DVB, Burma's only independent broadcaster is airing a new show called 'Doh Pyay Doh Myay' / 'Our Region Our Land': a weekly roadshow through rural Myanmar. The program shows rare scenes and welcomes local audiences to voice their opinions freely. A short update on 'the making of' DVB's 1st Roadshow >
by Ole Chavannes, 11 december 2014
It had been a long unfulfilled program dream by the Democratic Voice of Burma's management, to produce a program that is travelling around the country. Only 3 years ago Burma's reforming government allowed the 22-year-old broadcaster to operate from 'within' the country. Since than the news production has increased and 3 studios opened in the main cities. But the roadshow idea was still too complicated and expensive to realise.
As a media developer, freelancing for DVB, I tried to turn the dream into a proposal and got lucky USAID was so kind to fund it. The road crew plans to drive in 5 months around the entire country, helped by 20 local Citizen Journalists (CJ). After the training in October with all of them, I fly back to my home in the Netherlands (offering online support), while the crew (multi-talented, strong and experienced reporters) hits the road >>>
Despite the terrible, terrible roads, from the first week onwards, they produce beautiful portrays. For example about how this man lost his leg due to a land mine. Already from the start the format is working: people that generally aren't reached by media, are given a voice.
The program offers unique intimate insights in rural lives that usually aren't seen on any screen. It's slow journalism, compared to common practise among news broadcasters. The crew makes 30 minutes a week. The relative long time on one location allows them to built trust first to gain deeper understanding of the real story.
The 'Roadies' (fltr): Thurain/Nay Myo Aung (photographer of these pics), Soe Thiha, Zaw Min Htut, Than Win Htut, Aung Kyaw Zaw and Phyo Nyunt Tun. Not on the road, but for contact and support: program coordinator Ye Htut Win and undersigned.
The Roadshow is made on various locations, compiled of portrays, country impressions and group discussions like this one with fishermen and women of the Inle Lake.
What's technically also worth to mention: thanks to modern technology the roadshow is uploaded to the satellite by using local internet (3G). Burma has been one of the least connected countries is the world, and is only now just slowly improving its digital infrastructure. It causes the crew every week lots of stress to find any signal, but they have managed until now (week #6 at the time of writing) wonderfully.
Interested? Watch a couple of English clips (extracted from the Burmese program) on dvbdpdm.com.