Single standard needed as Thai media threatens ethical suicide

On that Thursday afternoon, a university lecturer struggled over his next step after having reportedly killed two fellow academics. He seemed torn between surrendering to police surrounding his hideout in the heart of Bangkok, and taking a more drastic option. After almost six hours of negotiations, during which the gun in his hand was frequently lifted to his temple, the lecturer made the latter choice and ended his life with a single shot.

During those hours of teetering between life and death, the public learned not only the story behind his crime – curriculum fraud and unfair treatment – but also of the depths that Thai media were willing to sink to.

Several television channels cleared their schedules to cover the drama live. The graphic nature of the coverage prompted the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to issue an urgent and unprecedented notice, demanding that the outlets abide by broadcasting law and cease telecasting the scenes of heightened threat and impending deadly violence.

There has been less focus on the fact that the coverage was yet another gross intrusion by the Thai media into the personal arena and, as such, violated not just the law but also journalistic ethical standards.

The drama’s denouement was mercifully off-camera, but a TV crew at the scene was caught on tape muttering, “Damn, we missed the shot!”

The legal ramifications along with the public resentment that immediately flooded the social media prompted some media organisations to call emergency meetings in a bid to stave off criticism and tighten codes of conduct. 

The five major media organisations, including the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, proposed during a meeting that the joint standard for news reporting they had drafted be used for their future operations. 

Meanwhile, the NBTC is working on forging a similar code for TV operators.

There’s no denying that the live broadcast of last week’s suicide drama saw Thai media plunge to a new depth of sordid sensationalism that has damaged their credibility in the eyes of the public. That credibility now desperately needs to be shored up if public faith in the media is to be restored.

This is hardly the first time that Thai media have crossed the line. Widespread dismay and disgust caused by the media’s invasion of privacy in its coverage of the funeral of a young star recently has still not been addressed. 

Last week’s violation should be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

With some media outlets apparently in ethical free-fall, we can no longer afford to stand by and wait for them to self-correct. The collective media conscience must step in and press for the new standard of journalistic behaviour to be applied in order to safeguard public order and peace.

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