Aye Chan Naing, 2017

“Come what may, regardless of who likes us or not, we will report the truth.”

“Come what may, regardless of who likes us or not, we will report the truth.” Aye Chan Naing, the co-founder and executive director of Democratic Voice of Burma, gave that answer in a 2017 interview marking the broadcaster’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Myanmar was then navigating a fragile political opening, and the interview addressed DVB’s ambition to become a public-service broadcaster. The line is memorable because it refuses a common trap: a newsroom does not become independent merely by opposing one government. It must also scrutinize political figures or movements that once appeared to be allies of press freedom.

That principle requires more than declaring neutrality. Truthful reporting is a method built from evidence, attribution, corrections, and clear distinctions between news and opinion. In a polarized environment, every finding may be interpreted as support for one faction. Editors can reduce that confusion by showing readers how a claim was verified, offering subjects a fair opportunity to respond, and identifying the limits of available evidence. Independence does not mean false balance between a documented fact and an unsupported denial. It means applying consistent standards to institutions, parties, armed groups, businesses, and the newsroom itself.

Aye Chan Naing’s career also demonstrates why broadcasting systems matter. DVB began as an exile-based service and developed television, radio, and digital reporting for audiences inside Myanmar. A public-service mission should therefore include reach, accessibility, and protection against capture by either government or private owners. Newsrooms need transparent funding rules, an editorial firewall, secure communication with field reporters, and redundant distribution when authorities restrict licenses or internet access. They should label archival images accurately and avoid presenting old footage as evidence of a new event, a risk that grows during crises.

The quotation remains relevant because political transitions rarely move in a straight line. Myanmar’s later military coup, arrests of journalists, and renewed exile for independent media made the promise harder and more urgent. Readers can test the principle by asking whether an outlet corrects its allies, verifies emotionally compelling claims, and explains what it cannot confirm. The legacy is not fearlessness alone. It is a repeatable editorial discipline that survives changes in government and public mood. Reporting the truth “regardless of who likes us” means accepting criticism while preserving records, protecting contributors, and publishing corrections that strengthen rather than weaken public trust. It also means revisiting claims when new documents emerge, labeling updates clearly, and giving audiences enough context to understand why an earlier assessment changed.