Burma has suspended a rule requiring all journalists to submit their work to censors before publication. It's the latest encouraging move in eight months of historic reforms in the country, which has been ruled by a repressive military dictatorship since 1962.

But Burma is still a long way from enjoying a free press. Many restrictions on media are still in place: there is rigorous film censorship, and as recently as June, a magazine was closed down for publishing an image of a woman's body whose death led to bloody sectarian riots. Two other magazines remain suspended. The movement of foreign journalists is strictly controlled – which has meant a near-blackout on the aftermath of the June unrest and the plight of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.

"The same people who oversaw the jailing of journalists remain in power today," Human Rights Watch has warned. "There will still be a lot of pressure on journalists to self-censor, and there is still a risk that journalists will be targeted by the authorities for probing sensitive issues."

Learn more: It's a step in the right direction, but how far? The Irrawaddy magazine, the respected journal of the Burmese reform movement, has a Q&A on what ending pre-censorship really means.

Sources: Guardian, The Irrawaddy, Democratic Voice of Burma