INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS in TRANSITION: a CASE Study from MYANMAR How to INFORM, Empower, and Impact Communities

INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSITION: A CASE STudY FROM MYANMAR HOw TO INFORM, EMpOwER, ANd IMpACT COMMuNITIES

Mon State, Myanmar Pilot Study Part tWO: additiOnal data analySiS ABOuT THE AuTHORS ABOuT THE RESEARCH TEAM ExECuTIvE SuMMARY Andrew Wasuwongse is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Established in 1995, Myanmar Survey Research (MSR) University’s School of Advanced International Studies in is a market and social research company based in Washington, DC. He holds a master’s degree in International Yangon, Myanmar. MSR has produced over 650 Relations and International Economics, with a concentration research reports in the fields of social, market, and in Southeast Asia Studies. While a research assistant for environmental research over the past 16 years for UN the SAIS Burma Study Group, he supported visits by three agencies, INGOs, and business organizations. Burmese government delegations to Washington, DC, including officials from Myanmar’s Union Parliament, ABOuT INTERNEwS IN MYANMAR Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Industry. He has worked as a consultant for World Vision Myanmar, where he led an Internews is an international nonprofit organization whose assessment of education programs in six regions across mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people Myanmar, and has served as an English teacher in Kachin the news and information they need, the ability to connect State, Myanmar, and in Thailand on the Thai-Myanmar border. and the means to make their voices heard. Internews He speaks Thai and Burmese. provides communities with the resources to produce local news and information with integrity and independence. Alison Campbell is currently Internews’ Senior Director With global expertise and reach, Internews trains both media for Global Initiatives based in Washington, DC, overseeing professionals and citizen journalists, introduces innovative Internews’ environmental, health and humanitarian media solutions, increases coverage of vital issues and helps programs. She recently relocated to the US from Asia, establish policies needed for open access to information. where she founded Internews Burma project in 2001, started the Internews Burma Journalism School and has been The Internews Burma project opened its doors in January 2001 deeply involved in the recent exciting developments in the and has worked for the last 14 years to strengthen the capacity media scene in Burma/Myanmar over the last few years. of Burmese media outlets both inside the country and within yanmar’s recent relaxing of political, The report draws from quantitative and qualitative With a background in both journalism and humanitarian the exiled and international Burmese media community. Over research commissioned by the Internews Center for the years Internews has provided comprehensive support economic, and social restrictions has relief, she specializes in the design and troubleshooting Innovation & Learning (the Center) from December 16, of media projects in conflict, post conflict, peace building for Burmese and ethnic language publications, websites, provided a unique opportunity to conduct bloggers, broadcasters, editors, managers and publishers. M 2012 to January 5, 2013 in Mon State, Myanmar. The and other transitional environments. Alison has worked research in Myanmar’s ethnic states. This report on in various capacities for Internews over the last 15 years, This support includes training and mentoring in reporting on research sampled respondents from across Mon State, most recently as Regional Manager for Africa Programs environment, human rights, elections, gender, policy issues, Mon State’s information ecosystem is the first in a and combines quantitative data from a 500 household overseeing projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, media management, media law, small grants and technical planned series of studies into the demographic, news survey covering urban, rural, non-conflict, and former Uganda and South Sudan. She also established the support for publishing and production. As part of this program, conflict areas, with qualitative data from 12 focus Internews operated the first in-residence journalism school media, and information dynamics that characterize Internews program at the International Criminal Tribunal for group discussions and 24 key informant interviews in Rwanda, providing a foundation for the important work that for Burmese and ethnic reporters in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Mon State as well as Myanmar’s six other ethnic Internews still does in Rwanda. Before joining Internews, school trained hundreds of journalists and media professionals, both non-conflict and former conflict areas. Alison worked in radio, print and television newsrooms and equipped a new generation of Burmese and ethnic media states—Chin, Kachin, Kayah (Karenni), Kayin in South Africa and in the UK before spending four years professionals with the skills to work full-time. Internews trained (Karen), Rakhine (Arakan), and Shan. The research focuses on three themes. Firstly, it as a press officer for CARE, managing press relations and and provided technical and financial support to more than identifies and maps the information environment policy in humanitarian emergencies including Rwanda, 15 different local organizations, both along the border and An information ecosystem is not a static entity; it is in Mon State in terms of technology and media inside the country. These organizations have gone on Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Bosnia. by nature constantly evolving and changing. Nor is it to play leading roles in disseminating quality news and use across urban, rural, non-conflict, and former information about Burma to the world and to the Burmese a discrete form; it can be defined at many levels, from conflict geographic areas. Secondly, the flow of news COvER pHOTO population alike. Internews’ work in Myanmar continues global to national to community to interest-based and information is examined to see how individuals today, and has expanded beyond support for traditional groupings within communities. Any examination of receive information and then make decisions about A villager reads a journal at a tea shop in media to include the country’s first-ever hackathon in an information ecosystem goes beyond traditional sharing it with others. Thirdly, the report examines Ye Township, Kaw Dut Village. 2014, which brought together 76 of the country’s most audience research on media access and consumption; the dynamics underlying the trust and influence of talented young developers, designers and entrepreneurs. it adds considerations of information needs and news and information among individuals in Mon www.internews.org information creation and distribution as fluid systemsState. that adapt and regenerate according to the broader developmental challenges and needs of a given community.

INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSITION: A CASE STUDY FROM MYANMAR HOW TO INFORM, EMPOWER, AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES

PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS ExECuTIvE SuMMARY

dESpITE THE HIgH COST OF MOBIlE ACCESS IN In this study, news and information sources that are It is true to say that media content and media and considered trusted—with trustworthiness defined in information channels will always be primary factors MYANMAR AT THE TIME OF THIS RESEARCH, terms of a source’s accuracy and reliability—tended of supply in any information ecosystem. However, it is NEARlY HAlF OF All uRBAN MON STATE strongly to be the sources that were best-known and necessary to guard against drawing conclusions about RESpONdENTS HAvE A MOBIlE pHONE familiar to respondents. Few people indeed trust what media access and “openness” based on a “production they are not familiar with. As a result, friends and family + distribution = better informed citizenry” model ranked highest for trust, but perhaps surprisingly, so did that cannot adequately account for the quality of the state-owned media, such as MRTV (jointly-operated information available, or flow, trust and uptake factors with the private Forever Group Ltd.) and Nay Pyi in complex environments. There can be few places left in the world where almost The research indicates that, despite the high cost of Daw Myanmar Radio National Service (Nay Pyi Daw half the population does not know what the internet is. mobile access in Myanmar at the time of this research, Myanma Ah-Than). Overall, however, people in Mon In Myanmar today there exists the risk that under The Mon State pilot research has particular value in nearly half of all urban Mon State respondents have State remain generally skeptical of the news they hear, the guise of increased media access, the formerly attempting to describe the information ecosystem of a a mobile phone. This penetration would have been a habit held-over from a time when information sources “information dark” ecosystems which prevailed target community situated at an unprecedented tipping unthinkable just a few years ago. Nevertheless, were few and rumors abundant. Most people regularly across much of the country under military rule point in the history of a closed society. Key structural widespread lack of electricity continues to significantly validate the news and information they hear against may be seamlessly replaced with “information lite” factors (governance, technology, economy) are hamper full mobile phone usage. Furthermore, only other sources, never fully trusting any source completely. ecosystems in which unsophisticated media audiences changing suddenly, simultaneously exerting profound 2% of mobile phone users in Mon State use their consume primarily entertainment and “managed” change in the ways in which citizens access and use phones to access the Internet. In the urban areas of Findings around the reach and impact of formerly news content. This sleight of hand would replicate information. Whilst experience drawn from other Mon State, TV has replaced radio as the main source exiled (pro-democracy) media indicated little the information ecosystems of the “disciplined political transitions may be indicative of future trends of news and information. However in rural locations, awareness of exiled print media. However, there is a democracies” of Singapore, Malaysia and China - to in Myanmar, there has rarely been an opportunity to qualitative interviews indicated that TV is mainly used solid recognition of shortwave international Burmese which Myanmar aspires - by (at best) doing nothing track and chart such sudden and extreme change, and as an entertainment medium, not to access news and language services, and strikingly high recognition for to foster the development of an informed citizenry establish a baseline before social media and other forces information. However, a large proportion of Mon State Democratic Voice of Burma TV. and (at worst) perpetuating state influence over the disrupt and transform the information environment. residents do not watch TV at all. Nearly half of the architecture of public information and discourse. total sample said they had never watched TV (46%). Serious consideration needs to be given to the more Some of the key findings of this report are consistent nuanced, and perhaps less rosy outlook brought to For those who wish to see an increase in both the with the current image of Myanmar opening its doors In rural and former conflict areas, radio is the most the surface by the ecosystem research responses quantity and quality of content feeding into local and airwaves to a brave new influx of information. common source. Once information enters a community on trust. Not only did state-owned radio show up information ecosystems as a way of enhancing More frequently there emerges a mixed picture as to however, its flow is overwhelmingly face-to-face sharing as significantly better recognized and trusted thandevelopment or democracy/governance goals, it will access, and some thought-provoking findings around through word of mouth. Moreover, this information flow the international stations, but qualitative research be important to temper runaway excitement about trust and flow of information. largely takes place in the home (78% of respondents), revealed mixed or decreased trust in foreign news Myanmar’s “opening” with an understanding of some and to immediate friends and family. Indeed, only sources. This is primarily due to strong perceptions of the constraints and idiosyncrasies in the country’s 28% of respondents saw themselves as a source of among some respondents of biased reporting on the national and local information ecosystems. It is the news for the greater community, indicating that most conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine contention of this paper that a better understanding information exchange tends to stay close to home. State by foreign news media. of the information ecosystem of any given community or population will be helpful in developing holistic strategies that harness dynamics in that ecosystem to improve the chances of information actually reaching its destination.

