On a quiet February morning in Naypyidaw, as physical education teacher Khing Hnin Wai danced to upbeat music, her video captured a grim tableau unfolding behind her: a convoy of military vehicles speeding towards Myanmar’s parliament to initiate a coup d'état. It was the first inadvertent act of citizen journalism under Myanmar’s latest military uprising, but has by no means been the last.

Since that day, Myanmar has been a nation in upheaval. The military's crackdown on the media has been ruthless and systematic, leading to the arrest of over 200 journalists, with more tortured or killed.

"Many senior journalists quit their profession, as the profession has become life-threatening," said Ye Ni, editor-in-chief of the Irrawaddy Burmese, illustrating the dire circumstances that have forced professional journalists to either leave the field or operate from the shadows. With the formal press cornered by military threats, citizen journalists – often untrained in traditional journalism – have emerged as pivotal figures in the ongoing struggle for truth.

These citizen journalists operate under constant threat, adopting pseudonyms and encrypted communications to evade detection by a regime that has weaponised information. Their contributions are often the only glimpses the outside world – and their fellow citizens – get into the junta’s brutal crackdowns.

"Every media house has to use them," said Ye Ni. Citizen journalists provide a flow of information that is vital not only for keeping the international community informed but also for aiding local resistance and advocacy efforts.

But the shift to citizen journalism has necessitated a new form of newsroom operation, one that is highly mobile and flexible but fraught with challenges.

Tharlon Zaung Htet, founder of the online news outlet Khit Thit, described the operational shifts: "We are reporting and telling people the story of our country. I believe that journalism should not be constrained by the situation," highlighting the adaptive strategies employed to continue reporting amidst severe restrictions.

"We have to continue our job: reporting on crimes against humanity and human rights violations in our country," explained Aung Kyaw, who has been actively training a new generation of citizen journalists from exile. This training is crucial, as many citizen journalists come to the role with little to no background in journalism, learning on the job under some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.

A case study: GT’s story

GT, a 19-year-old civil engineering student, saw his world turn upside down when the coup unfolded. He initially participated in peaceful protests and later became a communications officer for the People's Defense Forces (PDF).

To use his time efficiently, he signed up for online training, arranged by two local media houses, The 74 media and Than Lwin Khet.

There were 10 trainees in GT’s group and they are still active in the revolution. The training included finding news angles, interviewing and filing stories, as well as news photography.

GT has a keen and enthusiastic character. "I am not new to journalism," he stated, having attended a journalism short course in high school. But he was surprised when editors decided his first stories, which covered combat casualties and internally displaced persons due to a military incursion, were good enough to publish. He recalled, "It was remarkable. I wrote three stories that day."

Initially, he received no payment but later negotiated a fee and earned 200,000 kyats (approximately $70 USD) per month, agreeing to do long-form stories in addition to breaking news in his region.

He has covered stories related to Sagaing region for several local media outlets, and he has now become more selective on news outlets he works with, based on the experiences he gained within his first months dealing with editors.

Before he sent articles for Myanmar Now, and several other local media houses. He doesn’t work for Myanmar Now anymore, as he said they ask too many follow-up questions. Other media houses have editorial rules and policies which are tiring, he said. The "tiring rules" include sticking to formal writing styles, wordings to avoid, and when editors ask too many follow-up questions to verify. "I have other tasks as an officer in the PDF."

GT admitted he sometimes used his own feelings and experiences of an event, but presented them as a quote from a villager, witness, information officer, or a soldier on the ground. When asked if that was in line with his citizen journalist training, he asserted, "I am in the middle of a war zone; I am witnessing it. I just write what I want to say sometimes."

New challenges and threats

Despite their critical role, citizen journalists often work without adequate compensation, legal protection, or access to funding. Many rely on sporadic and insufficient payments that do not reflect the risks they undertake. International donors and media outlets frequently hesitate to fund citizen journalists directly, fearing that financial support might encourage them to take undue risks.

This lack of systematic support puts citizen journalists in a precarious position, where they have to balance the urgent need to report against their personal safety and financial security. "The junta's crackdown has made funding even scarcer, and without proper support, citizen journalists are exposed to greater dangers," remarked a trainer involved in citizen journalist education.

Moreover, the absence of a structured support system means citizen journalists often lack essential resources like safe houses or legal aid, making their work incredibly risky. As a result, many operate without the necessary safety nets that professional journalists might have, which not only endangers them but also compromises the quality and reliability of the news they produce.

"Journalism’s power builds on trust. Not only from those who support us but also from non-supporters. Without respect and trust, journalism will not be powerful," a former Myanmar Now editor said, highlighting the importance of establishing a sustainable support system for citizen journalists to ensure they can continue their work without compromising journalistic standards or their safety.

In the full project, available below in PDF form, I explore four key themes and six citizen journalists case studies pieced together from conversations with over 35 journalists, editors, and media experts during my fellowship at the Reuters Institute.

Recommendations

It is important to acknowledge that numerous citizen journalists have lost their lives or ended up in jail for their work. One example is Khant Thiha (aka) Spider, an 18-year-old student, originally from Yangon. He had started the coup by covering protests in Yangon, but then had to move when his identity was revealed. He was fatally shot in a battle in Sagaing region, Central Myanmar.

During an interview with Myanmar Now, his girlfriend recalled his dream of one day setting up a gallery to exhibit his post-revolution photographs, and to use the proceeds to assist displaced people. There are thousands of young people whose memories and aspirations will now fade away – so many lives, opportunities and potential lost under the coup.

While the challenges facing the media in Myanmar are extreme, the junta’s relentless attempts to dismantle press freedom have failed.

A new generation of people committed to ensuring reporting of information has emerged under the exiled media landscape in Myanmar. These new citizen journalists have emerged in the country to take on a wide array of roles, including on-the-ground semi-professional reporters for exiled media houses. As such, citizen journalists have a key role to play in ensuring people’s right to access information. This is a constituency characterised by bravery and duty, and which urgently needs increased support in terms of capacity building and sustainable remuneration.

People interviewed for this project were unanimous in their view that citizen journalists will not be disappearing from the Myanmar media landscape any time soon. The situation will only change if the country can restore rule of law and press freedom. Media houses and trainers are, however, uncertain about funding due to donor fatigue, loss of revenue and a policy by some international media organisations of not paying for content.

Citizen journalists are in need of urgent support, ranging from emergency budgets for safehouses and relocation, to legal and mental health support.

Employment protections and rights should be hard-coded into organisational HR policies and documentation. For example, citizen journalists and journalists should be aware of their basic rights, and should receive fair treatment. International donors should conduct due diligence to ensure employment contracts and HR practices are fair. There should be a clear whistle-blowing mechanism to donors.

Resources are also required for continued journalist training. This includes teaching journalism principles, ethics, best practices for reporting, physical, mental, and digital safety, how to cover human rights violations and war. This is important for maintaining news quality and long-term sustainability.