Govt all set to control media in every way

PM’s Office Minister Kritsana Seehalak, who has become a Cabinet member for the first time, oversees the state-run media organisations, namely MCOT and the Public Relations Department, which operate Modernine and NBT television channels respectively in addition to several radio stations nationwide.
Kritsana appointed Wim Rungwattanajinda as her secretary. Wim, who has a background in the mass media, is a well-known figure among media professionals and recently made headlines for allegedly sending an e-mail to a figure in the ruling Pheu Thai Party in which he allegedly claimed to have bribed some reporters.
An investigation by the National Press Council found some ground to believe the claim was genuine, but the scandal ended up souring ties among several members of the organisation and Matichon, a key member, resigned in protest.
Wim, who is said to have won the trust of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has retained close ties with many journalists, particularly those covering the movements of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
“In fact, Wim was tipped to closely help with media affairs. But when he became the target of attack [after the e-mail scandal], his role was reduced due to fear of possible allegation of media intervention. So, he will not have much to do with the state media,” a Pheu Thai source, who refused to be identified, said.
Now that Wim has become a “lightning rod”, the government has to rely on other people to oversee the state media and it is believed that the job would be given to red-shirt leaders like Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan, who are also Pheu Thai MPs.
The ruling party’s strategists believe that the government should focus on a “proactive” media war in order to support the Yingluck government while warding off any attempt to discredit the administration. They agreed that Pheu Thai’s political enemies have repeatedly attacked its weak points and therefore “prompt and decisive counterattacks” through the media is needed, so that it can retain public support and make the opposition Democrat Party’s old wounds even deeper.
“Problematic” primetime shows on the NBT television channels, such as “Klai Pom” (Untying the Knots) and “Joh Khao Ron Luang Khao Luek” (Digging Deep into Hot News) which have been critical of Pheu Thai, its patriarch former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and the red shirts, will be removed.
The channel has decided that it will not be renewing airtime leases with the producers of these shows after their contract expires on October 1, because, as Kritsana explained, many viewers had complained about the programmes. She did not elaborate on the nature of these complaints.
As critics and opponents of the ruling party are being kicked out of NBT, businesses and individuals close to the ruling party and the red-shirt movement are quickly replacing them. These include Voice TV satellite-based television, which is owned by Thaksin’s son Panthongtae, a production team led by Suparat Nakboonnam from the pro-Thaksin D-Station, the red shirts’ Asia Update and Suranand Vejjajiva, who served at a PM’s Office minister in Thaksin’s government.
Kritsana, who oversees state media, dismissed criticism that the new producers had close ties with politicians in power, saying it was normal for Pheu Thai politicians to have good ties with many people.
At MCOT and Modernine, many members of the staff recently complained about what they described as unfair promotions of people who supported this government. People close to members of the ruling party have taken over as news editors, and even MCOT director, Thanawat Wansom, faces the threat of removal.
It appears the state media – funded by the taxpayer’s money – is being used by politicians in power for their own benefit as the public interest continues being ignored.