Development Media Group (DMG) was founded on 9 January 2012 on the Thai-Myanmar border by a group of individuals from Arakan (Rakhine) State, including both those living inside Myanmar and former residents in exile. It was established in response to the urgent need for meaningful, independent, and professional media to serve the people of Arakan. DMG was conceived as a platform to use journalism as a tool for regional stability, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

From January to March 2012, DMG published the Development News Bulletin in Mae Sot, Thailand. This evolved into the Development Newsletter (April–June 2012), and later the Development News Journal, published monthly from 2012 to December 2013 for circulation inside and outside Myanmar.

In December 2014, the Development News Journal was officially registered in Myanmar and published twice a month from Yangon and Sittwe until September 2016, when financial constraints forced its suspension.

In January 2017, DMG shifted its focus to broadcasting with the launch of the DTV News Television programme. The Development News Journal was relaunched in March 2018, but in July 2019 its publication was again suspended due to licensing delays at the Ministry of Information.

Today, DMG operates as a leading online media outlet covering Arakan affairs as its core mission, while also reporting on issues affecting other states and ethnic nationalities in Myanmar where relevant to the broader democratic struggle, human rights, and the experiences of Arakanese people.

Our platforms:

• www.dmgburmese.com (Burmese-language news)
• www.dmediag.com (English-language news)

Editorial Policy

DMG is committed to delivering news, photos, data, and documentaries with professionalism, accuracy, and respect for media ethics.

Our newsroom avoids content that incites hatred or promotes disrespect on the basis of race, religion, politics, culture, history, or social beliefs. We emphasize conflict-sensitive journalism because of the fragile environment in Arakan and Myanmar more broadly.

We believe in truth-based and impartial journalism, holding power to account while safeguarding credibility and trust with our readers. Editorial independence is central to our work: DMG does not tolerate censorship or undue influence.

DMG focuses primarily on Arakan affairs, but also reports on developments in other ethnic nationality areas of Myanmar when they affect inter-ethnic relations, human rights, migration, displacement, or the shared democratic struggle.

By upholding these principles, DMG seeks to earn the trust of the public, constructive recognition from policymakers, and respect from the international community.

Vision

To be a free, independent, and impartial media organization dedicated to regional peace, stability, and sustainable development through comprehensive news coverage and public-interest journalism in Arakan State, while contributing to broader understanding of Myanmar’s ethnic and political landscape.

Mission

DMG’s mission is to present accurate and timely news on political, economic, environmental, and social issues in Arakan and related national contexts, while safeguarding cultural heritage and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. We believe in the power of media to inform, inspire accountability, and contribute to a society rooted in human rights, equality, and justice.

Objectives

(1)    Make information on Arakan’s issues accessible, especially those long neglected by successive governments and mainstream media.
(2)    Strengthen the role of Arakanese media in line with national and international standards.
(3)    Ensure that government institutions, Myanmar’s broader public, and the international community are aware of the concerns of the Arakanese people.
(4)    Provide timely coverage of human rights violations, humanitarian crises, and environmental risks in Arakan and other ethnic states.
(5)    Monitor and report on development projects and policies of both state and union governments.
(6)    Highlight the socio-economic struggles of vulnerable communities and provide a platform for their voices.
(7)    Help reshape international perceptions of Arakan and its people, especially regarding Muslim–Arakanese relations, to foster humanitarian support and reconciliation.
(8)    Ensure balanced reporting on sensitive issues, including intercommunal relations and Arakan’s national politics.
(9)    Promote gender inclusion in journalism and encourage women’s active participation in media and cultural development.

Plans of Action

(1)    Strengthen media capacity through training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.
(2)    Publish and broadcast across multiple formats: print, digital, video, and documentary.
(3)    Document and interpret Arakan’s cultural and historical heritage.
(4)    Raise media literacy, helping people engage with news critically and responsibly.
(5)    Organize educational programs, debates, and roundtable discussions with experts from politics, economics, society, and civil society.
(6)    Promote peace, reconciliation, and sustainable development by addressing root causes of conflict and inequality.
(7)    Build a comprehensive database on Arakan’s socio-economic, environmental, and political conditions.

DMG Motto: Without Fear, Without Favour But Public Interests!