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INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSITION: A CASE STUDY FROM MYANMAR HOW TO INFORM, EMPOWER, AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSITION: A CASE STUDY FROM MYANMAR HOW TO INFORM, EMPOWER, AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES

PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS TABlE OF CONTENTS uSE OF MEdIA & TECHNOlOgY

ExECuTIvE SuMMARY 1 INFORMATION FlOwS 17 67% 66% FIGUR E 1 uSE OF MEdIA & TECHNOlOgY 5 infOrMatiOn ACCESS TO MEDIA DEVICES IN MON STATE flOWS: Key findingS 17 (PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SAMPLE THAT HAD 59% USe Of Media and technOlOgy: Key findingS 5 Key infOrMatiOn SOUrceS 18 THE FOLLOWING IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD) acceSS tO Media deViceS – Where dOeS infOrMatiOn eXchange haPPen? 22 MOBile highly ValUed 6 tyPeS Of neWS and infOrMatiOn Shared 23 liMited acceSSiBility tO electricity iMPactS USe – tWO thirdS MOSt PeOPle Share neWS 25% Of MOn State are nOt cOnnected tO the grid 7 infreQUently OUtSide Of the hOUSehOld 24 teleViSiOn – half Of MOn State Key infOrMatiOn diSSeMinatOrS 24 reSidentS haVe neVer Watched 8 6% uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE 25 4% 4% 2% 2% alMOSt all Watch tV in their OWn hOMe 1% Or in the hOMe Of faMily Or neighBOrS 9 UnderStanding trUSt and inflUence: Key findingS 25 DVD/VCD TV RADIO MOBILE MP3 LANDLINE DIGITAL INTERNET COMPUTER TABLET dOMeStic tV StatiOnS PLAYER PHONE PLAYER PHONE CAMERA PC are the MOSt POPUlar 9 MOSt trUSted SOUrceS BASE: 500 RESPONDENTS tV iS USed Mainly tend tO Be the MOSt Well-KnOWn 26 tO Watch MOVieS in rUral areaS 10 trUSt in eXiled/diaSPOra Media 27 radiO 11 ValidatiOn Of neWS thrOUgh MOBile PhOneS 13 triangUlatiOn iS eSSential 29 ∞ In former conflict areas, radio is the main preferred technology source for news and infOrMatiOn flOW MaPPing 29 uSE OF MEdIA ANd Falling prices, increasing access 13 TECHNOlOgY: KEY FINdINgS information. Networks 14 ∞ 90% or more of radio listeners have heard of the Most people only use mobile phones to make calls 14 BBC, VOA, and RFA radio stations, but only 60% ∞ 67% of respondents in Mon State have a TV and have listened to programs on them. Cost is a main barrier to mobile phone use 14 DVD/VCD player in their home. ∞ 100% of radio listeners have heard of Nay Mobile phone use in former conﬂict areas 14 ∞ TV use is highest in urban areas. In rural or Pyi Daw Myanmar Radio National Service, internet 15 former conflict areas, access to TV stations Myanmar’s state-run national radio service. 98% Print Media 15 without a satellite connection is either have listened to its programs. challenging or not possible. ∞ Two other domestic radio stations are highly ∞ Radio use has declined in Mon State overall as popular, Padauk Myay and Shwe FM. Each are access to TV and electricity has improved. known by close to 90% of radio listeners and ∞ 77% of the sample did not have access to grid- listened to by over 80%. connected electricity. ∞ Weekly journals and newspapers are typically ∞ 21% of respondents own a mobile phone. 54% of only available in towns, and rarely in villages. all urban respondents have a mobile phone in ∞ 98% of respondents have never used the Internet. their household, while 47% own one themselves. Over 70% either do not know what the Internet is ∞ Only 2% of mobile phone users use their phones or do not know how to use it. to access the Internet.

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART ONE: RESEARCH FINDINGS uSE OF MEdIA & TECHNOlOgY

FIGURE 2 ACCESS TO MEDIA DEVICES FIGURE 3 (WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU HAVE WORKING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?) HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU HAVE WORKING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?) NON-CONFLICT CONFLICT (FORMER) URBAN RURAL 58%

69% DVD/VCD 50% 85% DVD/VCD 62% MAINS ELECTRICITY GENERATOR PLAYER PLAYER

68% TV 46% 83% TV 62%

26% 23% 23% 23% 60% RADIO 48% 54% MOBILE 18% 21% PHONE 15% 15% 10% 26% MOBILE 14% 49% RADIO 61% PHONE 2%

MP3 6% MP3 6% 15% 4% PLAYER PLAYER TOTAL SAMPLE URBAN RURAL NON-CONFLICT FORMER CONFLICT

5% LANDLINE 0% 13% LANDLINE 2% Base: 100 urban respondents, 400 rural; 450 non-conﬂict, 50 former conﬂict area respondents PHONE PHONE

4% DIGITAL 8% 6% INTERNET 1% CAMERA lIMITEd ACCESSIBIlITY TO ElECTRICITY IMpACTS 2% 0% 6% DIGITAL 4% INTERNET CAMERA uSE – TwO THIRdS OF MON STATE ARE NOT 2% 1% 2% COMPUTER 4% COMPUTER CONNECTEd TO THE gRId

