The 21st anniversary of the News and Periodicals Enterprise (NPE) was held Nay Pyi Taw Press House’s Bo Waziya Hall yesterday.
Union Information Minister Dr. Pe Myint delivered a speech at the ceremony. He said the three newspapers published by NPE are valuable to the nation and fulfil the responsibility of disseminating news and information to the public. He said they fulfil the two tasks of reporting the government’s actions to the public and sharing news of all corners of the nation to the people.
He said the state-run newspapers must continue giving knowledge and information to the readers and must be in line with the public’s will.
The Union Minister said people around the world are reading less from printed media and more from digital media. He said the improving technology allows news to be shared in real time to a vast number of places. He called for changing with the altering media landscape.
The Union Minister said the digital media sector is an unavoidable component of the modern world as the NPE works to provide the public with accurate, timely, and fair news in real time. He said printed media are restricted in spreading to the whole country and reaching out to the world but this can be overcome with digital media. He urged all news staff of the NPE to collaborate on this.
The Union Minister said NPE has launched Myanmar Digital News (MDN) and the digital newspaper needs to be based on newer technology and changed to keep itself alive. He said procedures need to be changed to ensure new technology is allowed.
The Union Minister said the Myanma Alinn, the Kyemon, and The Global New Light of Myanmar need to convert into a new form and with more content.
He said the news articles will have to be written in a different format that incorporates different perspectives. He said doing this will separate the newspapers into unique categories.
Award ceremony
The Union Minister then conferred the Myanma Alinn’s outstanding news writers award to Peinzaloak Thein Nyunt, Ye Khaung Nyunt, and Zin Oo (the Myanma Alinn).
Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun conferred the Kyemon’s outstanding reporting award on Zaw Gyi (PaNiTa), Win Naing (Kachin Myay), and Win Oo (Zayar Tine).
Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung conferred the Kyemon’s outstanding photo award on Soe Nyunt, Maung Win Kye, and Aung Min (Myaung Mya).
The Director-General of MRTV conferred the Myanma Alinn’s outstanding news article award on Min Htet Aung (Man Sub-printing House) and Shin Min. The Director-General of the Information and Public Relations Department conferred the Myanma Alinn’s outstanding news article award on Than Htike (Hlinethaya) and the Kyemon’s outstanding article award on Ko Yin Aw. The Director-General of Printing and Publishing Department conferred the Myanma Alinn’s outstanding news photo award on Chan Thar (Meikhtila) and Than Zaw Min (IPRD).
The Acting Director-General of NPE presented the outstanding civil servant awards and outstanding the best trainee awards to its recipients and conferred honorary certificates on companies who put in the highest number of advertisements.
This was followed by speeches from former Managing Director U Than Maung, Hanthawaddy U Ohn Kyaing, U Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing (Smart), and former the Kyemon Chief Editor U Myint Swe.
Next, a video on state newspapers benefitting the public was played and a lottery to commemorate the NPE’s anniversary commenced. The Union Minister, Deputy Minister and Permanent Secretary conferred the awards on the winners. They also took a documentary photo with the attendees as the ceremony came to a close.
The NPE was established as the News and Periodicals Corporation in 1972 and later changed to its current name on 1 April 1998. —MNA / (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
