The BBC will open a news bureau in Burma, also known as Myanmar, BBC Director of Global News Peter Horrocks announced today.
The announcement comes after the BBC, along with three other international broadcasters, received official permission to open a news bureau from the Myanmar Ministry of Information.
The BBC aims to open its bureau next year. It will also house reporters from the BBC Burmese service.
Peter Horrocks said: “Burma has long been a byword for media repression and censorship but within the last year there has been rapid and welcome change, with BBC global news services being allowed to broadcast trusted impartial news on radio, television and mobile. Opening a BBC bureau in Burma/Myanmar is another highly significant milestone and an encouraging sign that the country is moving towards media freedom.
“The BBC will continue to stand by its principles of impartial, balanced journalism, reporting events in Burma without fear or favour. The BBC’s charity BBC Media Action will continue its work to help train the next generation of Burmese journalists.”
Notes to editors:
BBC Burmese broadcasts for half an hour in the morning (at 06.30, repeated at 08.30 local time), and 45 minutes in the evening (at 20.15, repeated at 21.00). The programmes are presented from the London and Bangkok studios of the BBC. The radio programming is broadcast on shortwave and on PAS10 and Palapa satellite television channels and streamed online via bbcburmese.com. Mobile-phone users in Myanmar can receive two BBC Burmese audio news bulletins every day updated at 8am and 6.30pm local time. In addition to providing the latest news and current affairs, BBC Burmese offers its audiences a variety of programmes on education, sport, health, technology as well as weekly debates on topical issues. A weekly interactive programme gives listeners the opportunity to have their say. In addition to covering general news, trade and commerce, bbcburmese.com offers special clusters around major global and regional events.
BBC Burmese is part of BBC World Service – an international multimedia broadcaster which delivers a wide range of language and regional services on radio, TV, online and via wireless handheld devices. BBC World Service uses multiple platforms to reach its weekly audience of 192 million globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate. BBC World Service offers its multilingual radio content to partner FM stations around the world and has numerous partnerships supplying content to news websites, mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices as well as TV channels. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice.