The first week of Myanmar’s official campaign season is coming to an end, and with it the barrage of stories related to the historic vote on November 8.
Over the past few days there has been plenty to read, but what to watch?
Although traditionally slow internet connections have made videos second tier in terms of getting fast and reliable information inside the country, speeds are picking up, making multimedia more accessible.
We found three pieces that were a little different from the run-of-the-mill news story. So hop on the hotspot or head to a bar with a steady connection. And if you are outside of the country, enjoy these pieces without all the pauses and buffering we must put up with. Click on the title of the news outlet where the piece appeared to view the original.
Title: How Myanmar’s partisan astrologers could swing an election
Where: The Guardian
Length: 10 minutes
Insiders may scoff at the headline. What, ANOTHER story about astrologers in Myanmar? But by incorporating interviews in the context of the election, the short documentary is a fresh take on an old subject. The video was made for The Guardian by Stateless Media. Like many of the company’s films, this one is slick and quick without feeling shallow.
Title: Five Things About Myanmar’s Election
Where: The Wall Street Journal
Length: 2 minutes
An explainer pieces that mixes narration with images and video to produce a short video jam-packed with information. It’s a format more popular in text but it works this way as well. The video asks and answers five basic questions that cover the main themes of the vote: What’s at stake? Why is this election different? Who’s left out? Can Aung San Suu Kyi be president? Why should the world care?
Title: Will Myanmar election be free and fair?
Where: Al-Jazeera
Length: 25 minutes
This one will take a little longer, but it’s worth the time. Al-Jazeera’s Inside Story brings Myanmar scholar and obsessive Twitter user Maung Zarni into a conversation with country specialist Gwen Robinson, editor of the Nikkei Asian Review. The two aren’t known for having similar opinions, which makes for a lengthy, interesting conversation between two longtime observers of the country, with plenty of interruptions and TV-worthy disagreements.
Photo of NLD event in Shan State on September 6, 2015 / Aung Naing Soe / Coconuts Yangon
