In the Service of Power: Media Capture and the Threat to Democracy Interview with Yangon Journalism School founding director and trainer Ye Naing Moe, Yangon, June 2016. 12 PEN Myanmar’s 2017 Freedom of Expression Scorecard, published on May 2, 2017, in honor of World Press Freedom Day (http://www.pen-international.org/centres/ myanmar-centre/; https://www.facebook.com/pg/penmyanmar/about/). 13 An infographic of joint ventures can be found in the “How media business problems lead to capture” section of this report. 14 Burma’s six dailies (as of December 2016): 7Day; Daily Eleven; The Voice Daily; The Myanmar Times (English-language); The Standard Time Daily; and Democracy Today. The Myanmar-language Myanmar Times daily was launched in early 2017. 15 Radio Free Asia interview with Aung San Suu Kyi: Khin Maung Soe. 2015. “Interview: Government-owned Media Are Not Good For Democracy.” Radio Free Asia, December 31. http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/interview-government-owned-media-arenot-good-for-democracy-12312015135200.html. 16 In 2016 circulation increased from 200,000 to 300,000 copies. 17 The MOI announced it would be launching a new English-language digital news site in May 2017 (http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/25784-state-owneddigital-paper-to-be-published.html). 18 Interview with Ahr Mahn, 7Day Daily Editor-in-chief, November 2016. 19 Series of interviews with Yangon Journalism School and Myanmar Journalism School founding director and lead trainer Ye Naing Moe, Yangon, 2016 and 2017. 20 Interviews with media veterans Myint Kyaw and Thiha Saw, Yangon, April 2017. 21 Interview with PEN Myanmar founder and former president, Ma Thida, Yangon, May 2016. 22 This option was proposed by private media practitioners at the 2nd Policy Dialogue on Media Development in Burma (Chatrium Hotel, Yangon, May 15, 2016), and reiterated by two veteran media actors, Thiha Saw and Kyaw Min Swe (from The Voice), in the lead-up to the 2017 World Press Freedom Day. 23 Interview with the Myanmar Journalism Institute Head of Training Sein Win and Executive-Director Thiha Saw; interview with Khin Maung Win and Chris Hajecki from DVB Multimedia Group; interview with Mizzima News Group founding editorin-chief Soe Myint (LoIkaw, Kayah State, 2016). 24 While Burmese journalists want government-controlled print media to be shut down, they are more supportive of the idea of transforming MRTV into a public service broadcaster. A variety of international groups have worked with the state broadcaster, including BBC Media Action, Deutsche Welle, International Media Support/Denmark, etc. 25 Interview with writer and media development expert Mark Thompson, London, April 2016; he notes that some consider SABC and Czech TV to be partial successes. 26 From 4th Ethnic Media Conference, Mrauk Oo, Rakhine State; http://www.irrawaddy.com/ burma/closing-state-run-news-outlets-will-cause-ethnic-media-to-suffer-moi-official. html. 27 Interview with BNI board member Nan Paw Gay, Mrauk U, February 14, 2016; http:// www.bnionline.net/images/2016/statements/4th_Ethnic_Media_Conference_Statement_ ENG.pdf. The current Minister of information, Pe Myint, has stated that the government will not be offering direct financial support. 11 76