2003: A Year Thai Media was Reined In

Source: Thai Journalists Association
December 30, 2003

Thai Journalists Association (TJA) declared Year 2003: a year Thai media was reined in. Having to succumb to Thaksin government associates’ advertisement pressure and subtle and systematic interference in media mechanism, the media resorted to self-censorship and restrained itself from being critical of the government.

The annual summary of Thai media situation for this past year was released on 28 December.

TJA found that the withdrawal of advertisement in newspapers by business associates of powerful figures in the government was intensified to quell government’s critiques.

The budget for government agencies’ public relations has also been increasingly used to reward media that reported in favor of the government. “This is considered a violation of Article 39 of the constitution which bans from giving money or assets to support print or private media”, said the TJA report.

Moreover, a critical and balance reporting was discouraged by the fact that news sources themselves refrained from giving information or being critical of the government performance for fear of losing their jobs. This gives the government a leeway to “monopolize public opinion”, it said.

TJA said government has taken a firm rein on media by targeting media mechanism, the strategy of which was more subtle and difficult to understand. This was the case when news broke out that cousins of secretary general of ruling Thai Rak Thai Suriya Jueng-rung-ruerng-kij bought about 20 Percent of the Nation Group’s shares.

“Despite their denial of interference in the media’s administration, this move inevitably demoralized staffs and affected their works,” the report said.

The situation was much worse in broadcast sector. Not only that the government failed to push for the broadcast media reform as prescribed in the Article 40 of the constitution, it also resorted to the same old tactic of withdrawing or terminating private enterprises’ operating licenses to tame the critical broadcasting.

Six years have passed since the constitution ushered the legal process that will end state monopoly of broadcast sector. But all most all radio and television stations remained under state’s control. In reversal to the media reform, a group of MPs in the government’s wing tried to submit a broadcast council bill to allow state control over the broadcast media. Luckily, after long debate in the parliament and strong objection from media professionals and media lectures, the bill was toppled.

In media’s ethical and professional standards, TJA concluded that while the media performed better jobs in being social watchdog in several cases related to government’s public policy and social injustice. However there were still a limited number of investigative reporting that required both newspapers’ resource support and reporters’ own determination.

Media was also criticized for being used by news source because of excessive competition among itself. They were fed with whatever information given by the sources without being selective or evaluating the news worthiness.

In conclusion, TJA said the government used gradual but subtle and continuous strategies to tame the media. Its aim is to ensure that the media would report in its favor in year 2004, the last year of the administration and ensure its victory in the ensuing general election.

Details of the outstanding press freedom violations are as follow:

Print Media

1. Surapong Rithee, a local reporter of Thai Rath daily newspaper and TV Channel 3 from Phuket province was shot death on February 11. This case was believed to have linked to his expose of illegal business in the province.
2. A senior security officer harassed a female reporter who is part of press entourage to cover the cabinet meeting in the provinces of Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani in May
3. A close aide of former government’s spokesman threatened Matichon newspaper’s reporter for unfavorable reporting

Overall, the threat against press freedom generally decreased. There was other case where the media was killed over conflicts of interests.

Broadcast Media

1. State-owned radio stations refused to renew license of independent news producers. One station owner refused to renew license of INN news corporation to operate Ruam Duay Chuey Khan, a Bangkok live community radio program in FM 96.0 MHz. Succumbed to public pressure, it later gave INN an extension of license for one year.

This unscrupulous use of fragile contract as a bargaining chip to qualm critical programs against the government has forced business companies which want to renew the contract to self-censor their programs and contents.

2. State-own radio stations in particularly in provinces were forced to air “Prime Minister Meets the people”, the Saturday morning talk program. This limited the free choice of audience in provinces to consume news and radio programs.

Media breaches of ethical and professional standards

1. Improper exposure of victims’ identity (disclosure of faces, names and address or identity cards) in newspapers and television were still rampant, especially when victim were children and women (trampling on their rights and dignity).
2. Newspapers’ expose of video cassette recording a sexual intercourse of socialites ( a breach of the right to privacy)
3. The use of abusive and improper heading. The wordings were sometimes improperly used that they were meant as if judgement was already passed on people in the news.
4. The morning radio and television programs that feature “What newspapers Today say” often fumbled when anchors added their comments on issues they were not familiar with. This many times caused confusion among the public on who to believe
5. Competition among newborn entertainment newspapers forced them to find scoops that infringed upon the right to privacy of movie stars.

Distributed by Southeast Asian Alliance. For further information, please contact Chavarong Limpattamapanee adviser to Thai Journalist Association at www.reporter.inet.co.th or telephone 66-2-6689422