Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn hosted a dinner for the Myanmar Press Council members at Horizon Lakeview Resort in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday (photo on the right).
The event was also attended by Union ministers U Chitt Naing, U Aung Naing Oo, Dr Thida Oo, U Ko Ko, U Hla Moe, Dr Thet Khaing Win, Dr Thet Thet Khine, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman Dr Maung Maung Naing, Deputy Ministers Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing, U Kyaw Myo Htut, U San Lwin, U Ye Tint and U Zaw Aye Maung and other officials, including Myanmar Press Council Chairman U Ohn Maung (Myinmu Maung Naing Moe) and council members.
In his speech, the Union minister said the Myanmar Press Council, which was organized under the News Media Law enacted in 2014, was elected for a third term and it also made pledges in the presence of the Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister.
He then talked about the organizing of the Myanmar Journalist Council with 20 members in 2012, Myanmar Journalist Council (temporary) and Myanmar Press Council in 2015, and the second term of the Myanmar Press Council in 2018 and the emergence of the Myanmar Press Council in its 3rd term in 2021.
He added that the council is responsible for ensuring the rights of journalists and protecting the freedom of media. On the other hand, it also should protect the interests of the public who seeks the news. As the media is the fourth estate of the country, it is absolutely essential to stand as the real fourth estate without any favour between the media and the public.
The Union minister also highlighted the duties of the council and plans to conduct training courses to develop the media sector and train the media personnel to follow the law, rules and media ethics, the holding of workshops regarding media-related ethics, regulations and standards.
He said that media can bring benefits as well as disadvantages and so it needs to control the proper use of social media, and if it is effectively prevented, there would not be a huge impact on the country.
Accurate information plays a key role in the media sector and the government, people and council members should cooperate to improve media-related techniques. The media and information literacy can improve the media and news-related knowledge of people and it can prevent misinformation and disinformation.
He then underlined the need to provide real-time information and the dangers of misusing social media.
All the citizens should have the proper knowledge to build a genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system and only the media can bring such knowledge to the people.
In such doing, the media personnel must have the right attitude and be fair, have the courage to speak the truth and it is also necessary to act selflessly under the law. The Myanmar Press Council is an organization that will strengthen the path to democracy impartially.
Currently, the Myanmar Press Council, which emerges under the News Media Law, reaches its third term. The council is also responsible to protect the rights of the journalists and provide the right, accurate and quality information to the people, maintaining journalism ethics and other responsibilities under the enacted laws and rules.
Finally, he urged the council members to value the freedom of media considering the media ethics, freedom and responsibilities under respective laws and regulations, work hard for the emergence of journalists with full of dignity who follow the media ethics and cooperate for the development of the country and building of a genuine, disciplined democratic system.
Then, Myanmar Press Council Chairman U Ohn Maung (Myinmu Maung Naing Moe) expressed the words of thanks.
Afterwards, the attendees to the event posed for the commemorative photo and enjoyed the dinner together. — MNA
