Media needs improved content, supervision

Experts on the mass media agreed that changes need to be carried out as part of national reform, during a panel discussion on “Reforming the Media, Reforming Realities” at Thammasat University.

 

Prasong Lertrattanavisut, director of the Thai Press Development Foundation’s Isra Institute, said media reform should aim at satisfying the public and winning their acceptance. He added that reform should protect the people’s right to be informed, consumers’ rights, and the rights and liberties of media professionals.

 

He also called on media representatives in the National Reform Council to propose the revocation of Order No 103 by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order that threatens legal action against media that have been deemed to criticise the junta based on untrue facts. 

 

Prasong said the order would put the media at risk of being sued and would make it difficult for journalists to do their job, adding that the order contained “ambiguous content”. 

 

Seeking annulment of the NCPO order must be “the first task” for the media representatives in the reform council, he said.

 

Tham Chueasathapanasiri, of the Academic Institute of Public Media, said media groups’ scrutiny and supervision of their members could not be carried out efficiently. 

 

There were instances where some organisation members quit the groups after they were investigated for alleged wrongdoing.

 

“The media groups have become paper tigers,” Tham said, adding that some media organisations and professionals had also been found to exercise their rights and liberties overly and without responsibility.

 

He said reform of the media was necessary to improve quality, standards and credibility.

 

Poramate Minsiri, a senior executive of the Kapook.com news website, said at the panel discussion that as social media had become more popular, the mainstream media should work hard to maintain their quality and credibility. 

 

“It is wrong for the mainstream media to present news just to get as much of a following as possible, with no concern about accuracy or suitability. They should also care about consumers and society. Quality and standards should be maintained,” he said.