Thai Media Need Soul Searching - Again

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thai media need soul searching - again

Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- When TV news anchor Sorrayuth Suthasanachinda was charged for embezzlement and bribery last week by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, he refused to answer questions from media and his own colleagues.

Instead, he used his news hour programme the next morning to deny all allegations. Two ethical issues were raised - one has to do with his professionalism - a case of conflict of interest - and the accountability of TV station he works for.

First of all, no journalists with the right mind would use the news programs to defend his or her record, especially when the allegation came from the country's anti-graft agency after nearly five-years of judicial process. If Sorrayuth wants to come clean, he can do it quite easily in a press conference or briefing so that reporters can ask questions liked he often does in his programme. However he chose the unprofessional way to tell his side of story. His action has brought disgrace to the Thai broadcasting profession.

In addition, what is the most intriguing is the attitude of Channel 3, which allows the news anchor to continue his news programme as if nothing happens the next day. Under this circumstance, what the TV station should do is to temporary suspend him from regular news broadcasting until he successfully defends his alleged wrongdoings in court. After all, that is supposed to be a standard procedure. The station's recalcitrance demonstrates how commercial interest trumps media accountability and public interest.

As a leading media personality, Sorrayuth's news program generates big advertising revenue for Channel 3. Any suspension, even temporary, would have a severe impact on the earning as well as the overall rating. The TV executives fear that if he is off the air, the morning news audience would falter. It would translate into shrieking advertising revenue and lower rating. Morning and evening news programmes bring in TV stations' largest shrunk of income. At the moment, competition for rating among the morning news slots are the fiercest within the electronic media. Each program has to come up with new ideas to attract early bird viewers. Most of the news anchors now adopt the style of story-telling on key news items and sprinkle them with comments and satirical remarks. To light up news programmes, Sorrayuth was also among the first news anchor to introduce a comedian as part of the news team during the broadcast. This formula proves extremely popular and captured bigger audience for Channel 3.

Meanwhile, the National Press Council of Thailand and Thai Broadcasters Association are investigating a group of 39 journalists both printed and broadcasters of their malfeasance. They spent a week under the auspice of the National Assembly's House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranand under the so-called study tour of UK, France and Belgium. As it turned out, it was a fun trip and reportedly cost the Thai taxpayers an estimated Bt7 million (US$233,333). This is not the first time that journalists are caught red handed in non-journalistic sojourns. Every year, journalists have joined junkie tours at their own perils. Often times their offices are not notified as they are invited as an individual. It is a well known practice among the country's MPs and bureaucrats that before the annual budget expires, they would plan overseas trips disguised as study or fact-finding tours with "blah-blah" objectives. Paris, London, New York and Tokyo are some of the preferred destinations. For them, it is a must to tag along favourite journalists as a form of reward for them.

Today media ethics are not seriously enforced. The proliferation of digital media, citizen journalists, bloggers, tweeters and social media have also confused the media community inside the country about what are proper ethics of journalism. So, it is understandable whenever the media professional organisations come out with verdicts using peer pressure, journalists do not pay much attention to the recommended sanctions. Last year, Matichon Group angrily withdrew its membership from the NPC after its journalist was named on a bribery case to protest the landmarked decision. It is interesting to note that mainstream media establishments have been able to make quick adjustments to the new mixed media environment under the Yingluck government, which has been generous in providing large budget for media publicity of government success and policy announcements. Advertising and public relations agencies are busy screening after favourable media outlets for ad placements.

In more ways than one, Sorrayuth's case and the media freebies epitomized the overall Thai media malaise. In the former, the news anchor is one of the most powerful news agenda setters inside the country. He knows how to spin news whether they are related to personalities or issues. Like it or not, his views matters. During the great flood last year, he became the news maker himself after he went out to help the flood victims and reported on his activities for weeks. Nobody questioned him. Some even praised him for his public service works by raising money for charity and help flood victims. That helps explain why he did not feel any shame when he spent over six minutes of his morning programme to defend the corruption allegation against him.

In a similar vein, some 150 journalists following the Government House and National Assembly beats - the two most sought after routines reporting - understand their media power well. But only a few dozen would stand out and marked for special treatments by the power-that-be for news scoops (or trial balloons?) and preferences to accompany the Cabinet leaders during overseas trips. Since the expenses are being paid by the government, press officials often choose who can go. During the first Thaksin administration, only selective friendly journalists were allowed to board the Air Force One - the practice discontinued after 2006.

Thai media need another deep soul searching particularly at this juncture. Within the media community, there is a strong sign of media fatigue and full of empathy. Unlike the past, journalists were full of zest taking up the watch dog role unwaveringly. These days, the watch dogs are not barking any more.

-- The Nation 2012-09-24

[Thai at Heart]

He got caught diddling a state ageny. That's a national sport not a crime

[asiawatcher]

At this point it is alleged, and suspension is possibly not warranted, but defending himself on public air time is ridiculous, for that yes, he should have been pulled.

