SEOUL (June 24, 2012) — In Burma, articles are screened prior to publication and a government body exists to monitor media, but three Burmese journalists expressed cautious optimism Friday at the East-West Center’s International Media Conference in Seoul.  They warned, however, that their country has a long way to go to reach full press freedom.

Nyein Nyein Naing, executive editor of the 7 Day News Journal; Myint Kyaw, chief editor of Yangon Press International; and Aung Zaw, editor and publisher of the Thailand-based Irrawaddy magazine, discussed the impediments they face as journalists, even amid signs of the Burmese government’s increased openness and lighter censorship.

“Now is the time to start a new era of less censorship,” Kyaw said, adding that no journalists have been arrested since landmark parliamentary elections in April. “We can talk about more now than we could a year ago.” Continue reading »