yesterday [on October 13], between MOI and representatives of ethnic media groups, according to U Zin Linn, leader of Burma News International’s (BNI) News Quality Assessment Team (NQAT).
At the meeting, there was discussion around publication and the difficulties that media groups face.
“It was mainly focused on the development of ethnic news media organizations. Then, the difficulties that ethnic media groups have to face was also discussed. When our side discussed this, U Ye Htut said MOI will support them as best as possible. But, he does not tell exactly how MOI will help with and what it will support. He said roughly that MOI will help. And, that each ethnic media group’s needs are not the same, “ said U Zin Lin.
According to ethnic media groups that were present at the meeting, discussion surrounded the lack of the reporters, scarcity of technical equipment, interruption of reporting due to bad roads and communications, and the difficulties of news printing.
Ethnic media groups and MOI agreed that MOI will at its best provide ethnic media groups with the above support, and ethnic media groups also accepted to join the training provided by MOI. MOI added that if ethnic media groups accepted, MOI would also exchange information.
Minister U Ye Htut wrote on his Facebook post, “Today [October 13], we met with some ethnic media groups, including BNI, in cooperation with Mizzima News.The main topic that we discussed is the financial support for development of newspapers and journals in ethnic languages. Regarding information transfer, it is necessary to set basic policy and standards. After recognizing the standards, the MOI will plan support for the ethnic media groups in exchange for complying with recognized standards.
It’s the first time MOI and ethnic media groups held a meeting, and included 25 representatives from BNI’s member organizations, including Thanlwin Times, Kantarawaddy Times, Mizzima News and Chin World.
Photo caption: Meeting between Ministry of Information and ethnic media groups (MOI)
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