[LuckyLew]

I cannot believe he is denying it ...

oops ... I forgot ... everyone is innocent

Waste of air time

Poor taste for his rant, but then again what else would be expected

[KireB]

Thailand is maraly bankrupt now even its role models are thiefs and corrupt to the core!

[Thai at Heart]

They are honestly worried about losing his show? Admittedly they guy seems to be on TV morning noon and night, but in the annals of TV history, sitting on TV going through the morning papers re-reading stories to the audience, with a woman sitting opposite repeatedly saying "ka, ka, ka" in full agreement is hardly the most innovative TV show ever.

I seem to remember that "reviewing the papers" was a 5 minute slot on TV elsewhere in the world. This guy somehow manages to make it an entire TV show. One does have to giggle about it though, the shock, the horror, that disbelief that a supposedly "honest" broker, has his finger in the pie. The country is seriously lacking in any role models whatsoever.

[McMagus]

Personally, all Thai TV could close down and replace existing shows...news, soapies etc etc with a test pattern and it would be more informative and interesting.

[LomSak27]

Imtiaz Muqbil seems to be missing in action - Might as well rev up "soul searching" again and send him!

Although he is probably doing research on just how the USA let the 2004 tsunami destroy asia. Go Imtiaz!

[geriatrickid]

I was unaware that the Thai media ever had a "soul".

[moe666]

Is he really guilty or a setup

[hanuman2543]

Looks like he is trainig for his next job. He wants to become a politician

Edited September 24, 2012 by hanuman2543

[hellodolly]

I was unaware that the Thai media ever had a "soul".

I am with you on that.

Just look at the title of the article.

The word "again"

When did they do it before and will they do it now.

There idea of soul searching is going over the income and outgo of spending.

[ballpoint]

I was unaware that the Thai media ever had a "soul".

Which is why they're searching for it. Until the searching brings up definite proof of its existence (if ever), we'll just have to assume it's a mythical entity. Personally, I equate media soul searching with Loch Ness Monster searching, and believe we'll get the same results.

[Arkady]

They are honestly worried about losing his show? Admittedly they guy seems to be on TV morning noon and night, but in the annals of TV history, sitting on TV going through the morning papers re-reading stories to the audience, with a woman sitting opposite repeatedly saying "ka, ka, ka" in full agreement is hardly the most innovative TV show ever.

I seem to remember that "reviewing the papers" was a 5 minute slot on TV elsewhere in the world. This guy somehow manages to make it an entire TV show. One does have to giggle about it though, the shock, the horror, that disbelief that a supposedly "honest" broker, has his finger in the pie. The country is seriously lacking in any role models whatsoever.

They should be worried about keeping this garbage. Now they have a good excuse to get rid of him.

[drdoom6996]

Personally, all Thai TV could close down and replace existing shows...news, soapies etc etc with a test pattern and it would be more informative and interesting.

A test pattern would be less morally damaging to the watchers for sure.

[davidstipek]

I am not defending him here, but read the article again.... This time... "Very carefully"!

""Every year, journalists have joined junkie tours at their own perils. Often times their offices are not notified as they are invited as an individual. It is a well known practice among the country's MPs and bureaucrats that before the annual budget expires, they would plan overseas trips disguised as study or fact-finding tours with "blah-blah" objectives. Paris, London, New York and Tokyo are some of the preferred destinations. For them, it is a must to tag along favourite journalists as a form of reward for them.""

If he ws invited as a Jounalist to tag-a-long, then should not the person, in the Government. Who invited him be the Guilty one?

Did he missuse funds? I think not, The Offical who hand picked his ontourage is the guilty Party!!!!

If an MP invited me to go somewhere, to dinner, trip, whatever... sure I would accept! Question where funds were coming from? I think not, I would hope the one is place of authority was using "Good Sense"! But as in 98% of the cases... This is Thailand! Land of the Smile's... Now rethink that...

Of course there is an investigation, probably pushed and started by the MP implimented in this, notice we have no name?

Surely this was not a scramble to blame a scapegoat... Could our leaders here ever really be charged, or concidered with missusing Government Funds....????? (Must be nice to have a Government checkbook or creditcard in hand, and leave your own funding at home with your Wife, or Girl Friend)

Let the article speak for it's Self.

Edited September 24, 2012 by davidstipek

[Payboy]

It would translate into shrieking advertising revenue and lower rating.

Morning and evening news programmes bring in TV stations' largest shrunk of income.

Thai media also need proof-readers and spell-check.

Edited September 24, 2012 by Payboy

[Morakot]

It would translate into shrieking advertising revenue and lower rating.

Morning and evening news programmes bring in TV stations' largest shrunk of income.

Thai media also need proof-readers and spell-check.

Best of all, at the bottom of the original article on The Nation website we get an ad link to: http://www.macmillandictionary.com

[jerrysteve]

THE NATIONAL ANTI-Corrupution Comission; NOW THATS A LAUGH