Myanmar Spring Chronicle – March 4 Perspective
MoeMaKa, March 5, 2025
Is Extremist Media Dominating Myanmar and the World?
From the very beginning, Myanmar’s media landscape and journalists have largely been viewed as independent and unaffiliated entities. The public tends to distrust media outlets established with backing from the military junta, ruling entities, or political parties. While some news organizations do receive support from international NGOs and CSOs, their editorial stance remains largely independent, ensuring that they represent the voice of the Myanmar people. This is why the public continues to rely on Myanmar’s independent media.
The new generation of media that emerged from the Spring Revolution, including ethnic media outlets, also receive external support. However, they only accept aid to sustain their operations and do not compromise their editorial integrity or beliefs. Established media organizations such as DVB, Myanmar NOW, and People’s Spring continue to maintain public trust.
Meanwhile, another type of media has emerged—online content creators and influencers who rely on social media platforms. These entities attract audiences through sensationalized, repackaged news and viral content to generate advertising revenue. Some engage in revolutionary reporting, while others focus on clickbait and fabricated stories. Additionally, there are propaganda outlets aligned with the military junta, spreading misinformation, defamatory content, and extremist narratives. These groups deliberately distribute fake news and distort facts, and while their audience primarily consists of junta supporters and extremists, even ordinary citizens consume their content as entertainment. Extremist media figures like Moe Hein, Buu Let Hla Shwe, Kyaw Myo Min, and Nga Min Swe have gained significant influence in this landscape.
Historically, extremist propaganda and misinformation were unable to overpower mainstream and public-interest media. However, in today’s world, extremist media has gained significant influence. The phrase, “While falsehood travels around the world, the truth is still putting on its shoes,” has become increasingly relevant. In Myanmar’s political sphere, misinformation continues to sow distrust and division among revolutionaries and their leaders.
The global impact of extremist media is evident in the U.S. as well. For instance, false claims that immigrants in the U.S. were eating Americans’ cats and dogs significantly influenced public opinion, ultimately contributing to the election of far-right leader Donald Trump as president. Due to the spread of divisive narratives, American citizens now face oppression under the influence of figures like Trump, Elon Musk, and other right-wing billionaires. Furthermore, U.S. alliances with democratic nations have weakened as a result of these extremist influences.
Even the U.S. president’s press conferences now feature front-row seats for right-wing media outlets that actively support him, sidelining traditional mainstream journalists. When the Associated Press refused to acknowledge Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as “The American Gulf,” they were banned from White House press briefings, despite a court ruling in their favor. The White House continues to impose bureaucratic hurdles to prevent their reinstatement.
The influence of right-wing media is evident in trivial yet impactful ways. Just last week, when Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the White House in his usual military attire—appropriate for a leader actively engaged in war—far-right media outlets criticized him for not wearing a suit and tie. This attempt to stir controversy is indicative of how extremist media manufactures narratives to create divisions among global leaders.
In Myanmar, the military junta has consistently relied on its loyal media outlets since seizing power. The junta has restructured its media council to exclusively serve its interests while fostering and financially supporting pro-junta journalists and media groups. These extremist media outlets spread fabricated news and divisive content, attracting audiences who consume them as mere entertainment. This mirrors the propaganda strategies used by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime, where falsehoods were repeated until they became accepted as truth.
A closer look at Myanmar’s junta-controlled media coverage of Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Russia reveals how Russian state-controlled extremist media glorifies its leaders and allies. This serves as a stark example of how authoritarian regimes manipulate media narratives.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has started recognizing online influencers, podcasters, and social media content creators as part of the “new media” landscape. While this shift acknowledges the changing media ecosystem, it has also raised concerns about press freedom and the role of traditional journalism. Critics argue that giving preferential access to new media influencers could undermine objective, critical journalism.
In light of these developments, it is up to the public to recognize and uphold the value of responsible, transparent, and accountable journalism.