Reporting from the Darkness: Journalism and Media in Myanmar 2023 Q4 and Annual Report While Myanmar media focus heavily on daily coverage around conflict and armed battles, the chief editor of an exiled news outlet in Thailand says that newsdesks need to cover other issues important for Myanmar's people, such as their economic woes, education and other daily issues. The challenges of underground journalism work inside the country, which range from safety to livelihood concerns, have been leading journalists to leave the profession since the 2021 coup. The Myanmar chief editor in Chiang Mai, Thailand estimates that there are now 1,000 journalists or "even less than that" today, compared to 4,000 at the time of the coup. Of these, he says, around 300 are working in exile. Many, including entire newsrooms, have moved to report from abroad since the coup. All the major news outlets, and many more smaller ones, have relocated to third countries, mainly Thailand, while working with contributors and citizen journalists inside the country. At the same time, the Thailand-based editor points out that there are now more independent news outlets of different types. This is because it is relatively easy and without cost to set up a social-media based news page, he explains. In 2023, Myanmar's journalists and news outlets set up new initiatives and groups aimed at promoting professional and independent journalism, as well as greater news collaboration. The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association was founded in June 2023 to support journalists, by providing safety support, raising awareness, creating collaborative mechanisms and doing advocacy for policies and laws. In December 2023, the Independent Press Council Myanmar was established at a conference in Thailand, attended by 77 journalists and representatives from 38 independent media outlets inside and outside Myanmar. The press council aims to promote media freedom and professionalism, and improve protection for journalists. Myanmar had a press council before the coup, but it has since become part of the SAC's information apparatus. Created in June, the Burma Media Consortium groups nine media agencies with the aim of disseminating "impartial and independent news", recognising and promoting the country's ethnic diversity and building the skills of journalists and news organisations, its statement said. The consortium members' stories are shared on the group's Facebook page and Telegram channel. 12