- Myanmar journalists face a daily struggle between survival and their professional responsibility following the 2021 coup, with many forced into exile while others remain to witness unfolding events.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) identify Myanmar as one of the world's most dangerous environments for media, characterized by arrests and the systematic dismantling of independent press.
- The "Only My Voice Left" campaign by ExileHub highlights the testimonies of these media professionals, framing their stories as acts of resistance against silence.
Journalism from Exile
- Forced to flee for their lives, journalists operate in fragmented, precarious conditions using encrypted communications and underground networks.
- Reporting from abroad involves navigating distance, constant security threats, and a lack of traditional newsroom infrastructure, relying instead on laptops, cameras, and unstable internet connections.
Reporting on the Frontlines
- Journalists like Htet remain inside active conflict zones to document realities that would otherwise disappear, facing immediate risks such as violence and surveillance.
- Proximity provides direct access to critical truths that remote reporting cannot capture, despite the extreme constraints on movement and communication.
Collaborative Resilience
- A distributed newsroom model has emerged where in-country journalists provide firsthand accounts while those in exile verify and amplify these stories for global audiences.
- Despite facing personal guilt, financial instability, and uncertain legal status, reporters remain committed to their work, emphasizing that society loses truth, accountability, and justice when the press is silenced.
- ExileHub calls for enhanced protection and sustained support for both exiled and in-country journalists to ensure that information channels remain open.