Myanmar to allow daily private newspapers

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 28 December 2012

Myanmar is set to allow the publication of private daily newspapers beginning in April 2013, the first time since 1964. This change is part of the country's broader reforms towards enhancing freedom of expression.

Summary

YANGON: Myanmar said Friday it will allow private daily newspapers starting in April for the first time since 1964, in the latest step toward allowing freedom of expression in the long-repressed nation. The Information Ministry announced on its website that any Myanmar national wishing to publish a daily newspaper will be able to submit an application in February. New papers will be allowed to begin printing April 1 in any language. The move was an expected part of new press freedoms President Thein Sein has introduced as part of wider democratic reforms since taking office last year, after a half-century of military rule. In August, the government abolished direct censorship of the media and informed journalists they would no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication as they had for almost half a century. - AP

KEY POINTS:

• Private daily newspapers to be allowed starting April 1, 2013.
• Application submissions open in February for interested publishers.
• First major media reform since 1964 after decades of military rule.
• Government abolished direct media censorship in August 2012.
• Newspapers can be published in any language.