Committee to probe media boss sexual harassment allegation
THE THAI Journalists Association (TJA) yesterday resolved to set up a fact-finding committee comprising experts of various fields to probe allegations that a media executive sexually harassed one of his employees, forcing her to quit her job.
Authorised under TJA regulations, the committee was set up after more than a week of unofficial reports spread among journalists of alleged misbehaviour by the executive. The TJA has taken action as part of self-regulation efforts.
The team will have 90 days to complete its inquiries, with no less than 30 days to receive evidence from outsiders. People could also give confidential information to the committee, according to a TJA press release issued yesterday.
Those wishing to provide evidence should do so within 30 days of the committee’s first meeting. No interviews or press briefings would be provided until after the fact-finding mission is complete, it added.
While Mongkol asked the media to be cautious when circulating information, the journalists who signed the letter said that the sexual harassment allegation, if true, could bring disgrace to the media and cast their supposed duty of being a social watchdog in a negative light.
The committee will comprise secretary-general to the organisation for transparency foundation Juree Vichit-Vadakan, legal academic Jade Donavanik, former director of the Media Monitor watchdog Uajit Virojtrairatt and women’s rights advocate Supensri Puengkoksoong.
The proposal to form a committee was first mentioned on September 10 by the TJA secretary-general, Mongkol Bangprapa, who issued a statement less than an hour after a group of journalists signed an open letter urging the media organisation to set up an independent committee to probe the allegation.
Five days later, the Isra Institute, its executives and staff vowed to support the integrity of its director Prasong Lertratanawisute in relation to a sexual harassment allegation.