Press council lashes public media bill

State-owned papers are preparing to be transformed into so-called Public Service Media (PSM).

A press conference on the bill was held yesterday in the Central Printing House in Thein Phyu, Yangon. Deputy Minister of Information Ye Htut explained the purpose of the PSM bill and its procedures. It has been proposed to Parliament by the Information Ministry.

Members Dr Myo Thant Tin and Thiha Saw represented the Myanmar Interim Press Council.

The council said the bill was just a collection of the ministry’s desires and would also impact on existing laws. It seemed to be a business plan rather than guidance for the papers, it said. 

The Myanmar Press Council (Interim) is participating in drafting a new media law. It said that rights, ethics, responsibilities and accountabilities of the journalists are already revealed in each chapter of the draft media law. So, they needn’t be put in the PSM bill. Penalties for journalists should be standardised, they said, And PSM should pay the same taxes as other media organisations.

The council condemned the PSM for using public finances to cover 70 per cent of newspaper distribution costs. The PSM should use only the profits of their newspapers sales and advertisements, the council said.

The council also denounced the inclusion of printed media in the Public Service Media since no such printed media in the international community had such access to public finances. 

It urged against the PSM forming too many committees and councils at state expense. 

Myanmar journalists said PSM would function as government mouthpieces.

“Myanmar journalists refuse the PSM not because [they are bad in] theory, but we doubt whether they will really serve the public. The media have been a tool for the government for four to five decades. That’s why we doubt it,” said Myint Kyaw, a member of the Myanmar Journalists Network. 

The bill on the PSM is intended to transform state-owned newspapers such as The Mirror and Myanma Alin, and the Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) into public service media. 

Those kinds of media perform well in Scandinavian countries and some European countries, the local journalists said, adding that in Myanmar, which is still transitioning to democracy, they won’t be so successful. 

Myanmar journalists fear that PSM would compete with private media, stealing a march financially as well as getting better information sources. 

Currently, there are three media bills in Myanmar: a media bill drafted by the council; a bill on printing and publishing drafted by the Ministry of Information; and the PSM bill proposed by the ministry. 

The three bills contain some overlapping provisions. Some might be complicated in aspects of law. Besides, the public are confused about the definition of the PSM. 

Ye Htut said that the PSM would allow all voices to be heard, including those of ethnic minorities, political parties and announcements of all ministries. In addition, the PSM will take into account all private media as strategic partners. 

Ye Htut was director of the Department of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Information in the former military government. The Ministry of Information also transmitted news through its Padauk Myae website, which had ties to the infamous pseudonymous blogger Dr. Seik Bhwar. 

“In my opinion, it is just a change of name for the state-owned media. Likewise, the PSM also will be run by the state budget. The management persons are from the ministry. I think nothing is changed,” said Hpay Myint, editor of the People’s Age journal and a member of Interim Press Council.