Media of Mongolia

Mongolian media interviewing the opposition Mongolian Green Party. The media has gained significant freedoms since democratic reforms initiated in the 1990s.

The media of Mongolia refers to the print, broadcast and online media in Mongolia. Since the collapse of the Soviet style system in 1990, the media has undergone large reforms which have allowed greater diversity and freedom of the press which make it one of the most free in the region. Censorship of media outlets is forbidden under the 1998 Media Freedom Law.^[1] In its 2008 report, Reporters Without Borders classified the media environment as 93rd out of 173, with 1st being most free.^[2]

The press

History

1920-1990s

Mongolian press began in 1920 with close ties to the Soviet Union under the Mongolian Communist Party, with the Unen (Truth) newspaper similar to the Soviet Pravda and Dzaluuchuudyn Unen (Young People's Truth), founded by the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Youth League in 1924; and Ulaan Od (Red Star) founded by the Ministries of Defense and Public Security following respectively in 1930.^[3] Until reforms in the 1990s, the government had strict control of the media and oversaw all publishing, in which no independent media was allowed.^[3] For 70 years, the sole source of information for the population was the state-run Mongolian National Broadcaster.^[4] The dissolution of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on Mongolia, where the one-party state grew into a mulit-party democracy, and with that, media freedoms came to the forefront.

1990s-present day

A new law on press freedom, drafted with help from international NGOs on August 28, 1998 and enacted on January 1, 1999, paved the way for media reforms.^[5] The Mongolian media currently consists of around 300 print and broadcasting outlets.^[6] The press, in all forms, carries criticism of the government and "heavy handed" police tactics during demonstrations,^[7] though journalists remain at risk of laws criminalising defamation and reporting on "state secrets".^[8] Despite laws against censorship, a small number of outlets were censored that reported on corruption of government officials,^[8] which have often led the opposition to accuse the governing Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party of using the media to ensure its success in elections.^[5] The government encourages press freedom; head of government Miyegombo Enkhbold spoke of “journalists who fight social injustice and work hard to develop a free press”.^[8] To avoid libel offenses, the independent media undergo a degree of self-censorship. Globe International, an independent media watchdog, was set up in 1999 in the capital which aims to protect media freedom and expression.^[9]

Since 2006, the media environment has been improving with the government debating a new Freedom of Information Act, and the removal of any affiliation of media outlets with the government.^[4][10] Market reforms have led to an increasing number of people working in the media year on year, along with students at journalism schools.^[4] Though reforms are continuing, the legal system offers little protection for journalists who criticise government officials.^[11] The Globe International organisation conducted a study between 2001 and 2005 which found that 60% of legal cases were lost by the media, with 10% winning and 32% settling the case.^[12] The Press Institute of Mongolia conducts and publishes the "Monitoring Mongolian Media" survey, outlining the current status of the media.^[13]

Newspapers

Further information: List of newspapers in Mongolia

The oldest newspaper is Unen, meaning truth, founded in 1920^[6] and has around 200,000 subscribers, making it one of the most read daily newspapers.^[14] The Mongol Messenger, published by the state-run Montsame, is favoured by government officials and circulated in government offices and overseas embassies, whereas private publications are widely read by expatriates and English speaking Mongolians and Western businesses.^[15] Papers and journals are also produced by political parties, the army, trade unions and by artistic, cultural, scientific and literary organisations.^[14] Given the high level of literacy rates in the country (97.8% according to 2000 census^[16]), newspaper and journal circulation is often small, though it is increasing.^[6] The population's preference to newspapers is among the highest in the world, with 68% preferring newspapers to other forms of media.^[3] As with state run television and radio, state owned papers have become privatised. Two state-owned leading dailies, Ardiin Erkh and Zasgiin Gazariin, were sold to the public in 1999 as part of the 1998 law.^[17]

Television and radio

Further information: Mongolian National Broadcaster

Under a law passed in 2005, prominent Mongolian state-run radio and television became a public service broadcaster.^[6] Radio remains the most important medium, particularly for dispersed herdsman in the countryside.^[5] There are a large number of radio stations, both national and foreign, mainly based in Ulaanbaatar. Around 115 FM and 7 AM stations were on air in 2006,^[16] including the BBC World Service, Voice of America and other foreign stations.^[6] Radio broadcasts are in Mongolian, Russian and English. Independent television has had a smaller impact compared to the former state run channel due to financial limitations, though private radio has had more success in the countryside which was once dominated by state radio.^[18] Satellite television is also growing in popularity,^[6] with 15 cable operators and up to 90 cable channels, including CNN, BBC, National Geographic and news programmes from China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea and many European countries.^[4]

Internet

The internet, established in 1995 in Mongolia,^[3] is not restricted by the government, but has yet to make a significant impact, with only 10% of the population having access to it.^[12] There were around 320,000 users in 2007 and 9 internet hosts in 2008.^[4][16] There has been steady online growth in online newspapers, magazines and advertising.^[4]

See also

• Communications in Mongolia

References

1. ^ Freedom of the Press - Mongolia (2006), UNHCR.
2. ^ 2008 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders.
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Mongolia media, Press reference.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Banerjee, I. & Logan, S. Asian Communication Handbook 2008. AMIC, 2008. ISBN 978-9814136105.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Bruun, O. & Odgaard, O. Mongolia in Transition: Old Patterns, New Challenges. Routledge, 1996. ISBN 978-0700704415.
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Country Profile: Mongolia, BBC.
7. ^ Mongolian media comment on police's "heavy-handed" handling of protesters. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, 18 November 2002.
8. ^ ^{a b c} Mongolia - Annual report 2007, Reporters Without Borders.
9. ^ Globe International Homepage
10. ^ Macrory, P. F. J., Appleton P. A. & Plummer, M. G. The World Trade Organization: Legal, Economic and Political Analysis. Springer, 2005. ISBN 978-0387226859.
11. ^ Press Freedom in Mongolia Gaining, But Needs Strengthening, America.gov, May 12, 2008.
12. ^ ^{a b} Mongolia Press Freedom, Freedom House.
13. ^ Press Institute of Mongolia
14. ^ ^{a b} Pang, G. Mongolia. Marshall Cavendish, 1999. ISBN 978-0761409540.
15. ^ Bacon, P. Escaping the Ice-Prison. Lulu.com, 2005. ISBN 978-1411648067.
16. ^ ^{a b c} Mongolia Communications, CIA World Factbook.
17. ^ Mongolian media on sale, BBC, January 28, 1999.
18. ^ Badaracco, C. Quoting God: How Media Shape Ideas About Religion And Culture. Baylor University Press, 2005. ISBN 978-1932792065.

External links

• Globe International (Ulan Bator based NGO)

News agency

• Montsame (state owned)

Newspapers in Mongolian

• Unen (Truth) (Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party daily) (Mongolian)
• Tsahim Urtuu (Mongolian)
• Unuudur (Mongolian)
• Inside Mongolia
• One World
• Daily News (private, formerly state owned Ardyn Erh) (Mongolian)
• Zuuny Medee, (private, formerly state owned Zasgiyn Gazryn Medee) (Mongolian)

Newspapers in English

• UB Post
• Mongol Messenger (published by Montsame)

Television and radio

• Mongolia National Broadcaster (public, formerly state owned)
• Ulaanbaatar Broadcasting System
• C1 (private)
• TV5 (private)
• Channel 25
• TV9 (private)
• Eagle TV
• Info radio
• New Century 107FM
• Live TVs, VoD (private)

News Websites in Mongolian

• News.mn
• Olloo
• Sonin
• SportNews

News Websites in English

• Newswire.mn
• Mongolia Web News
• News.mn