Media outlets stung by online criticism over sneaky reporting on missing girl

By The Nation

 

 

SOCIAL-MEDIA USERS have blasted news media outlets for invading the privacy of a 14-year-old girl who was reported as missing but turned out to be travelling with a much older man.
 

The collective voice of the Internet proved its might again, with many self-regulating media organisations issuing statements over the weekend demanding that their members toe the legal line and refrain from adding salt to the wounds of a young victim. 

 

“Now that you have identified her, with photos and all, will the girl still have a place to stand in the society?” Mati Bamrungkunaporn wrote on the “kendekthai” Facebook page late last week. 

 

He said he was worried for the girl, whom officials said was under stress and saying little to anyone. 

 

 

The girl was reported missing by her parents on December 27. Her name and photos were released to the public and media in the hope someone would see her. 

 

She was found unharmed on Thursday, but some media outlets wanted more details. Reporters went to the extreme of sifting through the garbage bin at her place in search of clues. The revelation upset many people following the story online. 

 

Prasith Thawornpisarn said on the “takekidswithus” Facebook page that the authorities should take legal action against media outlets that violated laws governing reporting. 

 

“Let’s set a clear standard,” he wrote. 

 

In response to the outcry, the National Press Council of Thailand, Thai Journalists Association and Online News Providers Association (SONP) issued statements reminding their members to strictly adhere to ethics and the law. 

 

SONP urged its member-outlets to delete from their online pages the girl’s name and address, the name of her school and any other reference that might give clues to her identity. It asked Google (Thailand) to help in the purge. 

 

SONP said its members should stop reporting the story in a way that could hurt the girl and her family in the long run. 

 

“Any updates to the news should only be based on information officially provided by the police,” it said. 

 

 The owner of the “takekidswithus” Facebook page, who calls herself Dr O, said everyone should treat the young teen the same way they would want themselves or their own child to be treated in such circumstances. 

 

“The girl’s rights should not be violated,” she said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362170

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-14

Very sad to hear that. Sounds like these outlets are trained by the Daily Mail UK!

If a kids goes "missing" then their name and appearance MUST be broadcast, how else would the public be able to recognize them, luckily, in this case, all is ok, it could have been much worse. Even mentioning the school is necessary as someone might have seen her leaving. What "law" has the media broken? In some countries, if a kid is reported missing, all details, including photos, are transmitted by media and public broadcast systems, eg at railway stations, electronic bill boards etc.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

SOCIAL-MEDIA USERS have blasted news media outlets for invading the privacy of a 14-year-old girl who was reported as missing but turned out to be travelling with a much older man.

thoughtful step in the right direction; holding media to account

They reason they revealed the personal details of the child, other than the public's appetite for salacious stories is that :-

 

It does not involve powerful people so they don't care.

 

When the son of a politician or police officer beats shit out of some girl in a nightclub in front of hundreds of witnesses, he doesn't get named because he is connected.

 

The power structure trumps everything here, certainly press protocol and personal privacy laws.

Abducted or abdicated because of daddy complex. Both not good. 

2 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Abducted or abdicated because of daddy complex. Both not good. 

But but, the father and the whole family got a great wai from the abductor. And maybe a promise of marriage.

3 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

If a kids goes "missing" then their name and appearance MUST be broadcast, how else would the public be able to recognize them, luckily, in this case, all is ok, it could have been much worse. Even mentioning the school is necessary as someone might have seen her leaving. What "law" has the media broken? In some countries, if a kid is reported missing, all details, including photos, are transmitted by media and public broadcast systems, eg at railway stations, electronic bill boards etc.

The article says they were still digging through her trash and stuff *after* she was found:

 

Quote

She was found unharmed on Thursday, but some media outlets wanted more details. Reporters went to the extreme of sifting through the garbage bin at her place in search of clues.

 

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Very sad to hear that. Sounds like these outlets are trained by the Daily Mail UK!

Trained, you would have more success in the training of a soi dog ...

3 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

If a kids goes "missing" then their name and appearance MUST be broadcast, how else would the public be able to recognize them, luckily, in this case, all is ok, it could have been much worse. Even mentioning the school is necessary as someone might have seen her leaving. What "law" has the media broken? In some countries, if a kid is reported missing, all details, including photos, are transmitted by media and public broadcast systems, eg at railway stations, electronic bill boards etc.

Correct, but once located is there any need to broadcast world-wide all the details of the child other than to say "has been found and returned home".

 

its a pity the reporters do not take the same actions when big fish are involved, then they simply use innuendo and stories they make up rather then going out and chasing the full story. Under age school girls are easier to do it to especially if they are not from wealthy well connected families, reporting in Thailand is pathetic at best

3 minutes ago, seajae said:

its a pity the reporters do not take the same actions when big fish are involved, then they simply use innuendo and stories they make up rather then going out and chasing the full story. Under age school girls are easier to do it to especially if they are not from wealthy well connected families, reporting in Thailand is pathetic at best

and that is a understatement at best. 

Young Girl, abducted, older man, missing for some time, in an area that young girls are traded! Does send the alarm bells off, particular when police say they know what is going on but parents worried. What would you do if you lost your 14 year old girl?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Reporters went to the extreme of sifting through the garbage bin at her place in search of clues.

I did not think Thailand had investigative reporters ????

regards worgeordie

1 hour ago, Katia said:

The article says they were still digging through her trash and stuff *after* she was found:

 

 

Media do that in many countries, this is investigative reporting... something the Thai police should also do, it is gathering evidence. Once again, what "laws" were broken?

59 minutes ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Young Girl, abducted, older man, missing for some time, in an area that young girls are traded! Does send the alarm bells off, particular when police say they know what is going on but parents worried. What would you do if you lost your 14 year old girl?

No where, in the above article does it say she was "abducted," in fact it says she was travelling in the company of an older man....

So grateful all of my youthful transgression pre-dates the internet.

4 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

No where, in the above article does it say she was "abducted," in fact it says she was travelling in the company of an older man....

read previous reports. Get educated on what's going on.

It makes me laugh (cynically) when someone in the article says: 'Only report what they police have told you'. Yeah, right! 

All the Thai police ever spew forth is lie after lie after lie. Why would one even bother to report a single word that the Thai 'police' (criminals in uniform) are saying?!