0.4% TABLET PC 2% 1% TABLET PC 1% Access to a regular electricity supply remains a critical infrastructure issue affecting Myanmar’s Base: 450 non-conﬂict, 50 former conﬂict area respondents Base: 100 urban respondents, 400 rural development, and has a strong impact on the access and use of new technology and media by respondents in Mon State. It is an important factor in explaining ACCESS TO MEdIA dEvICES – utility of mobile phones, over half (54%) of urban the differences in technology use between urban and AS ElECTRICITY SupplY MOBIlE HIgHlY vAluEd respondents had access to a device in their home. In rural respondents. rural communities with even poorer accessibility, 18% “ BECOMES REgulAR, pEOplE Across the state as might be expected there is significant have access to a mobile phone. Of all respondents surveyed only 32% reported that MAINlY wATCH Tv. pEOplE variability in the levels of access to media devices, their communities had access to grid-connected IN plACES wITHOuT ranging from the urban parts of non-conflict areasUse of technology and access to media devices varied electricity, and only one quarter of these had access down to rural former conflict areas broadly mirroringacross urban and rural locations and non-conflict and in their homes. Close to three-quarters reported ElECTRICITY lISTEN TO THE relative levels of affluence. Perhaps reflecting the greatformer conflict areas. In urban areas, use of all devices access to electricity by generator (72%), while almost RAdIO." value of mobile communications and a clear signal was predictably higher than in rural areas, with the one-quarter reported access to electricity in their Urban respondent, of the future, despite the high expense and limited exception of radios, as seen in Figure 2. communities by solar power (22%). Zay yar Mon Ward, KyaiK Hto toWnsHip

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PART ONE: RESEARCH FINDINGS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS family members and neighbors watch a movie on tV through Sky net uSE OF MEdIA ANd TECHNOlOgY

TElEvISION – HAlF AlMOST All wATCH Tv FIGURE 6 FIGURE 4 OF MON STATE RESIdENTS IN THEIR OwN HOME THINK ABOUT THE TV WHERE YOU GET NEWS COMMUNITY ELECTRICITY SUPPLY AND INFORMATION MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU. (WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING DO YOU HAVE WORKING IN YOUR HAvE NEvER wATCHEd OR IN THE HOME HOUSEHOLD?) WHERE IS THIS TV LOCATED? A large proportion of Mon State residents do not OF FAMIlY OR NEIgHBORS URBAN RURAL OTHER MONASTERY OR TEMPLE watch TV at all. Nearly half of the total sample said 76% IN A TEA SHOP IN A SHOP 74,5% they had never watched TV (46%). The least frequent Nearly all respondents who used TV as a news and 60% viewers were respondents in former conflict areas, of information source watched TV either in their own 1% 4% 1% whom 70% had never watched TV, followed by rural home, another family member’s home, or in the home NEIGHBOR’S 2% HOME 30% respondents (51%). of a neighbor (92%). Only 4% relied on a TV in a tea shop for their source of news, while the remaining 4% 13% 21% 20,3% The most frequent reason cited was a lack of interest. reported that the TV they relied on was in a temple, Among urban respondents, lack of interest accounted shop, or other location. Compared to urban and non- for 84% of responses. Respondents who had never conflict area respondents, individuals living in rural ELECTRICITY VIA ELECTRICITY BY ELECTRICITY BY MAINS SUPPLY GENERATOR SOLAR POWER watched TV were predominantly female (65%), and former conflict area were slightly more dependent 14% 65% Base: 100 urban respondents, 400 rural employed (59%), working at least 30 hours per week on sources outside the home to watch TV, but only by (68%), lower middle class (76%), and possessing less a margin of 5-10%. NON-CONFLICT CONFLICT (FORMER) than a middle school-level education (80%). 73%

58% 58% Other frequently cited reasons for not watching TV NO ELECTRICITY FOR OTHER OTHER FAMILY AT HOME MEMBER’S A TV were the lack of a TV signal, prohibitive cost, or the HOME 35% Base: 270 respondents who watch TV lack of electricity. The inability to watch TV because 1% CAN’T AFFORD 18% of a lack of signal was highest in former conflict areas A TV 4% (29%) and rural communities (27%). Cost was also dOMESTIC Tv STATIONS 2% a main factor. Among respondents living in former ARE THE MOST pOpulAR conflict areas, 43% reported they did not watch TV 23% ELECTRICITY VIA ELECTRICITY BY ELECTRICITY BY MAINS SUPPLY GENERATOR SOLAR POWER because they could not afford to buy one, while 24% of FIGURE 5 Among TV stations, four stations, all domestic, were Base: 450 non-conﬂict area respondents, 50 for conﬂict area rural respondents reported the same. WHAT IS THE MAIN recognized by nearly all respondents in Mon State REASON YOU DO NOT who watched TV—Myanmar Television (MRTV), WATCH TV? Myawaddy Television (MWD), Sky Net satellite TV, and MRTV 4. Each station was recognized by 90% or more of TV watchers. The foreign TV stations 48% 24% most recognized by TV watchers were DVB Burmese (71%), BBC World News (63%), VOA Burmese and RFA Burmese (each 59%). NO INTEREST IN TV NO TV SIGNAL Base: 230 respondents who do not watch TV

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uSE OF MEdIA ANd TECHNOlOgY

BECAuSE wE HAvE A Tv, wE RAdIO “ CAN SHOw MOvIES TO OuR Most respondents who use the radio listened to a radio guESTS ANd FRIENdS." program within the past week (61%). Responses were rUral respondent, highest among rural respondents (65%), compared MoKe Ka MaUt Village, KyaiK Hto toWnsHip to urban respondents (43%), and among non-conflict area respondents (62%), compared to former conflict “ wE wATCH Tv BECAuSE area respondents (50%). wE wANT TO ACCESS Of those who had never listened to a radio program, INFORMATION ABOuT OuR the percentage was highest in urban areas (44%), COuNTRY." followed by former conflict areas (36%), non-conflict areas (26%), and rural areas (23%). Of the total rUral respondent, yogo Village, MaWlaMyine toWnsHip sample, close to one third of respondents (27%) had community members watch a movie in a village video theater never listened to the radio.

EvEN THOugH wE ARE Echoing a pattern of low engagement, the primary Tv IS uSEd MAINlY “ ABlE TO RECEIvE THE MRTv reason almost all urban respondents cited for not TO wATCH MOvIES STATION HERE, MOST pEOplE listening to the radio was a lack of interest. IN RuRAl AREAS dON'T wATCH IT." In rural areas, about two-thirds of those who did not

ForMer conFlict area respondent, listen to the radio said it was due to a lack of interest, In former conflict areas, qualitative respondents pa laing Kee Village, ye toWnsHip while the remaining third said they could not afford to said their villages typically had electricity from buy one. Although the price for a radio ranged between 6-10pm each day, and this was the time when most 2,500 and 7,000 kyats ($3 and $8 USD) at the time people turned on their TVs. Households that owned of research, price combined with cost and necessity generators watched TV until late at night, mostly to travel to the nearest town to buy one put personal watching movies or listening to music. Many of these radios out of reach for about 20% of all former conflict households had a TV but no antenna to enable them to radios for sale in a shop in Mawlamyine town area respondents. watch either local or foreign stations. One respondent mentioned that some TV owners are able to access more than 70 channels from Myanmar and around the world with a satellite connection. I lISTEN TO THE RAdIO duRINg THE RAINY SEASON “ FOR THE wEATHER. IT IS BROAdCASTEd pROMpTlY. Qualitative research indicated that as access to TV and electricity in Mon State has improved, radio use has FOR Tv, SOMETIMES wE HAvE BlACKOuTS ANd IT IS declined. Respondents reported that radio listeners INCONvENIENT TO TuRN ON THE gENERATOR. IT IS IMpORTANT are now primarily those who cannot afford to buy a TO KNOw ABOuT STORMS, SO I lISTEN TO THE RAdIO TV, the elderly who still prefer the radio, or villagers in remote communities where TV reception is poor and ONlY FOR wEATHER REpORTS. RAdIO IS gOOd FOR THAT." there is little or no electricity. Urban respondent, Zar yar Mon Ward, KyaiK Hto toWnsHip

