By Nathan Andrada

Yangon, Myanmar

Amid a series of reforms, Myanmar's official newspapers, which have long been the mouthpieces of former military junta, are all set for a historic revamp.

Three state-owned dailies - the English language New Light of Myanmar, its Burmese edition Myanma Alin and Kyemon (The Mirror) - on Saturday disclosed their plans to transform themselves into "public service media".

A new committee will be formed in this regard that will "adopt necessary policies and programs, draw necessary ethics and principles" to transform the dailies into public service media, the New Light of Myanmar said in a statement.

Last month, Deputy Information Minister Ye Htut had said that the state-owned media previously represented only the views of the parliament as well as the government. However, the revamp of the newspapers would allow the dailies to criticize the government policy - a move that could bring new freedom to private media.

The new body will replace the Information Ministry gradually, one of the new committee's members, Ye Naing Moe, said.

"The ministry will gradually step back and we will fill the vacuum in the future. They will even sell some shares, although not all," he told AFP. "I don't think we will have 100 percent independence, but I hope we can have enough to push through this transformation," he added.

 

Myanmar's Junta Newspapers Set for Historic Makeover | News of the World