SMJN members are journalists from Mon and Karen states and Tenasserim Region in southern Myanmar.

U Tint Lwin the SMJN Liaison Officer said that the aim of the conference was to improve journalism and build stronger networking ties between local media in the region.

Tenasserim Region Hluttaw (parliament) Speaker U Khin Maung Aye said: “It is the media’s duty to deliver up-to-date information from the Hluttaw and administrative sectors to the public and make it understandable for them.”

He also said that the media needs to deliver balanced information to the public.

The Myanmar Journalists Network Secretary U Zeyar Hlaing said: “The establishment of such media organisations was not allowed in the past. The previous government prohibited it. We welcome the establishment of such media organisations. It is good because I believe it is better for [journalist] rights and improves the quality of journalism.”

At the conference news articles written by SMJN journalists were selected for awards to encourage journalists to work to high standards.

Also attending the conference, apart from the journalists, were the Tenasserim Hluttaw Speaker and Minister for Development Affairs and civil society organisations from the Tenasserim Region, Mon State and Karen State.

The SMJN was established by 27 members in July 2013, it now has over 60 members. The first SMJN conference was held in Mawlamyine, the Mon State capital, in December 2014.

Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI