The Myanmar News and Periodicals Enterprise under the Burma’s Ministry of Information have invited opinions and suggestion from readers of the three main state-run daily newspapers.

According to sources in Rangoon, opinion forms were inserted into each newspaper on Friday asking for criticism and suggestions with cash prizes to be awarded to the winners.

The first prize winner will receive 300,000 kyats (US $240), second prize will receive 200,000 kyats (US $150), and third prize will receive 100,000 kyats (US $78). A consolation prize of 50,000 kyat will be awarded.

The opinion survey is aimed at improving the content and design of the leading state newspapers: two Burmese language newspapers-The Myanma Alin and The Mirror-and one English language newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar.

“This is the first time to survey the readers’ opinion,” an editor of a Rangoon-based magazine told The Irrawaddy. “Some people are interested in it. But I suspect whether they really want to listen to the readers.”

Media critics, however, say the three state-run newspapers have a lack of journalistic ethics, pointing out that they usually use photographs and stories from international media without giving credit.

According to the News and Periodicals Enterprise, the The Mirror has a circulation of more than 200,000, The Myanma Alin more than 100,000 and the The New Light of Myanmar more than 10,000.