Some people never give up. Knowing the security risks, accepting moderate wages and facing demanding deadlines, dozens of independent Myanmar journalists have worked with The Irrawaddy for years, with some working for more than a decade.
Last week, The Irrawaddy handed certificates of appreciation to 21 long-serving senior team members, partners and friends to express our heartfelt gratitude for their courage for walking with us in these challenging times. We threw a modest party and a good time was enjoyed by all.
The Irrawaddy turned 30 last year; in exile, we held a celebration to mark the milestone with our staff, fellow journalists, diplomats and friends.
Over the last three decades many partners have supported us, helping to sustain our work and mission to preserve press freedom. Speaking from the heart, our team deeply appreciates their contributions.
Apart from our many supportive partners, The Irrawaddy is lucky to have some loyal friends, including veteran journalist Bertil Lintner, who has contributed many acclaimed opinion pieces to the publication. Along with Lintner, we also handed certificates of appreciation to partners and friends who have helped us make our journey.
Our team includes editors and reporters who have worked with us for more than 20 years. Among them are our Executive Editors Ye Ni and Kyaw Zwa Moe, who have taken the helm of the hectic newsrooms of the Burmese and English editions, respectively. Executive Editor Nyein Nyein, Video Team Editor Kyaw Kha, Burmese Edition Editor Yan Pai and other editors have been with the organization for more than 10 years, working tirelessly.
Likewise, The Irrawaddy’s co-founder Ko Win Thu is still with us after 30 years and remains a valuable asset. He is not a journalist but works to manage the office operation from dawn to dusk. Along with him, several admin and operational staff have contributed hugely to putting our publication at the forefront of promoting Myanmar’s press freedom for many years. These staff members fled the country along with some editors and reporters to work with us when the military staged a coup and seized our office in Yangon in 2021.
We offer them a million thanks.
Myanmar journalists cannot look forward to the prospect of senior positions with hefty pay packages—rather they face the risk of going to prison, being sent to an interrogation center, being hit with a lawsuit and even death. Our careers end simply with a title—“journalist” or “editor”—or as we proudly say in Burmese: “Thadinsar Saya.”
However, our hardcore team members continue to stick with us. We have always appreciated them. We offer our thanks to them for having made such a big impact!
