Thailand: Media Outlets Resist Govt Role In Reform

5 July 2010

Media professionals agree on the need to reform their industry but say the government should step aside and allow news organisations and an independent regulator to handle it.

Worawit Sri-anantaraksa, the news editor at the Daily News paper, said there was no need for the government to be involved in media reform as outlets could make their own improvements to maintain their audience. Reform is proposed as part of the government's national reconciliation effort.

"Whenever media reforms are proposed, they seem to benefit those in power," Mr Worawit told a discussion held by internet channel Voice TV on Saturday.

Voice TV is operated by Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Pravit Rojanaphruk, a senior reporter with The Nation newspaper, said the government could help reform the media by ending its control of television channels 5, 7, and 11.

There was only a handful of countries where the military controls more than one channel, he said.

Mr Pravit said media outlets that have instigated violence should be subjected to legal proceedings instead of being closed. He said the proposed media reforms are an attempt by the government to buy time.

Wasant Paileeklee, deputy director of Thai Public Broadcasting Service, called for an independent body to regulate the media.

Acha Suwannapakpraek, an adviser to a news editor at Channel 3, said he pinned his hopes on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission. The bill setting it up is before a parliamentary committee made up of members from the two houses.

Source: Bangkok Post