Name : Ye Naing Moe
Position : Founder of Yangon Journalism School
Career Background
Ye Naing Moe is the founding Director of Yangon Journalism School and Mandalay Journalism School. He studied at the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism as a visiting scholar in 2006-07. He worked for The Indochina Media Memorial Foundation (IMMF) as a trainer in the past.
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How do you end up in the current position?
I had been working for over 20 years in journalism sector. I wrote articles as well as interview for monthly magazine. I used to work as editor for monthly magazine, Beauty. Around 2000, I attended journalism training which is organized by American journalists at Cambodia. I was realized the role of journalism in building nation and I believe it will become more important in Myanmar. In 2003, when IMMF do journalist training in Myanmar for the first time, I worked as translator helping American journalism trainer. Since then, I provide journalism trainings regularly.
Please explain to our readers about Yangon Journalism School.
Under military government rule, we gave secret journalism training to journalists who was working at monthly or weekly journal, e.g., at compound of some embassies. We could not do officially and publicly. We did not have chance to operate a journalism school because, at that time, the military government did not have positive mindset toward journalism sector. In 2009 – 2010, Yangon Journalism School was founded officially. We have been operating since then.
What are your role and responsibilities?
I am founder as well as Managing director of both Yangon Journalism School and Mandalay Journalism School. In 2015, Mandalay Journalism School was founded as a sister organization of YJS. MJS is not only a training center but also a hub for journalists to meet and work. For administration, my role is managing director and for teaching, my role is chief trainer. As a chief trainer, I have to give guidelines to trainers of our school.
What program does YJS offer currently?
Yangon Journalism School and our other branch, Mandalay Journalism School regularly provide one month journalism course. Anyone who is keen to be a journalist or reporter whose working experience is under one year can apply. Training is free of charge and school provide accommodation and meals for participants who are not residents. Apart from that training, Yangon Journalism School has provided numerous trainings including specialized reporting trainings such as feature writing, reporting business and economics, election reporting, reporting on public health, extractive industries, fishery, education, natural disasters, etc. For specialized reporting trainings, YJS brings internationally experienced trainer help journalists to gain deeper knowledge and better skills in covering those issues. Additionally, we debuted investigative journalism training in this year. We brought in Philippines and Australian journalists who are expert in investigate journalism. Moreover, in order to improve the skills of editors and newsroom management in local media offices, Yangon Journalism School provides training for editors. In collaboration with neighboring countries, we also provide cross border reporting training. We give over twenty trainings in total for a year.
May I know who are the supporting organizations of YJS?
YJS is currently supported by the Open Society Foundations and Pyoe Pin Programme. To augment our income in future, we will publish and sell the journalism handbook. Currently, courses which provided by YJS are free of charge but some courses will be chargeable in future.
Do you have any plan to expand?
For our school, we always try to control our quality. We do care to improve or enhance our trainee quality as well as trainer quality. Class size is limited up to 12 persons. Currently, among the course which our school provided, one month long course is longest course. If we conduct a longer course, we will face challenges financially as well as in quality control. But in near future, we have plans to start for longer course. Moreover, we have plans to provide video journalism course which is related to broadcasting.
What is the difference between current government and former government on media freedom?
When we compare the former government and current government, I feel government has not much changed their vision or attitude toward media. They accept media role as fourth pillar in nation building and prescribe in 2008 Constitution. When media point out the mistake and write, they think it is attacking them. This attitude has changed. The primary duty of media is to point out the weak points, errors but not to say “everything is good and perfect”. This is good for society because we can correct these mistakes and learn. Government should appreciate those pointing out their errors.
On the other hand, the heavy handed use of section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law of 2013 is more frequent than the past. Therefore, every journalist feels chilling effect and thinks twice before writing. The existing laws put pressure on people to control their expressions and freedom of writing.
Whether right or wrong, as soon as a lawsuit is filed, the accused can be detained without trial. This is wrong. While they facing the charge, forcing them to stay behind the bar is not the characteristics of a democracy.
Recently, five new broadcast channels have been given green light to operate. What is your opinion on this development?
It is good news to hear for five private new channel will appear. In the past, broadcast media in Myanmar represent the government and w e l l – c o n n e c t e d businesspeople. It was mainly concerned with entertainment. Now, we are waiting to see how good hard news are coming in new channels. At international level, it has already been prove that press (even online text) can report more difficult and in depth news than broadcast. We cannot say the quality of news will rise as more broadcast channels develop but we have to grab the opportunities.
What would be your advice for someone who wants to start a career in the marketing field?
Journalism career may be a bit dangerous. And journalist can be meet few challenges but I have never find any other career better than journalism.
For their family and relatives who concerned about their beloved journalists, we can accept their concern. But later, they will feel great dignity when their son or daughter are one of the contributor toward society to move forward to better life. We have plans to open more basic journalism courses to nurture and improve the quality and quantity of journalists. Even through current ministries or departments view journalists negative attitudes, we will move forward with the strength of future generation of journalists. Even with the strength of currently working journalists of this generation, the development of media sector cannot be left behind by any other organization. The genie in a bottle is already out. So we cannot put it back.
What would be your advice for someone who wants to start a career in the marketing field?
Journalism career may be a bit dangerous. And journalist can be meet few challenges but I have never find any other career better than journalism. For their family and relatives who concerned about their beloved journalists, we can accept their concern. But later, they will feel great dignity when their son or daughter are one of the contributor toward society to move forward to better life. We have plans to open more basic journalism courses to nurture and improve the quality and quantity of journalists.
Even through current ministries or departments view journalists negative attitudes, we will move forward with the strength of future generation of journalists. Even with the strength of currently working journalists of this generation, the development of media sector cannot be left behind by any other organization. The genie in a bottle is already out. So we cannot put it back.
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