Thaksin Sets Off Weekly Meet With Press

[george]

Back on topic ...

Public shows a red card to premier’s press signs

BANGKOK: -- Most residents of greater Bangkok are unimpressed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s new method for rating questions from media representatives, which he unveiled during his weekly formal “Meet the Press” session on Thursday.

In a weekend poll, 61 per cent said they disagreed with the premier’s decision to raise hand-held signs to indicate whether questions were “constructive” or not.

According to Assumption University’s Abac Poll, almost 28 per cent said they approved of the use of the signs, while the remaining 11 per cent expressed no comment.

More than 58 per cent of those surveyed said the signs themselves were not “constructive” in terms of the effect they had on the already strained relationship between the government and the media. Another 30 per cent said they viewed the move as “constructive” and the remaining 12 per cent offered no comment.

The survey was conducted on 1,157 people in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, 55 per cent women and 45 per cent men, on Friday and Saturday.

Of the respondents, 67 per cent said they were generally satisfied with the media’s performance and with the questions raised. Another 23 per cent said they were unhappy with the media’s performance and the remainder offered no comment.

Of the weekly press meetings with the prime minister, 73 per cent said they thought it was a good idea, while 19 per cent disagreed. More than 71 per cent of the respondents said they believed the weekly meetings would be beneficial if the format of the sessions improved, while 17 per cent of them saw no possible benefits from such meetings.

Almost 63 per cent of the respondents said Thaksin should have answered the questions about southern violence, which he deemed “not constructive”. Another 30 per cent agreed with his decision.

Thaksin later described his question-rating stunt as a light-hearted way to deal with the otherwise stressful atmosphere.

This week’s formal press conference at Government House has been cancelled because Thaksin is on an overseas trip.

--The Nation 2005-08-29

[Scott]

I don't understand why Mr. T regards the relationship as "stressful". Surely in all countries with a degree of press freedom, questions will be hard-hitting and controversial. That doesn't imply non-constructive.

Government's have large bureacracies to deal with the press. It is a little scary that this guy finds them so stressful.

[Sangsom]

I don't understand why Mr. T regards the relationship as "stressful".  Surely in all countries with a degree of press freedom, questions will be hard-hitting and controversial.  That doesn't imply non-constructive. 

Government's have large bureacracies to deal with the press.  It is a little scary that this guy finds them so stressful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it is not so difficult to understand Thaksin 's fears. What this man says and actually does are two different things. More over what his real aims are is even more a secret. Freely posed questions might bring him in an awkward position. He does not know the questions before hand, he cannot prepare!

When in my country the monarch or members of the royal family give an "interview" they know exactly what is going to be asked. Anything they don't want to talk about is eliminated before hand. This is not the case with politicians, they must at all times be prepared to answer and to explain their actions! There lies the problem for a man who definately has a hidden agenda!

[Jai Dee]

THE THAI MEDIA HAVE BEEN URGED TO SPEAK MORE AT THE “PRIME MINISTER MEETS THE PRESS” MEETING

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has indicated that he is prepared to welcome all comments in the democratic way, but he would rather reserve his rights to comment on some opinions were expressed unconstructively.

Talking about his first “Prime Minister Meets the Press” session held last Thursday, during which he showed an X sign to indicate unconstructive questions, Mr. Thaksin said unconstructive comments are acceptable in democracy. However, it was time Thai people joined hands in creating a civilized society by doing things constructively. He added that the X sign was introduced only to tone down the tense atmosphere during the press conference.

He noted that most of the questions on Thursday were filed by foreign news agencies and were thus “narrowed” to only the situation in the three southernmost provinces. He said he would rather open more chances for Thai media representatives to ask about other interesting aspects, as the country has undergone much development in economy, finance, stability, politics and social issues.

He urged the mass media to provide useful information to people to enable the latter to decide how they should act and prepare themselves.

The Prime Minister called on media representatives to prepare their questions well for the next “Prime Minister Meets the Press” which will be held in the week after this coming Thursday when he visits Japan.

Source: thaisnews.com

[Plus+]

The Prime Minister called on media representatives to prepare their questions well for the next “Prime Minister Meets the Press” which will be held in the week after this coming Thursday when he visits Japan.

Getting lazy - why doens't he simply distribute a list of constructive questions before the press conference?

