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An Unfavorable Business: Running Local Media in Myanmar’s Ethnic States and Regions (MDIF, 2018)

This 66- page report assesses the business challenges faced by the country’s local media outlets. The report is based on research conducted from April-August 2018, as well as data gathered during the three years that MDIF has been running its business capacity building initiative, the Myanmar Media Program (MMP).

MDIF’s research identified 55 local media outlets operating in Myanmar’s seven ethnic states and seven regions that serve the information needs of particular geographic areas or ethnic nationalities. It found that local media establishment has surged since the political opening in 2011, with 38 of the 55 media launched over the past 7 years. The research confirmed that the largest number of local media outlets are located in Chin State, Shan State and Sagaing Region, and there is at least one media outlet in each of the country’s seven ethnic states. An interactive map produced by MDIF shows the locations and basic information about each of the 55 outlets.

The existence of dozens of local media in Myanmar may suggest a healthy environment for these outlets, but the report identifies multiple internal and external obstacles that severely hamper their prospects for sustainability and continued existence. Most notable among them are uneven advertising market development, continuing government domination of the media sector, and an uneven digital media transition.

Click here for full report.

Underneath the Autocrats (IFJ South East Asia Media Report, 2018)

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South East Asia Journalist Unions (SEAJU) launched the first ever IFJ Media Freedom Report for South East Asia. Underneath the Autocrats: A Report into Impunity, Journalist Safety and Working Conditions is the first major collaboration by IFJ and SEAJU in the region.

The report, supported by UNESCO, is intended to be an annual advocacy tool that holds governments and media to account on efforts to protect journalists.

The IFJ’s major research into South East Asia’s media canvassed the views of nearly 1000 journalists and media workers across the region in 2018 and included extensive research into legislative controls hampering independent journalism, as well as asking questions of governments, media owners and other key players on journalist safety and working conditions.

Click here to find out more and download the report.

Violence against women within the Rohingya refugee community: prevalence, reasons and implications for communication (BBC Media Action research briefing, 2018)

To inform the development of a new radio drama for Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, BBC Media Action carried out a small-scale qualitative research study that sought to understand more about Rohingya men and women’s understanding and attitudes towards child marriage, intimate partner violence and sexual exploitation and abuse.

This report shares findings from this study, which was carried out in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid, with funds from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Eight in-depth interviews and four mini focus group discussions were held with Rohingya men and women living in two camps in Cox’s Bazar, as well as key informant interviews with humanitarian practitioners working on issues related to gender-based violence (GBV).

The study found that intimate partner violence and child marriage are deeply rooted and normalised within the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar.

Click here for full paper.

Myanmar’s media from an audience perspective ( IMS-Fojo, 2018)

This publication presents the findings from an audience study carried out by International Media Support (IMS), its partner institution Fojo Media Institute and Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation (EMRef) in May 2018. The report provides indications of the media habits of the population of Myanmar as well as people’s understanding of news and information flows.

The study found that there is a widespread preference towards local media as people feel that these media outlets provide them with information relevant to their local communities and daily lives. Television is a preferred medium for consuming news but social media, and Facebook, in particular, is catching up. A culture of sharing news and information ensures that even people without access to Facebook know of the platform and get updates through friends and family.

People’s trust in media differs but with many preferring state-owned media to deliver trustworthy and reliable news and information. Some news consumers showcase a natural scepticism towards news and information, but limited access to reliable information makes it difficult for them to verify what they read, see or hear.

Based on the findings, the report ends with 12 recommendations. Six are directed towards the Myanmar media industry, journalists and other content
producers while the remaining six are targeted at media development organizations and learning institutions. IMS-Fojo hopes that these recommendations can serve as inspiration for the continuous development and professionalization of the media in Myanmar.

Click here for full report.

Network Challenge Meet-Up 1: Yangon (Myanmar), 7 May 2018

Many thanks to everyone for coming out to the May C4D Myanmar meet-up.

We were so pleased with the turn-out and were delighted to see familiar faces, as well as (and!) meet a whole new group of C4D practitioners who have just recently arrived in Yangon. Welcome to the group!

We had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Kyaw Sithu of Doh Eain and Naing from Search for Common Ground as they shared their learnings, reflections and key takeaways from the SBCC Summit in Bali. From meaningful youth engagement and the use of mobile phones for storytelling purposes to redefining public spaces to reduce violence in urban areas, it was clear that the Summit proved to be an incredibly enriching and inspiring knowledge and skills-sharing venue for all participants.

The C4D Myanmar group was lucky to have the chance to ask questions of Kyaw, Naing and other Summit attendees and brainstorm the best ways to incorporate Summit examples and best practices into the Myanmar country context. In the spirit of humility and learning, we also shared some honest reflections and lessons learned in our own C4D practices, inspiring the idea of a forthcoming ‘Fail Fest’! Stay tuned as we explore that idea further.

As a key takeaway, the C4D group agreed to review and comment the recently-drafted Summit Declaration: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yVY6QnYFoE3IAQ_uXxBXVJ3NxJtrlSMi865RtZX-x1g/edit?usp=sharing

We welcome the opportunity for everyone’s feedback, reflection and edits by midnight on Thursday, 10 May (please edit and comment directly into the google document). Katie and I will gather and compile all feedback and send the edited version to the Summit representatives on Friday, 11 May.

We will be in touch in the coming weeks with details of our next C4D June Meet-up, so stay tuned!

And as always, please help spread the word about our group and encourage your friends, colleagues and those in your network to take part.

With thanks,

Jessica and Katie

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