Mass media in Mongolia

Since the collapse of the Soviet style system in 1990, the media has undergone large reforms which have allowed greater diversity and freedom of the press which make it one of the most free in the region.

[3] Mongolian press began in 1920 with close ties to the Soviet Union under the Mongolian Communist Party, with the Unen (Truth) newspaper similar to the Soviet Pravda and Dzaluuchuudyn Unen (Young People's Truth), founded by the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Youth League in 1924; and Ulaan Od (Red Star) founded by the Ministries of Defense and Public Security following respectively in 1930.

[5] The dissolution of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on Mongolia, where the one-party state grew into a multi-party democracy, and with that, media freedoms came to the forefront.

A new law on press freedom, drafted with help from international NGOs on August 28, 1998 and enacted on January 1, 1999, paved the way for media reforms.

[7] The press, in all forms, carries criticism of the government and "heavy-handed" police tactics during demonstrations,[8] though journalists remain at risk of laws criminalising defamation and reporting on "state secrets".

[16] Papers and journals are also produced by political parties, the army, trade unions and by artistic, cultural, scientific and literary organisations.

[15] Given the high level of literacy rates in the country (97.8% according to 2000 census[17]), newspaper and journal circulation is often small, though it is increasing.

Two state-owned leading dailies, Ardiin Erkh and Zasgiin Gazariin, were sold to the public in 1999 as part of the 1998 law.