For the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), reporting on the ongoing resistance to the military coup in Myanmar is a race against time and a battle against censorship. In a region where video footage is often impossible to obtain due to internet blackouts and security risks, maps aren’t just graphics; they are the primary visual medium for news.
We spoke with the team at DVB to learn how they transitioned from a grueling manual workflow to a streamlined, automated map-making process.
The Challenge: A 60-Minute Workflow for a 60-Second Map
Before adopting everviz, DVB relied on a complex, multi-step process to create map animations:
- Capture terrain using Google Earth Studio.
- Download and import files into Adobe After Effects.
- Manually add animations and labels.
- Export the final render.
The Bottleneck: It would take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour to create a single map. In a breaking news environment that has lasted five years, this pace was unsustainable.
The Stakes: Reporting from Exile
DVB’s mission is about more than just aesthetics; it is a vital lifeline for information in a closed society. As one of the few media outlets actively opposing the military regime, DVB operates under extreme pressure after having its license revoked by the junta in 2021.
Reporting from exile, the team must counter state-sponsored propaganda by providing verified, uncensored news to the people of Myanmar. In a landscape where the regime frequently blocks internet access and cuts electricity to hide troop movements, these maps serve as a “most trusted independent media voice,” documenting air strikes and fighting when video evidence is suppressed.
The Solution: Speed and Consistency
DVB needed a way to clearly show the audience exactly where events – such as air strikes, troop movements, or resistance fighting – were occurring.
Why everviz?
The transition to everviz replaced a heavy motion-graphics workflow with a nimble, HTML-driven one.
- Speed: Maps are now produced in a fraction of the time.
- Branding: By importing DVB’s specific brand guidelines and colors into everviz, they created templates that ensure a consistent look across TV and social media.
- Ease of Use: “It’s straightforward to create animations and has made the process for news output much quicker,” the team noted.
Mapping the Unseen
Because getting video from inside Myanmar is difficult due to regime-led internet blocks and electricity cuts, maps fill the visual void. DVB considers a map a success when it includes:
- Movement: Visualizing the routes taken by the military between towns
- Context: A mini-map for navigation
- Detail: Labels for specific towns or villages and shaded areas
- Action: Icons indicating specific activities, like fighting or air strikes.
Here is an example of the final branded output: clear icons showing conflict zones and troop movements.
The Results: Smart, Elegant and Fast
The move to everviz has transformed DVB’s output both on-air and online.
| Metric | Before everviz | With everviz |
| Production time | 30-60 minutes | Minutes |
| Workflow | Multi-software (GE Studio + After Effects) | Single-platform (everviz) |
| Consistency | Manual alignment | Template-driven |
Impact on Coverage
DVB reports that they can now use maps more widely across their output. While direct feedback from inside Myanmar is limited due to the security situation, the internal value is clear: maps are adding immense depth to news packages, and the web teams are now being encouraged to integrate them into every article.
As Aye Chan Naing, DVB Executive Director, noted during the transition:
“It’s easy. Don’t use After Effects, use everviz. And if you have trouble getting started, just ask the guys at everviz. They’ll help you.”
