Phuket Opinion: Journalistic Ethics Cannot Be Digitized

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Journalistic ethics cannot be digitized

Phuket Gazette –

'Digital-only' distribution of news has brought many benefits to 'journalists' – and a host of new risks and challenges for readers.

PHUKET: One memorable scene from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is the moment when Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal that the “mighty and all-powerful Oz” is no more than an ordinary man who, by circumstances beyond his control, finds himself thrust into a position of power that he never sought or wanted.

This revelation may come as an unwanted plot twist by young viewers, but for some of us in the media the situation in which the “Wizard” finds himself holds some striking parallels to our own work.

Few industries have been more transformed by digital information, social networking and other advances in communication technology than the media. While blogs, readers’ forums and other new avenues of expression have changed the way information can be propagated, new levels of “information literacy” are needed to separate the digital wheat from the chaff.

Information consumers who fail to understand this are the first to be preyed upon by conspiracists, spammers, phishers, charlatans and other opportunists of similar ilk.

With all this in mind, representatives of the Phuket Gazette editorial team recently visited Provincial Hall for an official reminder of the importance of our respective roles in how Phuket is perceived abroad. Other media 'outlets' were also in attendance.

To mark the occasion, the Gazette would like to state for the record our ongoing commitment both to Phuket and to a high standard of journalistic ethics.

No other English-language media organization is more heavily invested in Phuket. As a fully-licensed newspaper with national hard-copy distribution, and a full-time staff of 54, we are proud of the positive role we have played in the island’s development since our establishment 20 years ago. We have prospered, but we feel we have also given back at least our fair share to the community in terms of sponsorship of almost all of the island’s important events, and in raising and donating significant sums of money for charitable causes.

In short, the Gazette has little to gain, and much to lose, by presenting the island as riddled with problems, or by sensationalizing stories so as to attract readers at the expense of the Phuket’s image.

Unlike blogs and other ‘new media’ disseminating "News" in Thailand, the mainstream media here – newspapers, magazines and television – all require licensed editors who are qualified and who personally ‘sign on the dotted line’ to take responsibility for their ethics and practices. The Gazette is proud to confirm that not one of our editors has ever been called to task by any government office for a breach of ethics (or violation of law).

And we are equally proud of our record in not shying away from crime or high-risk stories, and of presenting the news as accurately as possible. When big stories happen and speed (glory) and accuracy (professionalism) enter the fray, we do not allow the former to trump the latter.

Nor do we 'grandstand' by injecting our opinions into news stories or the readers comments section below those stories. Other than in our editorial pages or opinion pieces expressly labeled as such, we reserve formation and expression of opinion for our readers.

Unlike the Wizard of Oz, we recognize the futility of trying to build impressions of moral superiority through grandiose assertions about our journalistic ethics. We prefer to let our record do the marketing in that regard.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16421.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-07-15

[KarenBravo]

Well........we all know which "media outlet" that was aimed at.

Maybe if they didn't get consistently beaten on the head-lines and pandered less to property developer advertisers, their reputation would be better than it is now among native English speakers resident in Phuket.

Edited July 15, 2012 by KarenBravo

[steelepulse]

>>In short, the Gazette has little to gain, and much to lose, by presenting the island as riddled with problems, or by sensationalizing stories so as to attract readers at the expense of the Phuket’s image.

Pretty much sums it up. Gotta keep the "image" of Phuket in accordance with what the TAT wants presented.

[madmitch]

So, according to this article, the Gazette prizes accuracy over speed.

I for one do not believe this, having seen some glaring errors and omissions in articles over the past couple of years, some of which I have mentioned in their online comments section, only to see the comment mysteriously disappear. Some have been on stories where I personally knew the situation. Quite simply they don't care about accuracy at the expense of a better story or to admit they were wrong.

They now have serious competition, hence this article appearing at this time.

[KarenBravo]

At least the "other place" has the courage to post negative comments about themselves. The PG? Never!

Hope the PG staff are reading this thread.

As for accuracy, does anyone remember the Swedish guy that had his throat slashed in Phuket Town by two other Swedes over a business dispute?

PGs first report was that a gang of 12 Thais were responsible. Frankly, I couldn't care less what they sponsor, or, which charities they give to. The prime purpose of a newspaper is to accurately report the news, good and bad and in a timely manner.

[Hostile17]

they are proud to be lying and hiding negative stuff about the island because they want to keep their business profitable. nice one finaly coming out with this gazette, and for once it wasnt a copy paste.

Anyone here reads the gazette for anything else than the "ask an official" part? You know that part where a very apparent problem is stated and the official acts as if he has never heard of it? Pure comedy

[pistachios]

I find it hard to believe 54 people are working for the gazette.

Their coverage of phuket news is pretty much non existant, half of the daily news on the website are publi-info crap, the other half is coming usually one day after their you-shall-not-name-them competitor.

Actually, after the one month website disaster, I was convinced there had been a huge layoff and that the gazette was on the verge of bankruptcy, that the webmasters had been fired for incompetence and most of the journalist team sent back home because of the drastic drop of articles.

How can their you-shall-not-name-them competitor offer so much better news in terms of quality, quantity, and reactiveness, while having probably 10 times less staff?

[Hostile17]

And they offer good music as well.

Only person i met from the gazette tried to scam me out of 3k baht by threatening to sue me

[Jimi007]

At least the "other place" has the courage to post negative comments about themselves. The PG? Never!

Hope the PG staff are reading this thread.

As for accuracy, does anyone remember the Swedish guy that had his throat slashed in Phuket Town by two other Swedes over a business dispute?

PGs first report was that a gang of 12 Thais were responsible. Frankly, I couldn't care less what they sponsor, or, which charities they give to. The prime purpose of a newspaper is to accurately report the news, good and bad and in a timely manner.

I totally agree with you! The Phuket Gazette seems to be technically and accuracy challenged... They are very good at sensational headlines though!