An online discussion named "COVID-19 and its impact on the media" was held, organized by the Asia News Network (ANN) and China Daily, between professionals in the media industry across Asia on December 23.
Ko Min Thaw Htut, representing Eleven Media Group (EMG) and Myanmar, took part in the discussion, moderated by China Daily and Asia News Daily Talk's presenter DJ Clark as well as ANN's Executive Director Pana Janviroj.
One of the topics in the discussion was that despite the global devastation on the media industry worldwide, Asia did not experience severe impact.
EMG's Ko Min Thaw Htut said, "When COVID started in Myanmar, Eleven Media Group was in a worrying state. Distribution and advertising fell. But looking at the numbers this year, EMG managed to recover. The distribution side of things started to pick back up and while advertising is still low on the Print side of things, advertising for Digital managed to cover for it. Most ads are moving online anyways. Looking at EMG, we think it is less severe than what we expected. There are still some profits despite the myriad of difficulties within the COVID period."
He goes on to say that while things may look fine now, 2021 and 2022 will be a different situation as Myanmar's economy is getting gutted by the second wave of COVID. EMG will be preparing for that situation all the while remaining an independent media organization that the people can continue to believe.
In the discussion, editors from ANN member countries, as well as an Economic Professor from China discussed the impact of COVID on health and economy and their rehabilitation. They also discussed the impact on the news media industry and what could be done in return.
They also went on to discuss the topic of independent journalism and the growing importance of Social Media.
"In Myanmar, the influence of Facebook is humongous. We have to try and adapt to Social Media norms to get views from them. Success had to be dug from there. But in 2021, we hope to see some support to attain independent journalism away from Facebook. Only then, news media like us can continue to make independent journalism strong," said EMG's Executive Director Ko Min Thaw Htut.
There also were some questions directed at Myanmar's latest elections, especially concerning whether the 2020 General Election managed to meet democratic standards and remain free and fair. Ko Min Thaw Htut answered that compared to the 2015 election, there were many controversies and questionable circumstances.
He goes on to say that COVID-19 cases had resurged due to lack of discipline and lax enforcement during the election. Myanmar is one of the countries within ASEAN that has a worrying amount of high COVID infection rate and that it will be difficult to control the situation.
On October 29th, along with many of Asia's online media, EMG's Executive Director Ko Min Thaw Htut also took part at the behest of the Thai Media Council, in the "COVID-19 impact of online media" discussion held by a Thai broadcasting channel PBS.
