“We [reporters] from these two states and one division could not connect with one another, so we founded the [Southern Myanmar Journalist] network. We want this network to stand strong. At the forum, we discussed the difficulties facing reporters from these three regions, and how this network can help solve those difficulties. And, we came up with fourteen points from the discussion. Now, we believe we are in a situation to better be able to connect with one another,” said U Nyam Soe Lin, of the Southern Myanmar Journalists Network (SMJN).

More than 100 participants were present at the forum, including the Mon State Minister of Economics and Planning Dr. Min New Soe, as well as 80 reporters and other observers from the three regions.

U Nyan Soe Lin said that the network initially comprised of nine members and a temporary committee to lead the network. At the forum, all the journalists present unanimously agreed on the appointment of twenty-seven network members to the central committee.

Mon State journalist Ko Kyi Zaw Lwin said: “This southern [journalist] network group has to provide media training and capacity-building for reporters. We will cooperate with this training, and work to protect reporter's rights as they have requested.”

The Southern Myanmar Journalist Network (SMJN) was founded on 1st July 2013 by a group of journalists and reporters from the southern regions of Burma. Its objectives are: to provide better communications between the public, community-based and civil society organisations, and journalists; to improve the journalism skills and capacity of reporters from southern Burma; to protect reporters’ rights and responsibilities; to improve adherence to the codes and ethics of journalism; to cooperate with other media networks; to develop a media sector in the southern regions; and to train and produce new reporters.