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uSE OF MEdIA ANd TECHNOlOgY

FIGURE 7 THE FAMIlIES wHO HAvE RADIO STATIONS MOST RECOGNIZED AND LISTENED TO IN MON STATE “ SONS ANd dAugHTERS HEARD OF THE STATION LISTENED TO THE STATION wORKINg ABROAd ARE NAY PYI DAW 100% MYANMAR RADIO 98% NOw BuYINg THAI MOBIlE NATIONAL SERVICE pHONES TO STAY IN TOuCH 96% BBC WORLD 62% SERVICE wITH THEIR FAMIlY MEMBERS." 93% PADAUK MYAY RADIO 81% STATION ForMer conFlict area respondent, KaW dUt Village, ye toWnsHip

91% VOICE OF AMERICA 61% (VOA) Mobile phone shop Mawlamyaing - Pan Bae dan Ward

90% RADIO FREE ASIA 60% (RFA) the purchase of phones by paying in installments MOBIlE pHONES which had increased phone ownership. 89% SHWE FM 85% Qualitative respondents agreed that communication 65% YANGON CITY 33% FAllINg pRICES, INCREASINg ACCESS has vastly improved from previous years. The 89.0 FM Use of mobile phones has increased primarily due installation of more mobile phone towers has made 57% MANDALAY CITY 19% to large decreases in SIM card prices, together with reception better and improved communication in 87.9 FM slowly improving network coverage in recent years. As areas that were previously without any reception. recently as 2010, the cost of a mobile phone SIM card 51% DEMOCRATIC VOICE 51% OF BURMA (DVB) was equal to about $2,500 USD. At the time of research, Respondents also described how mobile phones

NAY PYI DAW the price had fallen to $230. With the introduction of are becoming more popular in Myanmar as cheap 43% MYANMAR RADIO 45% SIM cards costing as little as 1,500 kyats ($2 USD) by handsets, particularly ones made in China, are now 98.0 FM (IN YANGON) the government in April 2013, mobile phone use stands available for 20,000 Kyats ($20 USD). While richer 33% OTHER 93% to increase much more. However, because the supply urban families prefer to use name-brand smartphones introduced by the government was insufficient to meet with touch screens and Internet access, the average existing high demand, these low-cost SIM cards have mobile phone user used a Chinese handset that did 22% FEB MYANMAR 56% RADIO been found selling on the black market for as much not support Internet access. On average, minute top- as 70,000 kyats ($70 USD). In qualitative interviews, up cards could be purchased for 10,000 Kyats, and 20% ALL INDIA RADIO 72% respondents reported a recent change which enabled depending on use, could last up to three months. (AIR)

19% ABC/RADIO 62% AUSTRALIA “ YEARS AgO wE HAd TO gO TO [THE NEAREST TOwN] TO uSE 16% CHINA RADIO 63% MOBIlE pHONES. NOw wE CAN uSE THEM IN OuR vIllAgE. INTERNATIONAL (CRI) - BEIJING Base: 364 respondents who listen to the radio IN OuR OpINION THE COMMuNICATION SYSTEMS ARE MORE dEvElOpEd THAN BEFORE."

rUral respondent, MoKe Ka MaUt Village, KyaiK Hto toWnsHip

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uSE OF MEdIA ANd TECHNOlOgY

NETwORKS COST IS A MAIN BARRIER TO MOBIlE pHONE uSE pRINT MEdIA The majority of mobile phone users in Mon State Of respondents who did not use a mobile phone 77% connect to a Burmese network. In rural areas along said the reason was because they could not afford to Many magazines, daily newspapers, and weekly the border with Thailand, however, respondents made buy one. Among other reasons for not using mobile news journals are currently available in Mon State, use of Thai mobile phones and access to the Thai phones, 8% of respondents said they did not use one providing news and information about local, national, mobile network. 12% of rural mobile phone users because they did not have a network in their area, and international events. Qualitative respondents used a phone on a Thai network. Burmese with family while former conflict areas held the largest percentage noted government newspapers such as The Mirror members working abroad also purchased Thai mobile of respondents who either did not know how to use and The New Light of Myanmar were the only sources phones to communicate with their loved ones. a mobile phone (14%) or had no interest in mobile of information in the past, but now a large number phones (14%). of publications exist. Respondents mentioned that MOST pEOplE ONlY uSE MOBIlE journals were more interesting than newspapers pHONES TO MAKE CAllS internet access is available in most urban areas, but people living DON’T KNOW HOW HAVE A LANDLINE, in rural or former conflict areas have to go to the nearest town. because they had better news, better writing, as well TO USE SO DON’T NEED as pictures and graphics, which added value to the FIGURE 8 NO MOBILE CAN’T AFFORD news content. NETWORK TO CHARGE ONE HOW OFTEN DO YOU USE A MOBILE PHONE IN MY AREA 1% INTERNET FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING? 5% Of the sample, 36% said they used newspapers, 8% Internet access is available in most urban areas, but magazines, and journals as an information source. ONCE LESS THAN A ONCE A people living in rural or former conflict areas have to Use of print media was highest among urban DAILY WEEK WEEK go to the nearest town. respondents (61%) compared to rural respondents 9% FIGURE 9 (30%), and lowest among former conflict area RECEIVING CALLS 19% 20% 56% WHAT IS THE MAIN Internet access on mobile phones has been gaining in respondents (24%) compared to non-conflict REASON YOU DO MAKING CALLS 18% 19% 53% popularity, respondents said, but only for those who area respondents (38%). Most readers of print NOT USE A SENDING TEXT MESSAGES (SMS) 3% 4% 2% can afford to buy a smartphone, which can cost betweenmedia (54%) had read a publication within the MOBILE PHONE? RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGES (SMS) 2% 4% 3% 150,000 and 200,000 Kyats ($170-$230 USD), while previous seven days, while 32% had done so during ACCESSING THE INTERNET 2% 0% 0% most mobile users can only afford phones that costthe previous month. The remaining 14% read 77% TAKING A PHOTO 1% 3% 9% 45,000 to 50,000 Kyats ($50-$60 USD). publications less frequently.

SENDING A PHOTO TO NO INTEREST For the remaining 64% of the sample that did not use OTHER PEOPLE 1% 2% 1% IN MOBILE PHONES CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY print media, the most frequently cited reason was a RECORDING AUDIO ON Base: 183 respondents who do not use mobile phones lack of interest. Many respondents prefer TV or radio YOUR MOBILE PHONE 1% 1% 2% when available, which provide more immediate news TAKING A VIDEO 1% 1% 8% updates than Myanmar’s weekly journal publications (at the time of research, only Myanmar’s state-owned MOBIlE pHONE uSE IN FORMER CONFlICT AREAS newspapers were published on a daily basis). Many In Ye Township, which is close to Thailand, villagers respondents also cited an inability to get print media are able to use the Thai mobile network. Using in their areas or the inability to read. Thai mobile phones, villagers are able to call other countries cheaply, with one minute costing only 300 Kyats ($0.30 USD) NEwSpApERS ARE NOT AS INFORMATIvE AS jOuRNAlS."