[george]

PM backs down after press conference gag backfire

BANGKOK: -- Following an outcry from media and press freedom advocates who criticized the move during the first PM's media debut as inappropriate, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's next press conference will not use gameshow stunts

Government Spokesman Dr. Surapong Suebwonglee said today that the next "Meet The Press" session has been scheduled for September 8 with better organised arrangements after his team forwarded various comments related to the previous session to the prime minister.

"The prime minister has acknowledged that all feedback and comment is needed to take into account for improvement," said Dr Surapong. "The blue cross sign for 'a non-constructive' question and a red circle sign for a 'constructive' question, which the premier said was meant for fun and to reduce tension, may not be used next time."

The move angered press freedom advocates and some journalists, who viewed the gesture as inappropriate in a forum where reporters should be free to ask questions that serve the public interest.

The government spokesman said that next session's questions will be categorized into political, economic and security issues to facilitate consistency and ensure that essential information will get across through clear-cut explanations rather than using the old format that allows reporters to ask any questions that often jump from one issue to another issue which may be apparently unrelated.

Dr.Surapong said each category will be allocated 15 minutes for questions and answers. Interpreters and earphones will be provided for foreign correspondents. Further questions will be allowed to be raised in any issue of concern after the given timeslot.

Meanwhile, Chart Thai party-list MP Chuwit Kamolvisit urged the premier to follow the example of British prime minister Tony Blair's style of delivering statements, which he praised as rational and principle-based.

--TNA 2005-08-29

[Sphere]

Meanwhile, Chart Thai party-list MPChuwit Kamolvisit urged the premier to follow the example of British prime minister Tony Blair's style of delivering statements, which he praised as rational and principle-based.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He should know!

Edited August 30, 2005 by Sphere

[udon]

Toxin still refuses to go one-on-one with outside TV journos, he feels that squirming on camera would not go down well with educated viewers

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THAILAND: Fresh flak for Thaksin over 'japes'

Media and democracy advocates lambast PM for lacking 'respect for press freedom'

The Bangkok Post

Monday, August 29, 2005

By Anjira Assavanonda

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Meet the Press session yesterday continued to draw fire from media and democracy advocates who criticised his "lack of respect for press freedom''.

They said Mr Thaksin's attempt to rate each question posed by journalists as "constructive'' or "unconstructive'' was a way of ridiculing and discrediting the press. Mr Thaksin said earlier he was just trying to lighten the atmosphere by flashing a sign with either a blue cross for questions he deemed inappropriate or one with a red circle for "appropriate'' questions.

Ubonrat Siriyuwasak, president of the Campaign for Popular Media Reform, said this was apparently intended to prevent journalists from asking tough questions or voicing their opinions, which went against the principles of the constitution.

Lara Hook of the International Federation of Journalists said the prime minister had the right to answer or not answer any question, but his strategy to determine the constructiveness of each question only served to ridicule and discredit the press.

"It's actually up to the journalists to decide if the question is constructive or not. Don't let him ridicule you or force you to ask the questions he likes. Asking constructive questions out of concern for the readers is the duty of the press.''

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said the press conference was a good idea but turned out to be bad in practice.

He said the use of the cards to evaluate the questions devalued important issues that the prime minister should have communicated to the public. He said if Mr Thaksin did not end the practice, journalists should respond in the same way by flashing a sign to let him know if his answer was constructive or not.

Media groups criticised the government's infringement on press freedom. One issue of concern was the closure of community radio stations charged with operating illegally, and the authorisation of the Public Relations Department to control community radio.

Media advocates also raised concerns over the multi-billion-baht lawsuit filed against the Bangkok Post for its mistake in publishing the story about cracks on runways at Suvarnabhumi Airport, despite its retraction of the story and the resignation of a news editor.

Media reform advocate Supinya Klangnarong said it was not fair for journalists who made one mistake and had already offered an apology on the newspaper's front page to still be pressured to sacrifice their futures, while no cabinet members had ever shown responsibility for their alleged mistakes or corruption.

Meanwhile, the Press Council of Thailand has called on the Thai Journalists' Association to find ways to counter the problem of the government slapping enormously expensive libel lawsuits against newspapers as though to gag them.

Chavarong Limpattamapanee, the council's secretary-general, said the council meeting this month put forth its concern about the jump in the number of libel lawsuits which the government filed against various newspapers. He said it was in the best interests of press freedom to try to find out if the suits were resorted to as a legal defence or a tactic to subdue media freedom. The Thai Journalists Association should discuss the issue and establish a clear stand, he said. The council would extend its full support to the stand made.

Date Posted: 8/29/2005

See also http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=29055