We don’t usually advertise jobs on New Mandala but this unusual vacancy, at the major English-language newspaper in Burma, will probably be of interest to a good number of readers.
A former member of staff at The Myanmar Times wrote a book about his experiences in Burma which is reviewed here by David Mathieson. Anybody looking to take this job would be wise to read the book and the review.
Anyway, the details are:
Sub Editor, Timeout, The Myanmar Times, Myanmar Consolidated Media, Myanmar, Southeast Asia
Myanmar Consolidated Media is the publisher of two national weekly newspapers with a staff of more than 300. The company, an Australian-Myanmar joint venture, is in its eighth year of operations and is the largest private media company in Myanmar.The Myanmar Times (http://www.mmtimes.com) is published in both English and Myanmar (Burmese) and are leading publications with a readership in excess of 250,000 weekly, but operate under censorship in a challenging media environment. Approximately 60 journalists work in the newsroom, including five expatriates.
The Myanmar Times English edition runs from 44 to 72 pages and is likely to expand in the future. The newspaper is currently seeking an expatriate, native-English speaking subeditor to complement our growing staff.
JOB DESCRIPTION: The subeditor will manage, edit and layout our ‘Timeout’ arts and entertainment section (8 pages), Page 2 (trivia and opinion), Science & Health page and two Travel pages every week. You will work closely with the 4-6 reporters assigned to the Timeout desk, helping them with story ideas and heavily editing their English-language copy.
The subeditor will be expected to give the Timeout section a distinctive identity and be proactive about directing reporters and photographers to provide the necessarily content. You will need to help reporters flesh out and craft story ideas, provide feedback on their writing, make sure their submissions are timely and turn around copy quickly to meet our weekly deadlines.
You will also choose international entertainment-related stories and gossip briefs from the Internet, so some familiarity with the arts and international celebrities is essential.
As Timeout editor, you will be a visible face within the Yangon community and be required to attend numerous social and formal events as a representative of the paper.
The subeditor will also be expected to research and write stories for Timeout as time permits.
Start date: no later than 26 November 2007.
The offer includes:
- USD1200/month net to start, to be reviewed after three months
- One year contract, renewable
- Fully paid accommodation in furnished company housing
- One RT economy ticket between your nearest capital city and Yangon
- Visa costsJOB REQUIREMENTS: We are seeking a journalist and subeditor with a minimum of 2
years writing and editing experience in the newspaper industry. Knowledge of Southeast Asia and work experience in the region are highly desirable. Relevant BA or journalism degree also desirable. Supervisory experience in journalism a plus, as is a working knowledge of AP-British style.If you are confident that you wish to work in the most challenging of environments and can meet our needs in a culturally sensitive way, we would welcome your application.
Please send your CV, cover letter, two writing or editing samples and contact information for two references to:
Ross Dunkley
CEO, Editor-in-Chief
Myanmar Consolidated Media
management@myanmartimes.com.mm
5 responses so far ↓
1 Naing Ko Shwe Than // Feb 5, 2008 at 2:10 am
Ross Dunkley should be ashamed of spearheading this paper, which is the Burmese military junta’s mouthpiece to the world, thinly disguised by a veneer of international news. This paper has consistently promoted the junta’s causes, from eulogizing the business owned by the son of Khin Nyunt, to all the sickening interviews published in the paper between members of the ruling junta and the newspaper editors.
Ma Thanegi, a regular contributor to this newspaper, is reviled as a traitor. After being Aung San Suu Kyi’s closest aide, she switched sides and gushed in the Myanmar Times about how Aroma Cafe’s cup of capuccino costs only so much — but the amount she mentioned was 10 percent of the salary of then high ranking civil servants. You see, Aroma Cafe at the time was owned by Khin Nyunt’s son and his Singaporean wife.
It is hard to believe that Ross Dunkley is indeed Australian — from the same wonderful country that has recently rejected the junta’s proposal to appoint a military man as Burma’s Ambassador to Australia. Dnukley should open his eyes to the misery, the wretchedness and the hunger of our Burmese people and start writing about these instead, if he has the courage. Does he know that in 2007, people across the river from Rangoon were so poor that for one meal each day, they had to drink water drained from the boiling of rice? Not even rice gruel, but the thin water that people throw out in cooking rice. This water is collected and sold at a cheap price to the poor.
2 Awzar Thi // Feb 5, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I have not read the book but I have read the “newspaper”, and that was quite enough. Weekly Eleven should put out an English version: it would beat the pants off the Myanmar Times, as it does in Burmese. The Times: two weeks late, full of recycled government propaganda and promos for local companies disguised as articles, too many ads, substandard writing. Eleven: up to date, relevant, few ads and lots of news between the lines. Little wonder that Eleven sells out whereas the Times is still available days after publication. Ironically, to study how to publish a modern journal, the Eleven staff visited The Nation. Given the good quality and informative material they put out in difficult and dangerous conditions, they should be teaching the Bangkok media a thing or two, not vice versa.
3 Zodiacguille // Jun 30, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I am building the Natal Astrology Chart for Myanmar. And it shows that “M” is the letter key for its new step in History. “M” , I think, was as a key at the very begining of the Nation. “M” is at the begining of its own name, an the change is coming from the north, fron a location with the letter “M”. To complete the Capricorn Natal Chart.
What do I see for the future of Myanmar: a great future for a new great country with a huge chage: SLOW BUT SURE. The people are realy for the change but in peace. Wtha di I need to complet my work about Myanmar Natal Astrology Chart is: date, time, and place of the head of the country to compare the health because I see as soon as posible that this man is getting an imperceptible illness at the moment. Could you get for me those references?
Thanks a lot, Prof Guillermo CAPELLAN - Zodiac GUILLE - Argentina -
4 jud // Jul 2, 2009 at 7:05 am
I,m with you:“I shall never kneel downs under yours military boots” Salai Tin Maung Oo
He was hanged on June the26th, 1976 at the infamous Insein prison. He is the only student to be hanged by the government in Burmese political history.
5 ZodiacGuille // Jul 2, 2009 at 9:47 am
Don´t worry, his stomach is going to explote in 18 month. Two signs will be in conflict: Gemini and Aquarius. The esotherism gives back everything you get with it. Myanmar will be a great country. I don´t know who I am talking about. 2009/2010 is a period of huge changes for tha beatifull and incredible land. Remenber: Aquarius dies and Genimi comes back to Govern tha land. A new leader from a location with “M” will help Gemini. Who wants to understand mi predictions try to investigate the signs of the political heads in that country. Be well, be great, beacause the old “B” letter comes back. B is the letter for Big (English) Bon (French) Benvenutto (Italian) and so on. The future is soon to return. Bye
Zodiac Guille - Argentina
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