“ Urban respondent, pabedan Ward, MaWlaMyine toWnsHip

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uSE OF MEdIA ANd TECHNOlOgY INFORMATION FlOwS

∞ The most frequently shared types of information FIGURE 10 FIGURE 11 INFORMATION are disaster news or weather forecasts (shared by MOST HEARD OF AND READ PUBLICATIONS RECOGNITION AND READERSHIP OF EXILED FlOwS: KEY FINdINgS 79% of respondents), health information (67%), MEDIA IN MON STATE IS MODERATE TO LOW religious information (57%), and news about ∞ The most common sources of news and ethnic conflict (54%). HEARD OF READ HEARD OF READ information are radio, friends and family, and TV. ∞ Less than one-third of respondents saw MYANMAR AHLIN D WAVE ∞ TV is the most important source in urban areas themselves as a disseminator of news and 99% (NEWSPAPER) 82% 63% (JOURNAL) 64% (used by 62% of urban respondents), while radio information to other members of the community. is the most important source in rural areas (used Most news is passed on to friends and family. 98% KYAYMON 83% 43% THAN LWIN 55% by 62% of rural respondents). ∞ Only 2% of the sample—business owners, (NEWSPAPER) TIMES (JOURNAL) ∞ In the former conflict areas where access to professionals, military, and students—strongly 77% PYI MYANMAR 71% 13% IRRAWADDY 17% news and information is most limited, trusted viewed themselves as a source of information for (JOURNAL) (MAGAZINE) interpersonal sources are the most used. others. ∞ Currently, just 1% of respondents use the ∞ Over 26% of respondents in former conflict 77% AH PYO SIN 54% 11% IRRAWADDY 30% (MAGAZINE) (JOURNAL) Internet to get news and information. Qualitative areas do not share news and information at all. interviews indicated that university students use However, qualitative interviews revealed an 76% POPULAR 62% 10% MIZZIMA NEWS 32% the Internet more than any other demographic. active network of information exchange before (JOURNAL) (MAGAZINE) ∞ Information is most often shared by word of the ceasefire to protect villagers from the location mouth (88% of respondents), while just 5% of of landmines or potential battle zones. 73% MA HAY THI 64% 7% GUIDING STAR/ 25% (MAGAZINE) SA-NONG-TIME respondents share news over the phone. Just 1% ∞ Despite the prominence of monks in recent (NEWSPAPER) share by email or SMS. political events in Myanmar, such as the 2007 70% 7 DAYS NEWS 69% Base: 181 respondents who use print media as an information source “Saffron Revolution,” respondents in Mon State (JOURNAL) did not consider monks to be a source of political

63% D WAVE 64% FIGURE 12 news or information, and only sought them out (JOURNAL) TWO GOVERNMENT-RUN PAPERS ARE AMONG for religious information. THE HIGHEST RECOGNIZED AND READ 60% YADANABON 12% (NEWSPAPER) PUBLICATIONS IN MON STATE

HEARD OF READ 59% KUMUDRA 42% (JOURNAL) 99% 98% 82% 83% 58% RA MA NYA 50% (JOURNAL) 60%

54% INN ARR 47% (JOURNAL) 27%

12% 14% WEEKLY 61% 52% ELEVEN NEWS MYANMAR KYAYMON KYAYMON THE NEW LIGHT AHLIN (NEWSPAPER) (NEWSPAPER) OF MYANMAR (NEWSPAPER) (NEWSPAPER) Base: 181 respondents who use print media as an information source

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS INFORMATION FlOwS

57% FIGURE 14 FIGUR E 13 COMPARISON OF KEY INFORMATION SOURCES BY LOCATION MOST FREQUENTLY USED INFORMATION SOURCES 45% (PEOPLE GET NEWS FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES. FOR EACH ONE (PERCENTAGE THAT USES EACH SOURCE DAILY OR AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK) 41% OF THE SOURCES I MENTION, PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU USE THAT SOURCE TO GET NEWS AND INFORMATION EVERY DAY OR MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, LESS THAN ONCE A WEEK OR NON-CONFLICT CONFLICT (FORMER) URBAN RURAL WHETHER YOU DO NOT USE IT FOR INFORMATION AT ALL) 24% (PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS THAT USE EACH SOURCE DAILY OR 59% RADIO 46% 62% TV 36% AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK TO GET NEWS AND INFORMATION)

13% 13% 9% FRIENDS OR FRIENDS OR 44% FAMILY 48% 50% FAMILY 43% MEMBERS MEMBERS 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 43% TV 20% 39% RADIO 62% RADIO FRIENDS OR TV WORK JOURNALS NEWS- COMMUNITY SMS LOCAL CASUAL MONKS INTERNET FAMILY COLLEAGUES PAPERS ELDERS GOVERN- ACQUAIN- OR MEMBERS OR OR MENT TANCES NUNS WORK CLASSMATES MAGAZINES OFFICIALS 24% COLLEAGUES 16% 39% JOURNALS 7% BASE: 500 RESPONDENTS OR CLASSMATES

NEWSPAPERS 14% JOURNALS 6% 32% OR 8% media is also used much more frequently in urban MAGAZINES KEY INFORMATION SOuRCES settings than in rural areas (62% vs. 36%). Use of text messaging and the Internet, while still very low, are NEWSPAPERS WORK 13% OR 6% 26% COLLEAGUES 23% In Mon State, news and information flow to also higher in urban than rural areas. However, the MAGAZINES OR CLASSMATES communities through three main information use of friends or family members as sources of news sources: radio, friends or family members, and TV. and information remain relatively uniform across all 10% COMMUNITY 6% 9% SMS 1% ELDERS Print media or other individuals in the community are areas. far less frequent sources. At the bottom end, very few 3% SMS 0% 5% COMMUNITY 10% people in Mon State—less than 2%—get their news or In rural areas, radio serves as the most frequently ELDERS information from the Internet, monks or nuns, local used source for information, where it is used on a daily officials, or by text message. or weekly basis by over 60% of rural respondents. LOCAL 2% GOVERNMENT 4% 4% INTERNET 0% TV use is much lower, used by just over one-third of OFFICIALS I gET THE INFORMATION ANd rural respondents, due to challenges posed by lower financial resources and lower access to electricity. Use 2% CASUAL 2% 4% CASUAL 1% “ ACQUAINTANCES ACQUAINTANCES NEwS wE wANT TO KNOw of print media in rural areas is low. Community elders

FROM THE RAdIO ANd BY and local government officials are used as sources of MONKS 1% INTERNET 0% 3% 1% news and information in rural areas slightly more AND wORd OF MOuTH." NUNS than by urban dwellers. rUral respondent, nga pyaW taW Village, KyaiK LOCAL Hto toWnsHip 1% MONKS 2% 2% AND 1% GOVERNMENT In former conflict areas, use of almost all sources NUNS OFFICIALS In Figure 14, a cross-comparison of information is less than in other locations, except for family and sources by geographic location reveals several key friends. In remote areas with low access to electricity, Base: 100 urban vs. 400 rural respondents; distinctions. In urban areas, TV is clearly the most respondents relied much more heavily on word of important source for news and information. Print mouth through people—primarily family and friends.

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS INFORMATION FlOwS

FIGURE 15 FIGURE 16 FIRST SOURCE TO GET MORE INFORMATION FIRST SOURCE TO GET MORE INFORMATION

(WHEN YOU HEAR THERE IS A MAJOR EVENT THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT, WHAT DO YOU DO TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? (WHEN YOU HEAR THERE IS A MAJOR EVENT THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT, WHAT DO YOU DO TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION? WHO OR WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST SOURCE YOU WOULD GO TO FIND OUT INFORMATION?) WHO OR WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST SOURCE YOU WOULD GO TO FIND OUT INFORMATION?)

