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MASS MEDIA |
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PUBLIC INFORMATION
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| "To inform,
to educate and to entertain" is the slogan under which public information is
implemented in various forms by the Ministry of Information according to the
following objectives: |
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To keep the public informed of the major undertakings being implemented on
long-term and short-term basis by the government and significant events through
the print and electronic media,
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To organize the public in order to enhance their knowledge and experience which
are of intrinsic value.
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To provide public entertainment so that they will find life spiritually and
mentally enjoyable.
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| In order to afford
effective public information and relations, the Ministry of Information has
established five organizations under it. |
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MYANMAR RADIO AND TELEVISION
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 |
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The "Bama Athan" which was established on 15 February 1946
to carry out timely and effective public information has now passed the
half-century mark. Initially, radio carried national and foreign news and
musical entertainment. With the advance of equipment and technology, colour
television was made available to the public on 3 June 1980. Radio Myanmar
broadcasts everyday in Bamar and eight national races languages. It broadcasts
news, features, anyeint (traditional dance) and musical programmes together
with commercials of entertainment, educational and business enterprises, all of
which fall- into the realm of public information. |
| Television
carries national and foreign news made available by wire services as well as
communications satellites. Since 1 July 1998 TV was able to resort to signal
source transmission for retransmission by stations in the districts,
transmission of satellite news under arrangement with the Cable Network News
(CNN) and under cooperation with the NHK, Japan Broadcasting Corporation, and
also political news, information on goods and services and sports and
significant events as direct transmission. There are also TV transmissions of
music, theatre and educational programmes and also commercials, which are
popular. |
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Television extension project implemented
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| 12 meter satellite TV earth station |
1 |
| 5 meter mobile TV earth station
|
1 |
| 10 kw TV retransmission stations
|
14 |
| 5 kw TV retransmission station
|
1 |
| 3 kw TV retransmission stations
|
4 |
| 1 kw TV retransmission stations
|
5 |
| 100 kw TV retransmission stations
|
27 |
| 50 kw TV retransmission stations
|
43 |
| 30 kw TV retransmission station
|
1 |
| 20 kw TV retransmission station
|
1 |
| 20 kw TV retransmission station
|
1 |
| 10 kw TV retransmission stations
|
52 |
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Total
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149 |
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Reception
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| Out of the 324
townships, reception is possible in 266. Percentage of townships receiving
telecasts is 82. At the outset, when TV was introduced, it could only cover a
radius of 50 miles. However, nowadays, there are 109 retransmission stations
covering majority areas of the states and divisions. TV transmission are in the
air for 9 to 10 hours on week-days and 13 to 14 hours on weekends. Apart from
the regular programmes, MRTV also transits live shows. Followings are some
examples |
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Independence Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony
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Union Day Flag Hoisting Ceremony
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Armed Forces Day Parade
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Myanmar Traditional Cultural Performing Arts Competition
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Myanma Traditional Regatta Festival
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Motion Picture Academy Awards
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Local and International Sports Events.
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| MRTV
has formed the following committees in order to prevent decadent alien culture,
to preserve and nurture Myanmar traditional culture |
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Committee for Recording Biographies of Yesteryears composers and Songs,
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Committee for Folk Songs,
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Scrutinizing Committee for Modern Songs,
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Committee for Myanmar Classical Songs,
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Programme Editing Committee.
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Daily transmission
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Radio Myanmar (Monday through Friday)
|
| 7 a.m |
to |
8:30 a.m |
| 8:30 a.m |
to |
9:15 a.m (English) |
| 10 a.m |
to |
1:30 p.m |
| 1:30 p.m |
to |
3 p.m |
| 4 p.m |
to |
9 p.m |
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Weekends
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| 7 a.m |
to |
8:30 a.m |
| 8:30 a.m |
to |
9:15 a.m (English) |
| 9:30 a.m |
to |
1:30 p.m |
| 1:30 p.m |
to |
3 p.m (English) |
| 4 p.m |
to |
9 p.m |
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(On all seven days of the week there are broadcasts in
national races languages daily from 4 to 8 p.m. and broadcasts in English from
9 to 10:30 p.m.) |
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Television
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| 7 a.m |
to |
9 a.m |
| 11 a.m |
to |
3 p.m (weekends) |
| 4 p.m
|
to |
10:30 p.m |
|
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(On special occasions such as the anniversary of the State Peace
and Development Council and of the Independence, more time is allotted.) |
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MRTV English Programme [MRTV-3]
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| The Myanmar Radio
and Television English Programme (MRTV 3) was telecast from 9 am to 10 am daily
as of I August 2001 after the daily regular TV programmes. |
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The Programme for foreign countries can be received by
TVRO through Satellite, three times a day (I p.m, 6 p.m, 11 p.m) on Saturdays
and Sundays and Wednesdays. |
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INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
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| The department had
existed since the start of the Second World War. However, it was restructured
as a department which met prevailing demands on 24 January 1991. |
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It is a department which has been promoting intellectual
development, enhancement of knowledge and dynamism of patriotism. It has laid
down and has been implementing nine objectives for quick and correct
dissemination of news via radio, television and VC players, libraries and
reading rooms which provide public information and entertainment through
publication of books, pamphlets and handouts. photographic exhibitions and
billboards for up-to-date information dissemination which include activities of
State leaders and other important events. |
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The organization of the Department includes the head office
and 61 district offices with 85 officers and 3149 staff running the |
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Adminsitrative Division,
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Production Division, and
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Information and Public Relations Division.
