MYANMAR TIMES CEO DEBUNKS ‘NEWS’ REPORTS THAT THE PAPER IS TO GO DAILY
February 28th 2008 01:22
Yesterday MediaBlab reported that two dissident Myanmar media outlets, The Democratic Voice of Burma and the Irrawaddy Journal claimed that the publisher of the weekly Myanmar Times newspaper, Myanmar Consolidated Media Company, is to publish a daily local language newspaper from May this year, according to one of the company’s employees.
The Democratic Voice of Burma reported that the Myanmar Times employee said a printing workshop for the daily newspaper is now being set up in Yangon with technicians from Australia.
A journalist in Yangon said the 20-page newspaper will be printed in Burmese and the first edition is expected to come out in May this year, after the national referendum.
Following those reports, Ross Dunkley issued the following statement:
“Concerning a recent news report on an international website (DVB) that The Myanmar Times will move to a daily format in May 2008, I would like to debunk this report as mischievous and erroneous.
“While it is no secret that The Myanmar Times has always had a vision of publishing on a daily cycle, right now the company is not in formal discussion with the government to do so.
“My personal views on the media in Myanmar are also well known and one day I hope that our papers can be published on a daily cycle. That vision is universally shared by all staff at our company.
“Nothing has changed in that respect and to a large degree our opportunity to move onto a daily platform is entirely linked to reform of the political landscape.
“I have great hope for 2008 as I see clearly that the government is accelerating the move towards democracy.
“I would like to think I have made a positive contribution here over a long period of time and I continue to work away with patience.
“Overwhelmingly people everywhere in Myanmar encourage me and my team on our professionalism and I get the impression the government has a fair measure of respect for the efforts we make, although I am rarely in contact with any senior personnel within the government.
“Sincerely, Ross Dunkley ceo, editor in chief, Myanmar Consolidated Media.”
DISCLOSURE: MediaBlab editor Peter Olszewski is employed by Ross Dunkley at the Post Media Company Ltd, where the part Dunkley-owned English-language Phnom Penh Post is soon to be launched as a daily
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