URBAN RURAL NON-CONFLICT CONFLICT (FORMER)

7% MYANMAR RADIO 26% 24% FRIENDS OR FAMILY 38% NATIONALSERVICE MEMBERS

FRIENDS OR FAMILY MYANMAR RADIO 28% 25% 21% 26% MEMBERS NATIONALSERVICE

MYANMAR TELEVISION MYANMAR TELEVISION 21% (MRTV) 12% 14% (MRTV) 10%

4% SHWE FM 11% 11% SHWE FM 2%

8% SKY NET 4% 5% SKY NET 2% CHANNELS CHANNELS

5% BBC 3% 4% BBC 0%

WORK COLLEAGUES INTERNATIONAL 2% OR CLASSMATES 3% 3% FOREIGN TV 0%

1% COMMUNITY 3% 3% JOURNALS WRITTEN 2% ELDERS INSIDE MYANMAR

1% VOA 3% 2% MRTV (4) (LOCAL 0% CHANNEL)

0% RFA 2% 2% VOA 2%

MRTV (4) (LOCAL COMMUNITY 3% CHANNEL) 2% 2% ELDERS 4%

7% INTERNATIONAL 2% 2% WORK COLLEAGUES 8% FOREIGN TV OR CLASSMATES

9% JOURNALS WRITTEN 1% 2% RFA 0% INSIDE MYANMAR Base: 100 urban vs. 400 rural respondents Base: 450 non-conﬂict vs. 50 former conﬂict area respondents

20 21

PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS INFORMATION FlOwS

FIGURE 17 TYpES OF NEwS ANd PLACES WHERE NEWS IS SHARED FIGURE 18 WHAT KIND OF NEWS AND INFORMATION DO INFORMATION SHAREd (WHERE IN GENERAL IS NEWS AND INFORMATION PASSED ON, FOR EXAMPLE, AT HOME, IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS MARKETS, AT THE TEMPLE ETC.?) YOU COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS? Four types of news and information were shared URBAN RURAL NON-CONFLICT CONFLICT (FORMER) by over half of the Mon State sample: disaster news DISASTER NEWS/ 79% WEATHER FORECASTS (including weather forecasts), health news, religious HOME HOME 75% 79% 80% 64% news, and news about ethnic conflict. HEALTH AND HEALTH 67% CARE 31% WORK 18% 22% WORK 8% These trends held relatively true across urban and RELIGION 57% rural and non-conflict and former conflict locations. 25% TEASHOP 7% 20% STREET 6% Similar to previous trends, respondents in rural or NEWS ABOUT ETHNIC 54% former conflict areas tended to share less news and CONFLICT information than others. 13% TEMPLE 14% 14% TEMPLE 6% NEWS ABOUT MON 49% STATE Figure 19 shows the percentage of each segment of 13% STREET 20% 10% TEASHOP 10% the sample that shared news about political topics. NEWS ABOUT 47% BURMA The segment that shared this type of news the most 5% SOCIAL 2% 10% FARMING 16% is highlighted in light green, while respondents EVENTS FIELD BUSINESS NEWS AND 47% who shared the least are marked in light blue. The THE ECONOMY 4% FARMING 12% aforementioned trend holds for each news type except FIELD NEWS ABOUT AUNG for news about the NLD and human rights, which Base: 100 urban, 400 rural respondents; 450 non-conﬂict, 50 former conﬂict area respondents 41% SAN SUU KYI were shared by a higher percentage of respondents in the former conflict areas. Surprisingly, respondents NEWS ABOUT PRESIDENT 29% THEIN SEIN in former conflict areas shared news about ethnic wHERE dOES INFORMATION THE TEASHOp IS THE KEY, base: 500 respondents conflict the least. ExCHANgE HAppEN? “ IMpORTANT plACE TO ExCHANgE OR SHARE NEwS I AM INTERESTEd IN After receiving information from a news source like “ TV or the radio, people in Mon State tend to share AMONg THE vIllAgERS IN pOlITICAl NEwS. I REAd dE news by word of mouth in a variety of locations. OuR vIllAgE. " HlAINg (d.wAvE) jOuRNAl Qualitative respondents explained how people in rUral respondent, ANd I SHARE THE NEwS their village sometimes visited the local monastery, ForMer conFlict area, KaW dUt Village, ye which had a TV and satellite dish. Respondents said toWnsHip wITH OTHERS.” that people saw news on the monastery’s TV about Urban respondent, Zayar Mon Ward, KyaiK Hto toWnsHip the conflict in Rakhine State and an earthquake in Sagaing Region, and then shared this news with other people in the village at tea shops, markets, weddings, public ceremonies, and at home. The sharing of news and information often happens organically, whenever friends and peers meet or come across each other.

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS INFORMATION FlOwS uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE

∞ Despite this, respondents repeatedly said that FIGURE 19 uNdERSTANdINg TRuST ANd PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS WHO SHARE NEWS ABOUT POLITICAL TOPICS INFluENCE: KEY FINdINgS they did not trust any news source completely. Instead, most respondents felt the need to always NON- CONFLICT ∞ The sources of information people in Mon State validate information against other sources. URBAN RURAL CONFLICT (FORMER) trust the most are friends and family, Nay Pyi A common theme was that triangulation was NEWS ABOUT ETHNIC CONFLICT 58% 53% 57% 28% Daw Myanmar Radio National Service, MRTV, essential prior to fully trusting any information NEWS ABOUT AUNG SAN SUU KYI 47% 40% 42% 38% and Shwe FM. or passing such information on to others. NEWS ABOUT PRESIDENT THEIN SEIN 33% 28% 30% 18% ∞ Several factors underlie decisions about trust. POLITICAL NEWS 32% 21% 23% 24% Respondents had a high degree of trust in news INTERNATIONAL NEWS 28% 15% 18% 8% from a familiar source, news presented with The easing of censorship and other restrictions on news NEWS ABOUT POLITICAL DISSIDENTS 25% 8% 12% 8% video or photographs, news spread by word of media providers has elevated the position of domestic NEWS OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY (NLD) 20% 9% 10% 22% mouth, and news shared by elders and local news sources. Many people now feel that domestic NEWS ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS 20% 19% 20% 12% authorities. news content, including content from government- HUMAN RIGHTS 16% 9% 10% 18% ∞ The newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations owned news sources, has improved greatly, causing NEWS ABOUT THE MILITARY 9% 2% 4% 2% that are trusted by the most people in Mon State a shift away from foreign media providers for news

Base: 100 urban, 400 rural respondents; 450 non-conﬂict, 50 former conﬂict area respondents are all government-owned. The most trusted on events inside Myanmar. As one respondent noted, media sources in Mon State are also the ones “reporters are writing real news now.” that have the greatest reach and coverage. These stations are Nay Pyi Daw Myanmar National In this study, news and information sources that are MOST pEOplE SHARE NEwS KEY INFORMATION Radio Service (trusted by 94% of users), MRTV considered trusted—with trustworthiness defined in INFREQuENTlY OuTSIdE OF dISSEMINATORS (91%), and the newspapers Kyaymon (76%) and terms of a source’s accuracy and reliability—tended THE HOuSEHOld Myanmar Ahlin (73%). strongly to be the sources that were best known and Less than one-third of respondents viewed ∞ Trust in foreign vs. domestic new sources is familiar to respondents. Few people indeed trust Most respondents share news and information outside themselves as a source for news and information for changing. 46% of respondents said they trust what they are not familiar with. As a result, friends of the household infrequently. 45% of the sample said other members of the community. Out of the entire information from news sources inside Myanmar and family ranked highest for trust, but perhaps they discussed or shared news and information with sample, only 28% saw themselves as a news source more than three years ago. In general, 81% of all surprisingly, so did state-owned media, such as MRTV family, friends, or their social network outside of in the community, while 70% did not. Furthermore, respondents said they trust information from (jointly-operated with the private Forever Group their own household only every few months, while an only 1% of respondents viewed themselves strongly sources inside Myanmar more than foreign Ltd.) and Nay Pyi Daw Myanmar Radio National additional 12% said they never shared news at all. as an information source. Those who strongly sources. Service (Nay Pyi Daw Myanma Ah-Than). Both have identified as being viewed as a source of news and ∞ Trust in government news sources appears to significant coverage and reach, and perhaps do not information for their community tended to be either be increasing due to reforms that have enabled “appear” government-owned, due to the variety of prominent community members, such as business government media to be more open. Another programming and content they provide. owners, professionals, or military personnel, or highly primary reason, however, is the belief among educated people, such as students. many respondents that foreign reporting of the July 2012 conflict between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine State was biased and THOSE wHO wOuld lIKE TO gET NEwS COME TO ME. THEY dON’T discriminatory towards Buddhists. These “ gO TO OTHERS. THEY COME ANd ASK ME MOSTlY wHEN wE ARE respondents noted that reporting by government media was more fair, and as a result, they have SITTINg AT TEA SHOpS. dIFFERENT pEOplE gATHER ANd CHAT. " begun to trust foreign media much less than rUral respondent, ForMer conFlict area, labor sUperVisor, palaing gyi Village, ye toWnsHip before.