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Administrative Division
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This division handles staff affairs and finances,
availability of necessary materials, information-support materials and
distribution. |
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Production Division
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| This division
handles photographic documentation of significant national events, activities
of State leaders, producing contact albums, printing and distributing books of
records on state's endeavours, border areas development affairs and historic
importance and liaison work. It also provide services as exhibition organizers. |
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Information and Public Relations Division
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Information and Public Relations Devision manages the
matter relating to all the branch offices across the country. These ofices are
equipped with audio visual media apparatuses and and published materials to
inform, to educate and to entertain the people. Books are lent to the borrowers
free of charge. TV programmes for Unversity of Distance Education students are
being shown. And children reading rooms are opened in each and every IPRD
libraries. Photographic shows exhibitions and wall newspaper are being arranged
for the interest of the people. In addition to these services, mobile libraries
are being organized for the benefit of the village folks. All in all, there are
60 district offices, 245 township offices and 6 sub-township offices are in
operation all over the country. |
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District Offices and Township Offices
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In keeping with the State policies and periodic
publication of objectives by the Department, these district offices produce and
distribute books, pamphlets and news, run information showrooms, enter into
essential coordination with other district and township department
organizations, disseminate awareness of Our Three Main National Causes as and
when opportune in accord with prescribed norms, make arrangements for the rural
public to have access to the programmes transmitted by MRTV, discharge
departmental duties as prescribed, make arrangements to enable departmental
staff at different levels to attend job-related courses, draft the annual
budget, demand allocation according to rules, look after staff welfare, record
and maintain departmental buildings and see to their proper use, look into
staff discipline, responsibilities and rights, periodic normal checking of
officers under them, submitting reports and discharging related duties. |
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Township Offices handle work, duties and responsibilities
and serve the public similar to, but at a lower level than the district
offices. |
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Mobile Libraries
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Mobile library services one more or less equal to the
service provided by the district and township IPRD offices. These are being
arranged with the cooperation and coordination with the local authorities. |
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Wallnewapaper
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Within the period from January to December 2000 IPRD branch
offices had already organized 855 photographic shows, 1231 wallnewspapers and
1095 educative talks on various subjecs such as AIDS prevention, danger of
narcotic drugs etc. During this period pamphlets were distributed for 699
times. Moreover, 305 wallnewspaper boards were erected public places by
district and township branch offices. |
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ASEAN Photo Exhibition
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ASEAN Photo Exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of
Information was opened to the public at Yangon City Hall on 27 July 2001. And
also prize presentation ceremony of the ASEAN Photo Contest was held.
