Mizzima
Mizzima, one of Myanmar’s most prominent news outlets and a press freedom advocate, obtained the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) certification from global audit firm Bureau Veritas, JTI says in a press statement 5 January.
Operating in clandestine mode within Myanmar and supported by an exiled team, Mizzima strives to fulfil its role as reliable source of news and information for the Myanmar public.
“Your Journalism Trust Initiative certification affirms what audiences already know: that principled, transparent journalism matters. Congratulations on this achievement and on your continued contribution to informing citizens about Myanmar,” says Benjamin Sabbah, director of Journalism Trust Initiative
“Myanmar’s ongoing conflict has created an intensely contested media landscape, where mis- and disinformation are increasingly deployed to reinforce state propaganda and the prevailing “official” narrative. Although Mizzima is already regarded as one of the most trusted news sources among the people of Myanmar, the organization anticipates that JTI certification will further strengthen its reputation and credibility in the eyes of its target audience. Such recognition would help solidify Mizzima’s role as a primary and reliable source of news and information for the Myanmar public,” says Soe Myint, Managing Director and Editor-in-chief of Mizzima.
Elevating standards of news media
JTI was developed in 2019 as an ISO-type international standard by roughly 130 experts from media outlets, regulatory bodies, associations and digital platforms. They worked to define the criteria of transparency, independence and ethics necessary for rigorous information publishing. The idea of designing a self-regulatory mechanism applicable to all news sources worldwide was the initiative of the Paris-headquartered media freedom watchdog RSF. It is used by more than 2 400 media outlets in 127 countries. 1 460 are currently undergoing self-assessment, 830 published their transparency report, and 135 obtained JTI certification following an audit.
The JTI certification process consists of three stages: an introduction to the standard through JTI’s portals, a self-evaluation conducted by the media organization, and a certifying audit. “The external audit phase of the certification process allowed us to review our operational structure and address areas for improvement identified by the auditor, for instance regarding editorial policies, said Myint. Following the auditor’s recommendations, we drafted policies on transparency in externally facilitated location reports and on the constraints of location reporting.”
Context of ongoing repression of independent media
Following the military coup of 1 February 2021 in Myanmar, the military junta — listed by RSF as one of the 2025 Press Freedom Predators — has steadily intensified its crackdown on the media.
Mizzima was stripped of all licenses permitting it to operate legally inside the country. As a result, the outlet shifted to a clandestine mode of operation within Myanmar, supported by teams working in exile. Under these conditions, every Mizzima journalist and staff member working inside the country faces the risk of arrest if their identity or location becomes known to government authorities. This reality makes secure communication channels indispensable to their daily work.
Before the coup, Mizzima functioned as a financially self-sustaining media organization. The upheaval, however, dismantled its business model and forced the outlet to rely heavily on donor funding to keep its operations alive.
“For more than two years, available funding for independent media in Myanmar has steadily dwindled, a trend Mizzima expects to continue and to further impact its own operations,” Soe Myint says.
Pillar among Reporters Without Borders’ support to press freedom in Myanmar
Since the coup, Myanmar’s military junta has unleashed a brutal crackdown on the media: 7 journalists have been executed, more than 150 imprisoned, and at least 50 remain behind bars. This violence has triggered a massive exodus: more than 60 Myanmar-based media outlets are now operating from abroad, mainly from Thailand.
It is in this context that RSF launched the Myanmar Press Freedom Project (MPFP), in October 2024, a support mechanism for exiled Burmese journalists. Initially deployed in Chiang Mai, in northwestern Thailand, the programme expanded its activities to Mae Sot in July 2025, a border town with Myanmar, with the assistance of its partner Docu Athan. This extension enables RSF to remain close to Burmese journalists in exile or in transit, and to strengthen a strategic border hub dedicated to press freedom in the region.
Since its launch, the MPFP has supported more than 400 journalists by providing essential assistance through the donation of professional and technical equipment (laptops, phones, solar batteries, etc.), the provision of VPNs and satellite connections, and the delivery of training sessions tailored to their needs in the field. This support is directed both at journalists working in exile and those still active in Myanmar, often under precarious and dangerous conditions.
Comments
Post a Comment