Experts lash out at attempt to muzzle media through regulatory bill

The seminar also urged the media to self-reflect and improve its sense of responsibility so to prevent the state from interfering and exploiting its shortcomings.
Representatives from the junta-appointed reform panel and legislators, meanwhile, told the media to calm down, saying the bill might be scrapped in later stages.
Celebrating World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, scores of media professionals gathered at the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) headquarters to emphasise the importance of press freedom and show a united stance against the controversial media regulatory bill, which was passed by the National Reform Steering Assembly on Monday.
Speaking at the seminar, among the activities organised by the TJA, Suthichai Yoon, a veteran journalist and a digital journalist at the Nation Multimedia Group, pointed out the bill could aim to control all the people in society, including those who used social media. He said it reflected the lack of understanding among state authorities of the changing media landscape.
“News reporters are not limited to only journalists, photographers, or editors. Anyone who is honest about facts and is ethical could be media today,” he said.
He said he had no idea how the bill should define a media professional, as it would not be appropriate to limit the definition to only those who had a communications degree.
Suthichai said the media industry had been undermined significantly by all the rules and regulations. He urged young professionals to stand firm in protecting their freedom and society.
The veteran journalist said failure in self-regulation could occur in any profession. The best solution was to let society teach a lesson to indisciplined media, and not let the government take control.
Suthichai said the media must connect with the people, not the government.
Mana Trirayapiwat, dean of the Thai Chamber University’s Faculty of Communication Arts, said that while the bill was an attempt to turn the media into a ‘lap dog’, the media should also introspect because many people in society seemed to agree with the proposed media regulation.
He said the media should review especially whether it had infringed on people’s rights and whether it had caused any trouble by its reporting of facts and the news.
Supinya Klangnarong, a former member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said that freedom came with responsibility. If it lacked freedom, the media could not be held accountable, she said.
She said the media should be given more responsibility, not be deprived of rights through legislation.
Supinya pointed out that the bill showed the state’s attempt to expand its power while undermining that of the people.
Currently, there were no checks and balance in the junta-appointed Parliament and political parties had been weakened, she said. The media was the only pillar left that could perform the scrutinising role, she said. As a result, the state felt the need to control the media, she added.
Claiming to oppose the controversial bill, Somchai Sawangkarn, a member of the National Legislative Assembly, said the bill would be subject to review as to whether it contravened the Constitution. He asked the media to calm down, saying there was a possibility the bill would be scrapped by the Cabinet.
Former journalist and politician Alongkorn Ponlaboot, now a vice president of the NRSA, said the bill sought to protect the media, not harm it.
He said if the law came into effect and resulted in media control, he would resign from his post.