The totalising and ubiquitous nature of media by now extends far beyond the function of delivering news and information, and has a profound effect in shaping identities, how people relate to one another and their understanding of social and political institutions. This is readily apparent in Southasia's media environment, which is marked by a variety of competing tendencies.
From Burma's military junta deciding to lift restrictions and allowing opposition and independent media to come onto the scene, to Sri Lanka's once vibrant media being curbed by covert censorship and overt violence (addressed in the print issue by contributor Tisaranee Gunasekara), Southasia's media spectrum reflects the region's rich and complex plurality and the challenges it faces.
Media in the region is marked by a profusion of negative and dominant trends, but there are diligent efforts to develop independent spaces, and a host of opportunities exist for engagement by media practitioners and consumers alike.
In this web-exclusive package, we offer you articles that complement the questions raised in our current print quarterly and further broaden this debate.