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE

MOST TRuSTEd FIGURE 21 SOuRCES TENd TO FIGURE 20 OF ALL THESE INFORMATION SOURCES, CHANGES IN TRUST IN NEWS SOURCES ACROSS ETHNICITIES BE THE MOST wEll-KNOwN QUESTION: “HAS YOUR TRUST IN INFORMATION FROM INSIDE MYANMAR CHANGED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS? DO YOU TRUST WHICH DO YOU TRUST THE MOST? INFORMATION FROM MYANMAR MORE, LESS, OR THE SAME AS BEFORE?”

FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS 25% Overall, the two most trusted sources of information INDIAN/ PAKISTANI among Mon State respondents are friends and family MYANMAR RADIO NATIONAL SERVICE 22% KARENNI /BANGLADESHI members and Nay Pyi Daw Myanmar Radio National BAMAR KAREN SHAN MON RAKHINE (KAYAH) CHINESE /NEPALI OTHER MIXED 14% Service, followed by MRTV and Shwe FM. These four MYANMAR TELEVISION (MRTV) information sources make up 75% of the sample’s most SHWE FM 10% Same as before 51% 42% 17% 40% 0% 0% 0% 35% 22% 70% trusted sources, as shown in Figure 20. I trust Myanmar sources more 38% 46% 83% 52% 100% 0% 100% 46% 44% 20% SKY NET CHANNELS 4% I trust Myanmar sources less 2% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 19% 0% 0%

In qualitative interviews, respondents described how BBC 4% Don't know 9% 12% 0% 7% 0% 100% 0% 0% 33% 10% the source of information determined whether they 3% believed or trusted the information. According to INTERNATIONAL / FOREIGN TV BASE: 188 BAMAR RESPONDENTS, 89 KAYIN, 23 SHAN, 151 MON, 2 RAKHINE, 1 KAYAH, 1 CHINESE, 26 SOUTH ASIAN, 9 OTHER, AND 10 MIXED respondents from different focus group discussions, JOURNALS WRITTEN INSIDE MYANMAR 3% trust was established based upon familiarity with 2% the news source. For these respondents, news was WORK COLLEAGUES OR CLASSMATES considered trustworthy if it came from the local VOA 2% As shown in Figure 21 above, nearly half of all TRuST IN ExIlEd authorities, elders, local news channels, DVB, BBC, or respondents trust Myanmar news sources more now 2% /dIASpORA MEdIA Thai TV channels. MRTV (4) (LOCAL CHANNEL) than they did three years ago. In the survey results, this

COMMUNITY ELDERS 2% trend was apparent regardless of geographic location Exiled/diaspora media are generally not well known and across ethnicities and religious affiliations, in Mon State. The lower rates of trust in the figures THERE IS A 50-50 CHANCE RFA 1% “ FOR THE TRuSTwORTHINESS with the exception of Muslims and respondents of presented below are primarily a reflection of large MYANMAR RADIO PADAUK MYAY SERVICE 1% South Asian descent. While these groups still saw an percentages of respondents who had never heard of OF NEwS RECEIvEd increase in trust of Myanmar news sources, likely due the station. In most cases, around 25% also did not 1% FROM vARIOuS SOuRCES. NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES WRITTEN INSIDE MYANMAR to Myanmar’s recent political reforms, the two groups know whether or not they trusted the station, most NO ONE 1% also saw a greater increase than other groups in their likely due to a lack of a strong familiarity with the SOME NEwS IS BEINg trust of foreign news sources. station. ExAggERATEd OR SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS - MONKS AND NUNS 1% NEwS IS uNdERSTATEd. TO DVB 0.4% I TRuST THE NEwS Among the exiled/diaspora media, TV had highest levels of trust and, correspondingly, the lowest levels THE INTERNET: BURMESE WEBSITES 0.4% “ dECIdE IF NEwS IS CREdIBlE BROAdCASTEd wITHIN of those who simply did not know the station. DVB-TV OR NOT: IF I SEE IT wITH MY PEOPLE OUTSIDE MYANMAR 0.4% MYANMAR MORE. THE was most trusted, followed by VOA and RFA TV.

OwN EYES OR A vERY ClOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS 0.4% NEwS HAS BECOME MORE FRIENd HAS MENTIONEd IT TRANSpARENT ANd A large majority of respondents from Mon State OTHER 0.4% were not aware of exiled/diaspora publications. TO ME, ONlY THEN dO I TRuST REpORTERS ARE wRITINg Relative levels of trust in exiled/diaspora print media 0.2% IT. THAT IS HOw I vAlIdATE." MYAWADDY TELEVISION (MWD) REAl NEwS NOw." appears to be reasonably high among those aware of the publications and certainly few were actively Urban respondent, non-conFlict area, base: 500 respondents Urban respondent, pabedan Ward, MaWlaMyine toWnsHip pabedan Ward, MaWlaMyine toWnsHip distrusted. The most trusted, Than Lwin Times

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE

FIGURE 22 FIGURE 23 vAlIdATION OF NEwS INFORMATION FlOw MAppINg TRUST IN EXILE/DIASPORA TV FOR NEWS TRUST IN EXILED/DIASPORA PRINT MEDIA THROugH TRIANgulATION IS AND INFORMATION SOURCES FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION ESSENTIAl Based on the quantitative, qualitative and observational research, the following simple pathways (PERCENTAGE OF TV WATCHERS WHO TRUST OR DISTRUST) (Percentage of print media users who trust or distrust) Illustrating a significant degree of sophistication were identified for Mon State Residents. DON'T DON'T DON'T KNOW as news consumers, a consistent theme shared by NOT KNOW TRUST DISTRUST KNOW STATION TRUST DISTRUST SURE PUBLICATION respondents throughout the qualitative research was The flow of current affairs news and information can that news needed to be validated by triangulation be seen below. Issues considered for this mapping DVB-TV IN BURMESE 42% 1% 27% 29% 15% 62% Than Lwin Times (journal) 1% 22% against other news sources before respondents felt included land issues, ethnic conflicts, election news, VOA-TV IN BURMESE 27% 1% 32% 41% Irrawaddy (journal) 9% 0% 4% 87% they could share or fully trust the information. Many copper mine conflict, earthquake in Sagaing, and other RFA-TV IN BURMESE 24% 1% 34% 41% Mizzima News (magazine) 3% 1% 7% 90% respondents mentioned that no particular information Myanmar news. The flow of news and information VOA TV / ENGLISH 8% 1% 22% 69% Guiding Star / Sa-Nong source was completely trustworthy. As a result, they from the urban areas where access to primary sources Base: 270 respondents who watch TV had to validate news from one source by comparing it is much greater to relatively information poor rural -Time (newspaper) 2% 0% 5% 93% to other sources. areas through influential nodes is clear. Be they 1% 87% Irrawaddy (magazine) 0% 12% respected elders, affluent rural, or officials, such nodes Reflecting the need to see evidence in support of news, may vary according to the types of information being Base: 181 users of print media journal, was trusted by 40% of those who were aware the use of photographs and video lends authenticity to conveyed as might the means of this transmission. of its existence. content. Additionally volume of sources is important. For example, through officials in more affluent areas Respondents trusted information they heard if they transmission is conducted to rural areas primarily While the survey data revealed very few who outright IN THE pAST I TRuSTEd could confirm it with others or if many people werevia phone to trusted elders and family members. distrusted exiled media, qualitative data revealed a “ sharing the same news. One respondent commented These disseminators in turn communicate with their degree of mixed trust or uncertain trust. Similar to OvERSEAS NEwS, BuT NOw that he believed information when seven out of 10 networks of trusted family and community members the findings regarding trust in foreign media, some I KNOw THEIR NEwS IS NOT people were discussing it, while another respondent at locations such as tea shops, religious ceremonies degree of these mixed feelings is likely correlated to TOTAllY CORRECT. NOw I said that they typically “question whether information and home visits. sensitivities over foreign vs. domestic reporting on is accurate or not by asking our elders.” Others the tensions in Rakhine State over the situation of the FEEl lIKE THEY ARE TRYINg remarked that the reliability of news depended on Rohingya. TO INCITE SOMETHINg whether both Myanmar media and international BETwEEN THE pEOplE ANd media had similar broadcasts. Only after verifying news against an additional source did respondents THE gOvERNMENT. dvB feel news was credible enough to share with others. NEwS IS AlSO INCORRECT. THEIR NEwS IS NOT ExACT ANd MAKES AN INSTIgATION BETwEEN THE pEOplE ANd THE gOvERNMENT."

