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Online media for peace: promoting cross-cultural dialogue among Myanmar ethnic media groups

Year when project approved: 
2014
Approved budget: 
US$27 000.00

Myanmar was once described as the site of “one of Asia’s—if not the world’s—longest ethnic-based conflict since the country’s independence in 1948”. There are 135 distinct ethnic groups throughout the country, and recent studies have cited media as a “driver of conflict” due to inaccurate reporting, misinformation, bias and preference for conflict stories.
 
News media could play a key role in informing and educating different ethnic groups about their commonalities and differences, leading to greater understanding and tolerance. Dialogue between media practitioners, bloggers and citizens from different ethnic backgrounds might foster peace and reconciliation. In order to build a sustainable peace process, it is crucial to involve all stakeholders in conflict-affected communities. Community-based ethnic media groups can facilitate this process by allowing for the expression of these diverse voices.

   
To maximize the peace-promoting capacity of ethnic media, there is a need for a platform on which the various ethnic media groups can share information about their ethnic communities. This project therefore proposes to set up a website, Facebook and Twitter accounts, and blogs. These tools would allow for immediacy, unlimited and rich media content, interactivity, and wide reach. They will go a long way in promoting mutual understanding and the development of culture-sensitive values and reporting practices. 

Documents
Full project description: 
Full implementation report: 
Project details
IPDC Bureau meeting nº: 
58

Implementation status :

Project evaluated:

Project scope:

Budget
Budget code: 
354GLO5002.48

Source of funds:

Beneficiary
Beneficiary name: 
Burma News International (BNI)
Beneficiary description: 

Burma News International (BNI) is an association of 11 independent media/news organizations as members, mostly ethnic media groups. It was established in 2003. Its main advocacy is the promotion of ethnic media in the country. Among these ethnic groups are: Mizzima News, Narinjara News (Arakan), Kaladan Press (Rohingya), Karen Information Center, Khonumthung News (Chin), Network Media Group, Independent Mon News Agency, Shan Herald Agency for News, Phop Htaw News (Mon), Kantarawaddy Times (Karenni) and Kachin News Group. Many of these media groups operate in state/regions where conflict and peace process are ongoing. UNESCO will partner with Burma News International (BNI) for the implementation of this project. A contract between the two institutions will formalize the partnership. The Media Development Thematic Working Group (MDTWG), co- chaired by MoI and UNESCO, will have oversight functions to ensure smooth implementation of the project. The MDTWG was set up in February 2013 and serves as the coordinative platform for current and future media development initiatives in Myanmar. About 30 organizations representing various sectors – government, international development partners, international (media) NGOs, and national and local (including ethnic) media regularly attend this forum.

Beneficiary country:

Beneficiary type:

Location and contacts
UNESCO
Responsible UNESCO Regional advisers: 

Rosa Maria Gonzalez, ACI/UNESCO r.gonzalez@unesco.org

UNESCO Field Office:

Project contacts: 

Rosa Maria Gonzalez, ACI/UNESCO r.gonzalez@unesco.org

Project place: 
Myanmar

Project region:

Follow-up and achievments
Summary of the project implementation: 

The project activities are completed. Two editorial trainings were conducted by media professionals for 30 ethnic media groups (15 each). The first took place in Yangon from 18-23 December 2014, and the second in Mandalay from 13-18 January 2015. A webmaster has developed two websites (http://www.bnionline.net/ and http://burmese.bnionline.net/) and created a Facebook account (link here) which serve as an information sharing platform for emerging ethnic media groups in Myanmar, both BNI members and non-members. Both websites are already online and in use but still in the finalization process. BNI also proposed to collect data on the ethnic media landscape in Myanmar and sent the report “Ethnic Media Mapping” which was presented at the Third Ethnic Media Conference at Hakha (8 march 2015). It will be continuously updated by BNI.
 
The project’s capacity-building and network-strengthening activities has helped boost diverse ethnic voices, as well as the dignity and equity with regard to ethnic minorities, ultimately contributing to a peaceful democratic transition in Myanmar. From an organizational perspective, BNI was able to expand its network of partners, building up its own capacity as well as that of other ethnic media groups in the long run.