On show at the exhibition are 184 prize winning photographs of ten countries of
ASEAN and 130 tentatively-selected photos from Myanmar to be sent to the
contest. At the exhibition, books that can be read free of charge at the
libraries of IPRD were also shown. |
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PRINTING AND PUBLISHING ENTERPRISE
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The Printing and Publishing Enterprise has been in existence
for over 200 years, first established in 1880 as the Government Printing
Office, which now includes the Central Press, the Aung San Printing Press, the
GTC Printing Works and a maze of other which handle the bulk of Government
publications, with upgraded and updated equipment and staff both in Yangon and
in other places. |
The Sarpay Beikman Literature House annually confers the
Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards in 12 genres and the National Literary Awards
in 14 genres. In addition, there are the State Peace and Development Council's
National Mottoes Awards for the uplift of Union Spirit, in four genres, the
Pakokku U H Pe Literary Awards in five genres established through a fund of 7.6
million kyats donated by the philanthropist, for the selection of which the PPE
has been responsible. |
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Established since 1956 is the Sarpay Beikman free
library stocked with some 50000 book titles and an additional 12000 book titles
in the reference section, with a daily readership of over 400. In addition
E-Library program and Child Library were extended in 2001. There is also the
Sarpay Beikman book club from which the 16000 members get free of charge a book
every month, from among those published by the Sarpay Beikman. |
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The Sarpay Beikman Library (Mandalay) also established in
Mandalay on March 2001. |
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On a commercial basis and for public benefit, the
Printing and Publishing Enterprise also publishes exercise books and school
texts in addition to reference books, as a Myanmar Encyclopedia, and year book,
handbooks, the general knowledge magazines and prescribed government department
forms. The PPE also runs upgrading courses for staff on offset printing at the
GTC Printing Works in Aungsanmyo. |
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National Literary Awards
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Annual presentation of the National Literary Awards began in
1949 as Sarpay Beikman Awards (K. 1000). The name of the awards changed to
Literary Fine Art Awards in 1962 and then became the National Literary Awards
in 1965. Starting from 1969, the system was changed to separately presenting of
Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards through literary competition system and
selection of National Literary Awards from among the books published within the
respective year. |
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At present, not only the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript and
National Literary Awards but also the genres in presenting awards have been
extended on a broader scale and the amount of awards have been also raised
gradually. |
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A ceremony to present National Literary Awards for 2000,
12th National Mottoes, Literary and Photo Competitions prizes and 2000 Sarpay
Beikman Manuscript Awards took place at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung
Road in Yangon on 16 December 2001. |
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Children Library and Electronic Library
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Sarpay Beikman Child library and Electronic Library were
opened at the Sarpay Beikman building on Merchant Street, Yangon in 1st October
2001. |
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There are children books, colouring pictures, puzzles, TV
games, TV and teaching facilities. |
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In the Electronic Library, there are 2000 CD-Rom
covering various subjects. Rare books in Reference Room can be found with the
help of computer according to the subjects. Skillful library staff are
appointed there and any one may visit the library from 9 am to 4 am on weekdays
free of charge. |
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NEWS AND PERIODICALS ENTERPRISE
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The newspaper was first published in 1836 in Myanmar. Today,
the dailies are run on an eight-point policy and an 11 point directive
prescribed. |
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Of the State-run newspapers the Myanma Alin Daily was
restarted on 17 March 1993, and he Kyemon Daily on 18 September 1992 both with
a circulation of close to 200000. The New Light of Myanmar, the English daily,
restarted on 17 March 1993, has a circulation upward of 24000, bringing the
total daily circulation to over 420000. |
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The parelled issues of the Myanma Alin daily and Kyemon
daily were printed in Mandalay, Taunggyi and Magway distributed in upper
Myanmar. Plan for future cloned papers in different States and Divisions are
underway. |
The old English monthly magazine, The Guardian,
restarted with an improved getup in 1989, has a circulation of around 7000.
The News and Periodicals Enterprise has been publishing literature of historic
value, promoting patriotism and for public good. To date, 216 book titles
reflecting government policy have been published, with a circulation of close
to 30 million |
| Subject |
Myanma Alin |
Kyemon |
The New Light of Myanmar |
| Price per copy Monthly subscription |
k 2.50 |
k 2.50 |
k 2.50 |
| Rate (Yangon)Monthly subscription |
k 100 |
k 100 |
k 100 |
| Rate (Districts) |
k 120 |
k 120 |
k 120 |
| Average daliy Production |
173700 |
180690 |
23530 |
| Number of copies per Average bale |
9200 |
9200 |
6053 |
| Size (inches) |
15 x 11.375 |
15 x 11.375 |
15 x 22.75 |
| Numbers of pages |
16 |
16 |
12 |
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In keeping with the changing system in Myanmar and the
development of economic enterprise, five different kinds of courses are
conducted to upgrade skills of staff. And also English-Myanmar two way
translation courses, Photolitho graphic courses, News Photography courses and
Journalism courses were conducted by NPE in order to produce new generation
Journalists. |
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Myanmar journalists have attended conferences and
seminars related to the ASEAN in Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Vietnam and
journalist delegations of the People's Republic of China and Nepal have paid
visits to Myanmar. |
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MYANMA MOTION PICTURES ENTERPRISE
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The Myanma Motion Pictures Enterprise was based on the
organization which emerged in 1920. In 1955, the State Film Promotion Board was
added in 1962, the Film Censor Board, in 1964 the State Films Import Agency, in
the course of expansion and in 1952, the name Motion Pictures Enterprise was
used. |
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To upgrade the standard of Myanmar films, an
assessment body known as the Myanmar Films Promotion Board was established.
