained up to 400 journalists across the country in conflict sensitive journalism, targeting both mainstream as well as ethnic minority media in. The aim has been to raise awareness of journalism ethics and introduce journalists to a method of writing and using photos that avoids exacerbating conflict and keeps the public informed through unbiased and balanced information.

IMS has been active in Myanmar since 2006, initially supporting exile media. Since January 2012, with financial backing from Sweden, Norway and Denmark, IMS has worked directly with government institutions, journalist associations, civil society groups, and other partners to develop a competent, professional and independent media. Read more about our work in Myanmar here.

Related content