East-West Center to Hold 2014 International Media Conference in Yangon, Myanmar
- Date: March 10-12 , 2014 -

Theme of the March 10-12 event is “Challenges of a Free Press” in Asia, the Pacific and U.S.

Press freedom faces challenges everywhere in the world -- in both open and closed societies, wealthy and developing nations, traditional media and virtual newsrooms. Longstanding challenges such as government interference and economic pressures are complicated by new media’s impact on gathering information, verifying facts and maintaining financial stability. But technology also presents creative ways of tackling old problems.

The 2014 conference will gather distinguished keynote speakers and panels of journalists from the Asia Pacific region and the United States to share insights into the challenges they face and strategies they use for newsgathering.

The conference will also include on-the-ground updates on news and media issues in the region, a wide range of practical skill-building workshops, and unique opportunities to network with hundreds of international media professionals. Special workshop sessions will feature training opportunities for journalists from emerging media environments.

For more information: Contact [email protected] or +1 808-944-7332.

Conference participants are encouraged to propose panel topics, join panels and lead workshops.

Why Yangon? Amid its ongoing political transition, Myanmar is an exciting place to explore challenges of a free press as journalists forge new ground.

The conference will be held at the centrally located Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Keynote programs and a selection of afternoon panels and workshops will include simultaneous interpretation in Burmese.

EWC Media Conferences: The only international media conference held regularly with an Asia Pacific-U.S. focus, these biennial gatherings have grown into one of the region’s most influential media events. The 2012 Seoul conferences drew more than 300 participants from 26 nations.

This is the 4th EWC International Media Conference. To view programs and media coverage of previous conferences in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Seoul, see www.EastWestCenter.org/imc2014.

Registration and travel:

Online registration will open in early July. An early registration fee of US $275 will include an opening reception, three lunches, a keynote dinner banquet, a night tour of Shwedagon Pagoda, coffee/tea breaks throughout the day, and all program materials.

Scholarships and single-day rates will be available for Myanmar residents.

Accommodations: See the list of hotels offering special conference rates. Buses will pick up and return participants staying at these hotels.

The East-West Center, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. More than 2,200 journalists have participated in EWC media programs. The EWC's Asia Pacific Center for Journalists is a premier resource for media on Asia and the Pacific, offering travel and dialogue programs for journalists, news and analysis, access to the East-West Center's specialists, and a network of 60,000 alumni throughout the region.