ABSTRACT
Public discourse in Myanmar is still largely led by its print media industry, which is among the most vibrant and free in the region. A number of important reforms were initiated by the Thein Sein government, for which it received international recognition. The broadcast media industry remains concentrated in the hands of the state, the military and a few powerful companies. State media still has the largest audience reach and is heavily subsidised, arguably at the expense of the private sector. The liberalisation of the print and online media environment was one of President Thein Sein's first major achievements after taking office in March 2011. The media liberalisation process has been carefully managed by the government, particularly the Ministry of Information. Policy changes have been complemented by reforms to the legal framework. The greatest opportunities for the development of media organisations in Myanmar stem from the introduction of new communications technologies, particularly mobile-phone-based internet.
