Thursday, 20 September 2012 13:15 Mizzima News
A provisional Myanmar Press Council (MPC) has been formed to consider media affairs before a new media law is formally enacted by the Burmese Parliament, the state-run New Light of Myanmar said on Tuesday.
The provisional council includes retired Supreme Court Judge Khin Maung Aye as chairman, Soe Thein, a noted writer and journalist, as vice-chairman, and chief editor of the private Voice Weekly journal Kyaw Min Swe as secretary.
The press council also includes members of the Myanmar Writers Association, Myanmar Journalist Association, Myanmar Printing and Publishing Entrepreneurs Association, Myanmar Publishers Association, Myanmar Press Union, Myanmar Journalists Network and others.
On Aug. 27, the ministry had formed a 20-member core press council, which included mostly non-media persons, and which met with widespread opposition from professional journalsts.
Beginning in June 2011, the authorities have been undertaking media reforms prior to the consideration of a new media law in Parliament.
According to figures from the ministry, there are about 200 privately run journals and over 200 magazines published in Burma.
In the print media sector, there are five state-run newspapers: Myanma Alin, the Mirror, New Light of Myanmar, Myawaddy and Yadanapon.
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