Media regulation bill pushed forward despite opposition
The media reform committee has insisted on pushing forward with the media regulation bill despite strong opposition by media organisations.
The commmittee' s vice chair Pisit Pao-In said on Wednesday that the committee will submit the bill to the National Reform Steering Assembly's whip early next month.
He said that the content of the bill had been adjusted already following the opposition.
However, he said that two key components of the bill – the proposed media professional council and the licensing system – must remain.
He added that the licensing of journalists should also cover media members working online.
The committee also insisted that penalties should be imposed on members of the media who fail to pass certification and registration.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the government has not yet had any feedback on the proposed bill. The government would wait until it has received the bill from the NRSA before making any feedback.
Wissanu said the bill should not go against the charter, which guarantees press freedom. Regulating the media, he added, could be done through means other than licensing.