USE OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY Print – the need for local language publications The role and influence of the print media in the information ecosystem of Mon State has historically not just been limited by draconian censorship. Other factors include literacy levels, the total absence of any locally published Mon language publications, and remoteness from Yangon where independent newspapers and journals have always struggled to maintain distribution networks beyond the urban centers. In recent years the quantity of available print media has increased, as the wealthier Yangon media houses have expanded their range of lifestyle and business/trade publications. Qualitative respondents noted government newspapers such as The Mirror and The New Light of Myanmar were the only sources of information in the past, but now many magazines, daily newspapers, and weekly news journals are currently available in Mon State, providing news and information about local, national, and international events. However, all considerations around the future relevance of the print media in Mon State’s information ecosystem must be subject to an understanding of the negative national-level pressures described in Michelle Foster’s “The Business of Media in Myanmar” summed up thus: “Independent newspapers could face financial ruin as they increase reporting, production, newsprint and distribution costs to produce a daily product. Those most likely to have access to sustaining capital will be big businesses and/or cronies. The market will be skewed as state-owned dailies transform into public service media and compete with independent media for advertisers.”19 As with TV and radio, the significance of print media inputs to the Mon State ecosystem will depend on their relevance and “trustability” to local audiences, factors that can almost certainly be significantly enhanced by production in the local language. It is interesting to note that one of the most recognized newspaper titles 19 Michelle Foster, “The Business of Media in Myanmar” (Internews, 2013), p18. FIGURE 5 RECOGNITION AND READERSHIP OF EXILE MEDIA IN MON STATE IS MODERATE TO LOW 63% 64% HEARD OF 55% READ 43% 32% 30% to Mon State audiences was that of the Than Lwin Times, a small and erratic Mon language newspaper produced for a limited time in 2011 and 2012 by associates of the New Mon State Party that for more than 10 years smuggled thousands of copies of the “Guiding Star” newspaper from their base in exile in Thailand.20 Referring back to the earlier discussion in this paper of exiled media efforts, it is worth noting here that no respondents identified the “Guiding Star” as a recognized publication. It is possible that this is a function of the limited areas in which the exile networks were able to distribute their publications, primarily in conflict and ceasefire areas dominated by the NMSP. For now, awareness of formerly exiled media in Mon State is confined to the success stories of the internationally based shortwave services BBC, VOA, RFA and (most strikingly) DVB. Future iterations of information ecosystem research in Mon and other ethnic states in Myanmar could perhaps be oriented to explore more deeply the historical role of exiled media in the information ecosystems of conflict-affected areas. The influence of formerly exiled media could also be expected to show up in future information ecosystem research as exiled groups establish a firmer footing inside the country, and bring their local language media capacity to media start-ups in places like Mon State where such capacity has been historically non-existent. New Light of Myanmar ““The and Kyaymon are government newspapers, so they mainly contain official news about the government. They are known throughout the whole country and widely used because the price is cheap and they are available everywhere. Many households have them.“ U rba n r e s p o n d e n t, Z ar Yar M o n W ard , K yaik H t o T o w n s hi p 25% 17% 13% D WAVE (JOURNAL) THAN LWIN TIMES (JOURNAL) IRRAWADDY (MAGAZINE) 11% IRRAWADDY (JOURNAL) 20 10% 7% MIZZIMA NEWS GUIDING STAR/ (MAGAZINE) SA-NONG-TIME (NEWSPAPER) Base: 181 respondents who use print media as an information source The Independent Mon News Agency (INMA) was established by former Mon students, youth and democratic activists based in Mon State in 1999. Based in Thailand and Myanmar, the IMNA news agency covers Myanmar news especially related to Mon communities in Thailand and Myanmar distributed via print, radio and internet. The Mon Language publication “Guiding Star” is produced monthly by IMNA. Guiding Star was granted temporary authorization to publish inside Myanmar in February 2013. “Publication of Mon language news journals permitted,” Independent Mon News Agency, http://monnews.org/2013/02/21/publication-of-mon-language-news-journalspermitted/, (August 14, 2014). 34 INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS in transition: a case study from myanmar part one: rese arch findings 35 how to inform, empower, and impact communities INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS in transition: a case study from myanmar how to inform, empower, and impact communities PART ONE: RESEARCH FINDINGS