Three objectives and seven basic policies were conferred. Today, Academy Awards
for 11 categories are granted annually. |
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The Documentary Films Division and the Feature Films Division have
been set up for their specific purposes. |
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The Censor Board scrutinizes both local and foreign films
for their suitability to be screened, in the public interest. |
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Under the 1985 Law No. 12, on TV and Video Law, central,
state and division supervisory committees are established and they look into
the suitability for public screening of video features produced for commercial
purposes. |
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Concerning video enterprise, permits are issued for taping,
production, copying, distribution and hiring. |
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The statistics of the Myanma Motion Pictures Enterprise for
documentary production, feature films production and video censorship in the
period 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1998 are as follows: |
| Documentaries produced |
30 |
| Film production (feet-million)
|
17-1 |
| Leasing of films
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39 films |
| Films exhibited |
91300 shows |
| Video features scrutinized
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6890 tapes |
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In line with the market oriented economy. MMPE is
introducing privatizing system. According to the permission of Privatization
Committee 8 cinema halls out of 187 government cinemas were already sold to
private hands, 33 are only long term lease, 26 are on annual lease and 19 are
operating under MMPE. 25 halls are shut down for several reasons and 4 are
still in the process of privatization. |
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Film Censor Board
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In order to issue permits for suitability to screen
films in keeping with the set norms, the Film Censor Board established by the
Ministry of Information scrutinizes local and foreign films. |
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Myawady Television
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 |
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In honor of the Golden Jubilee Armed Forces Day 27 March
1995, the Myawady TV station was commissioned into service at the station in
Hmawbi Garrison Area. It started transmitting public information, education and
entertainment programmes in the mornings and started evening transmissions on
the 52nd Anniversary Armed Forces Day in 1997. |
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Motion Picture Awards
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The Myamar film industry has been moving abreast of Asian
and international standards. In order to fully promote this standard, the
Ministry of Information confers the Motion Picture Awards annually. |
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The awards were conferred since 1952 and in 1993 the silver
star on the golden Keinnari statuette has been replaced by a gold star. |
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The categories of Motion Picture Awards are for best film,
best director, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting
actress, best photography, screenplay, sound and editing. Special prizes are
also awarded. |
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The prizes awarded categorywise in the 48 years [ 1952 to 2000] are as follows: |
| 1. |
Flim award |
31 |
| 2. |
Director
|
30 |
| 3. |
Actor
|
31 |
| 4. |
Actress
|
41 |
| 5. |
Supporting actor
|
27 |
| 6. |
Supporting actress
|
29 |
| 7. |
Photography
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33 |
| 8. |
Music
|
5 |
| 9. |
Sound
|
2 |
| 10. |
Screenplay
|
2 |
| 11. |
Special prize
|
4 |
| 12. |
Editing
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1 |
| Total
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236 |
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In 2000, 12 Myanmar films and 547 video features were
produced. At the ceremony for 2000 Motion Picture Awards held on 5 January
2001. Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung awarded the prizes. |
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2000 Motion Picture Academy Awards
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| Best Actor |
Thiha Tin Soe [Nga-ye-tha]
Yan Aung [Maw-ha-myin-pyaing-mya] |
| Best Actress |
Myo Thanda Tun [Hna-khan-htet-ka-da-thwa] |
| Best supporting Actress |
Aung Khang [Nga-ye-tha] |
| Best Director |
Thiha Tin Soe [Nga-ye-tha] |
| Best Flim |
Khin Sabe Oo Flim Production [Nga-ye-tha] |
| Best Cameraman |
Than Nyunt (Pantha)[Maunt-mu-paing-shin] |
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Myanmar Video
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A law has been promulgated, together with rules and
procedures for production and distribution of Myanmar Video features from the
private sector. Commercial exploitation of foreign videos is prohibited. |
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Public Relations by Entrepreneurs
|
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The work of private non-governmental entrepreneurs is
also involved in the kind of information and public relations undertaken by the
government. |
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Publishing: There are in Myanmar 540 registered private publishers who annually
produce about 3000 book titles, about 60 monthly magazines and about 80
journals dealing with international and external subjects.
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Ward libraries and reading clubs. There are many libraries established by the
public on self-help basis.
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Film and video business. These are in the private commercial sector and they
cater to their audiences using actors and actresses with public appeal. Mainly,
they are on romance, family and humor themes but also include intellectual
nourishment and general knowledge themes.
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