About BNI

The Burma News International (BNI) was established in 2003 with four Burmese news organizations based in the western border of Burma, India and Bangladesh. It was later expanded, with other Burmese news organizations based in Thailand and the Thai-Burma border areas joining in. At present, it has fifteen independent Burma media/news organizations as members. They are Chin World, Develpment Media Group, Independent Mon News Agency, Kachin News Group, Kaladan Press Network, Kantarawaddy Times, Karen Information Center, Khonumthung News Group, Mizzima News, Myitkyina Journal, Narinjara News, Network Media Group, Shan Herald Agency for News, Than Lwin Times and The Voice of Shan Ni.

Vision

There must be a well-developed and sustainable media industry that can provide accurate information and voices of ethnic groups across Myanmar.

Mission

  • Build the capacities of an independent media network based on the development and membership of member organizations;
  • Promote ethnic rights, freedom of the media, freedom of expression, and the right of the people to information;
  • Develop sustainable media with local and international network connectivity.

Goal

  • To increase the quantity and quality of media products contributing to the independent media role that is needed in Myanmar.
  • To develop a legal framework protecting journalists and promoting freedom of press and public access to information.
  • To strengthen internal and external networks so as to develop a better collaboration plan between BNI and external organizations.

Value

  • Mutual respect among member organizations to built trust.
  • Collaboration for sustainability.
  • ournalist and media rights and safety and security for journalist.
  • Independent media
  • Human right, ethnic right, gender equality and justice.

Basic Principles of BNI

  1. Coordinate with mutual respect for development and sustainability of member organizations.
  2. As BNI, gender equality and women’s participation at all level and decision making level will be prioritized and implemented.
  3. To develop multi media in each ethnic area. (Multi media include ethnic radio, community radio, printing, TV, digital, online media etc.)
  4. Able to stand as independent media.
  5. To work for the safety and rights of journalist including journalist from ethnic area.
  6. Promote qualified local based ethnic journalist.

Code of Ethics

  1. The news should be based on facts and information where truthfulness can be checked. When requesting information, the journalist must introduce himself/herself; name the media group that he/she represents.
  2. A named source is needed in a news story and it is preferable referencing more than one source. Talk to sources on all sides of a conflict, argument or negotiation.
  3. If a resource person did not allow to put his/her name and address, the reporter must avoid using his/her real name. When a reporter needs using an anonymous source, he/she should let know the responsible editor about the anonymous.
  4. A resource person gives secret news amid danger, as he believes the journalist. So, it is the journalist’s responsibility to keep the source in secret.
  5. When covering wrong news, put correction or apology immediately.
  6. Must prohibit and disclose the fake and wrong news.
  7. A journalist must be cautious, not to call a person facing a trial as a convict before the judge made a decision.  
  8. A journalist must write a news story without putting his/her comment and avoid biased words.    
  9. A journalist must not cover a subjective news story, in exchange of money, opportunity, bribe, souvenir or gift.
  10. A journalist must keep away from reporting groundless propaganda caused by influential power of a political party or a business group or a governmental office,
  11. A journalist must avoid discrimination, condemnation and prejudice rooted in race, religion, gender and sexual orientation, political belief, economic background and social setting, while writing a news story or commentary.
  12. Never use photo, news, article and commentary created by someone if permission is not allowed. Even with permission, you need to mention the name of the original source. Never plagiarize.
  13. When a journalist covers news stories on women, children and disable persons, he needs to know and follow the respective laws.
  14. If there is no reliable confirmation, a journalist must not take news stories from the social media such as Facebook and personal blogs.
  15. News, articles, photos and pictures which disgrace human rights and not appropriate for children such as bleeding blood, violence, sexual instigation must be discarded from publishing.
  16. Racial, religious and ideological news stories or commentaries that fueled social disorders must be avoided from publishing.

BNI Membership Criteria

  • Any ethnic media organization that wants to become BNI member
  • Must be an independent Burma media organization
  • Must be a stable media organization
  • Must produce original news on Burma
  • Must accept BNI’s vision, mission, rules and regulations
  • Must agree to BNI’s Code of Ethics
  • Must be nominated by a minimum of two existing BNI members to be voted as a new member, and the membership decision will be executed by consensus during BNI’s regular meetings
  • Must accept the responsibilities assigned by BNI’s regular meeting