“Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 10 Overview”,
published by MoeMaKa on May 11, 2025*:
How Much Trust Does the Public Place in News Outlets?
Less than two months into President Trump’s new term, he signed an order on March 15 to suspend funding for several publicly funded media services, including VOA (Voice of America), RFA (Radio Free Asia), and RFE/Radio Liberty.
VOA staff, who are U.S. federal employees, were not immediately laid off, but RFA, which is funded by Congress but operates independently, had to suspend operations and stop paying staff salaries. This decision has since escalated into a complete shutdown order.
After nearly 30 years of broadcasting, the RFA Burmese Service, launched in the late 1990s, has now ceased operations.
Impact on Burmese Audiences
RFA was created with the mission of serving audiences in countries under authoritarian regimes and lacking press freedom. Now, its sudden closure raises serious questions about how audiences in those countries—like Myanmar—perceive this decision.
In Myanmar, RFA Burmese had a large audience who accessed its content via radio, satellite TV, and the internet. Alongside VOA Burmese and BBC Burmese, it was one of only a few foreign-based outlets broadcasting uncensored news via radio.
Now that RFA and VOA have been suspended, the choice of daily news sources for Burmese audiences has shrunk significantly. Two of the few outlets offering varied perspectives on nationwide events are gone, which is a substantial loss.
Public Reaction on Social Media
What surprised many was that Facebook users in Myanmar responded to the shutdown with comments expressing satisfaction and even celebration.
Although Facebook users don’t represent the whole population, they do reflect a significant share of online news consumers. Some comments came from junta supporters who view outlets like RFA as being anti-nationalist or pro-resistance. Ironically, many of them were regular RFA listeners or readers themselves.
But not all celebratory commenters were junta sympathizers. Some self-identified opponents of the military also criticized RFA for bias, tone, and use of terminology—particularly in reference to the Rohingya.
Longstanding Tensions Over Media Framing
During the 2012–2017 period, when Myanmar’s military campaign against the Rohingya escalated, many nationalists objected to media outlets—especially RFA, VOA, and BBC—using the term “Rohingya” instead of “Bengali”, which was more commonly used by local publications and weekly journals at the time.
That tension continues to influence public trust in foreign-funded media, especially when audiences feel their ethnic or national identity is misrepresented.
Criticism of Media Accountability
Beyond political bias, some criticisms stem from errors, incomplete reporting, or perceived arrogance. Many Burmese audience members feel that:
-
News organizations rarely correct mistakes
-
Editorial staff do not acknowledge errors
-
Audiences are ignored when pointing out inaccuracies
This lack of transparency has undermined trust among segments of the public.
Suspicion Over “Independent” Media
Many people are also confused about the concept of independent media receiving foreign government funding. Even though public service broadcasters (like NPR and PBS in the U.S.) legally operate with editorial independence, the idea that a government-funded outlet can be truly “free” is hard to grasp for Myanmar audiences—especially without clear public education from the outlets themselves.
The core issue is this: without transparency about funding sources, editorial policies, and values like gender rights, minority rights, and human rights, the public remains unsure whether the news is serving truth or foreign interests.
Wider Global Context
The Trump administration’s threats to cut funding from NPR and PBS, along with its emphasis on military spending and trade wars, highlight a global retreat from public-interest journalism.
For U.S. audiences, local public radio is often seen as a neutral, trusted source. For Burmese audiences, such familiarity—and trust—has not yet taken root, especially when content intersects with sensitive identity issues.
Final Thoughts
In today’s Myanmar, audiences continue to consume news while also holding deep skepticism toward the media. This duality—of listening, but not fully trusting—is a defining characteristic of the media landscape.
For any media organization to thrive in this environment, it must go beyond just reporting. It must be transparent, humble, and engage meaningfully with its audience, especially in politically and emotionally charged contexts.