rUral, ForMer conFlict area respondent, Male, age 31-45, KaW dUt Village, yay toWnsHip

28 29

PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE

MAPPING FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION FLOWS: POLITICAL NEWS MAPPING AND INFORMATION FLOWS FOR MAPPING AND INFORMATION FLOWS URBAN AND RURAL SOCIAL WELFARE NEWS FOR RELIGIOUS NEWS SUCH AS WEDDING, FUNERALS, OTHER EVENTS, NEWS IS PASSED ON BY WORD OF MOUTH

@ FAMILY MEMBERS MONKS FROM MONASTERIES PRINT LOCAL SATELLITE MOBILE (URBAN MEDIA RADIO AUTHORITY /TV PHONE INTERNET COMMUNITY AND RURAL) MEMBERS TEA SHOPS, VINYL STICKERS / LOUD SPEAKERS, LIQUOR STORES GROCERY STORES BANNERS AT PAGODA NOTICE BOARDS IN ENTRANCE, TREES DIFFERENT LOCATIONS MORE IN URBAN INFLUENTIAL AREAS, URBAN URBAN FROM ELDERLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH OFFICIALS PEOPLE, AFFLUENT AT WORK AT MONASTERY & RURAL RELATIVES AND SOME SHOP ELDERLY AND RURAL HOUSEHOLDS TO RELATIVES OWNERS RESPECTED IN RURAL AREAS IN RURAL AREAS OTHER COMMUNITY SOCIAL GATHERING YOUNG MEMBERS Word of mouth URBAN ADULTS ELDERLY, GROCERY, TEA, Word of mouth, phone FAMILY MEMBERS, LIQUOR SHOPS, SALONS, TRUSTED FRIENDS CEREMONIES, MARKETS, FRIENDLY HOME VISITS MAPPING AND MAPPING AND MAPPING AND INFORMATION FAMILY, FRIENDS INFORMATION FLOWS: INFORMATION FLOWS: FLOWS: WEATHER: FOR OTHER TRUSTED FRIENDS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS EDUCATION: ADMISSION, HEALTH: IMMUNIZATION CAMPS, FARMERS, AND IN CASE OF BIRTH REGISTRATION, MALARIA INFO, OTHER, ADVERSE CONDITIONS NRC: NEWS WORD OF MOUTH NEWS BY WORD OF MOUTH

MOBILE VILLAGE SATELLITE VILLAGE AUTHORITIES, MAPPING FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION FLOWS: COMMUNITY NEWS /PHONE AUTHORITIES /TV TOWNSHIP AUTHORITIES FOR COMMUNITY NEWS, WORD OF MOUTH IS THE PRIMARY MODE OF COMMUNICATION. HERE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ELDERLY AND SCHOOL VILLAGE MONASTICS AS KEY NODES IS APPARENT. LIKEWISE COMMUNITY LOCATIONS SUCH AS TEA SHOP AND THE MARKET ARE CRITICAL ADMIN AUTHORITIES INTERACTION POINTS. MIDWIFE FAMILY, FAMILY, TOWNSHIP / VILLAGE AUTHORITIES FRIENDS FRIENDS WARD OR VILLAGE NOTICE BOARDS, NURSE ELDERLY, OTHER PUBLIC PUBLIC TEACHERS RESPECTED PEOPLE MEETINGS DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ELDERLY, MONKS, ANNOUNCEMENT, OTHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE NEWS LOUDSPEAKERS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER, OTHERS SHARE INFO AT TEA SHOP, STUDENTS, PARENTS, SIGNBOARDS, MARKET, GROCERY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS BANNERS, LIQUOR, OTHER GROCERY, TEA, COMMUNITY MEMBERS NOTICE BOARDS, LOUDSPEAKERS GROCERY, TEA, LIQUOR SHOPS, MARKETS, PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT, LIQUOR SHOPS, HAIR SALONS, OTHER LOUDSPEAKERS MARKETS, HAIR SALONS RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY OTHER COMMUNITY OTHER FAMILY LIVING OUTSIDE AREA MEMBERS MEMBERS

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PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS ABOuT INTERNEwS CENTER ABOuT THIS REpORT uNdERSTANdINg TRuST & INFluENCE FOR INNOvATION & lEARNINg This report is the second in a series designed for multiple Building on the breadth and depth of Internews’ audiences. Part One - Research Findings (available activities and experience accumulated over 30 years at www.innovation.internews.org) presents key data of promoting independent media in more than 80 and analysis from this extensive study. This piece, Part countries around the world, the Internews Center for Two - Additional Data Analysis, provides a broader Innovation & Learning supports, captures, and shares data analysis for those audiences who are interested innovative approaches to communication through in exploring the nuances of this research further. creative research and development worldwide. MAPPING AND INFORMATION FLOW: MAPPING AND INFORMATION FLOWS: Founded in 2011, the Center strives to balance local gRApHIC dESIgN | INFOgRApHICS COMMODITY PRICES FOOTBALL MATCHES, LOTTERY NEWS expertise and global learning in support of our vision that healthy information ecosystems are a root solution VROS Design | Visual Thinking Comunicación to furthering human progress. The Center serves as MOBILE RADIO IN an open knowledge hub that develops and inspires SATELLITE PHONES URBAN AND VILLAGE FOOTBALL MOBILE TV/ collaborative investigation and experimentation. IN URBAN RURAL AUTHORITIES SCORES PHONE LOCAL TV AREAS AREAS Through a rigorous, iterative process of pilots and experimental research, the Center seeks to contribute information and tools to better understand the changing worlds of information and communications. INTERNET IN URBAN 2 AND 3 DIGIT TRADERS IN VILLAGE ELDERLY, AREA ONLY LOTTERY In the Center, we strive to deepen and enhance the links URBAN AREAS FARMERS, between existing expertise in media and the increasingly OTHER INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS diverse information worlds and research that can help address DEALERS IN the challenges of today’s dynamic information ecosystems URBAN AND RURAL AREAS/ YOUNG TEA, LIQUOR SHOPS, be they global, hyper local or somewhere between. BUSINESS MEN/ GENERATION MARKET, OTHER MIDDLEMEN IN RURAL AREAS This is far from a purely academic endeavor. Internews TEA SHOPS, FRIENDLY HOME VISITS, hopes that the Center’s activities will engage and MONASTERY, MARKET, benefit both those who work at the front lines of global GROCERY STORES ETC development and the communities they serve. FRIENDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS FRIENDS www.innovation.internews.org

INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS IN TRANSITION: A CASE STUDY FROM MYANMAR HOW TO INFORM, EMPOWER, AND IMPACT COMMUNITIES

PART TWO: ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS