There are differences between government's newspapers, private media

There are differences between government's newspapers, private media

Published on Sunday, 03 August 2014 00:24

YANGON- There is differences between state-owned newspapers and private media while covering news as President Thein Sein met with the Interim Press Council members, according to the source.

The government's newspapers and private media yesterday described that the news as the president Thein Sein held a meeting with members of the Interim Press Council at the president's farm house in Nay Pyi Taw on August 1 and it [meeting] lasted for about one and a half hour.

But, the state owned newspapers didn't cover the detail news and they banned some detailed information about the journalists who are being filed a case and sentenced as well as the president's remarks.

The meeting focused on role in media issues, discussion about ongoing media-related problems, arresting and imprisonment of journalists and police investigation, and the holding of a quadruple meeting.

The government's newspapers formerly stated fully description of those meeting minutes and the president's speeches.

The state owned newspapers also reported that the government would carry out the tasks to promote the media industry in cooperation with the interim press council and the government.

Moreover, it is stated that the journalists are required to stand out as "respectable" media by preventing the abuse of press freedom and exercising it with responsibility, accountability and duty during this delicate transition period.

The newspapers also declared that press freedom should be exercised harmoniously taking into consideration stability and security requirement of the nation.

Ban on main information about the meeting with the president and the press council (interim) showed there was no transparency in the government body, according to the report of Dr. Yan Myo Thein who has been writing the political opinions.

"We have seen that there was no transparency in the government's approach. The government should have transparency. If they [government] release the information as original, the news from the state-owned newspapers can be stated more detailed than the private media," said Dr. Yan Myo Thein.

The government's newspapers did not describe the interim press council's speeches, says Khin Maung Lay (Po Thaukkya) who is Vice-Chairman of press council (interim).

" We have read the newspapers of the government and the private media's publishing on August 2. But, the government's newspapers did not describe our speeches and demands. They [government] posted their words on the state-owned newspapers and they didn't describe the news completely. In general, the state-owned newspapers do not describe our demands," Khin Maung Lay (Po Thaukkya) added.

Dr. Yan Myo Thein also criticized that the release of the interim press council on meeting with the president was generally.
According to the release and speeches of the interim press council, what the president had said seemed to have limitations because he would act within legal framework and within his power for the justice of those facing charges or imprisonment, without harming the independent judicial sector.

The state-owned newspapers would not describe completely not only the above detailed the information of the press council (interim) but also the holding of a quadruple forum comprises of those legislative, judicial and executive sectors and the media so that the interim press council could avoid any misunderstanding between the media and other fields, which was similar to the problems that were being faced now.

They [state-owned newspaper] also described that both government ministries and the media are required to build relations based on ethics and mutual respect after fixing current issues between the government and the interim press council.

State-owned newspapers described that it was exchanged views on cooperation between administrative branch and fourth pillar for promotion of press freedom and journalism, strengthening of the process of handling ethical problems by Myanmar Interim Press Council, measures for effective release of information by government ministries, finding ways to solve ethic problems of journalists through Press Council instead of legal action, holding workshops for building trust and mutual understanding among government ministries and journalists, and enhancing the ethical standards of journalists.

After that, it was described only about the President saying like this "The government has recognized the importance of fourth pillar in the national-building endeavors, and of press freedom in implementing a democratic system. However, journalists are required to stand out as respectable media by preventing the abuse of press freedom and exercising it with responsibility, accountability and duty during this delicate transition period. Press Freedom should be exercised harmoniously taking into consideration stability and security requirements of the nation, the President added. As peace and stability of the society is maintained by the law, everyone including the media is required to abide by the law, the President continued. The President admitted that there are weaknesses in releasing information of government ministries and promised to cooperate with the Interim Press Council to improve the situation and to cooperate with the media for the development of the media industry".

Ye Htut who worked under Ministry of Information that did not get on well with private media and shouted the slogan "Media will be confronted with media" has become Minister of Information and the news that was stated the day after his becoming of minister being different from description in private media, raised media-people's worries.

Information Minister Ye Htut's statements were included in the article "The President instructs ministries to put Press Council (Interim) in between when problems occur between Gov't and media" that was published in August 2 – 7 Day newspaper.

"Press-people need to pay respect on Press Council, too. If not, other organizations will go to the court instead of council, we discussed so," 7 Day newspaper described Ye Htut's statement.

Ye Htut moved to civil administration sector from military in 2005. He worked as Director General of Information and Public Relations Department that was famous to be government's propaganda department in Kyaw San, former Information Minister's days. After that, he turned into Deputy Information Minister and the President's Spokesperson in present President's time and now, he has become Information Minister on August 1.

Statuses from Ye Htut's Facebook page that are usually written by mixing private affairs and the government's attitude, opinion, and explanation, have also been questioned. He had been called "Minister of Facebook" by international media as he usually involves writing not only about government-related cases but most cases.

His statuses and writings about Kachin riot, and religious riots drew many criticisms. He usually keeps an eye on private media's petty mistakes and points out the journalists' code of ethics part.

On the other hand, he stands at the top in protecting the benefit of State-owned media. For example, he tried at the first place to approve Public Service Media Law which is intended to protect State-owned media.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/there-are-differences-between-governments-newspapers-private-media/