Press freedom should be seen as the “by-product of healthy political society”, according to an exiled journalist from Myanmar, where the crisis following the military coup, is now in its fourth month.  Near daily pro-democracy protests are being held across the country, which have been met with a crackdown by security forces. There are reports that hundreds have been killed and countless more wounded, including media workers and journalists.

Just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, Julia Dean from the UN Country Team in Australia, spoke to Swe Win, Editor-in-Chief of the news agency Myanmar Now. She started by asking him how vital press freedom is for democracy.

This post was originally published on Radio Free.