Responding To Scandal: A Tale Of Two Media Outlets

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Responding to scandal: A tale of two media outlets

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The BBC is taking allegations about Jimmy Saville seriously, but a fraud case in Thailand has been ignored

The Jimmy Saville scandal has shaken the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to its core after the news organisation was criticised for mishandling the alleged paedophile case.

Britons have been shocked that a celebrity of his stature could be a serial offender, allegedly sexually abusing a vast number of under-aged girls, over many years. They also questioned how the news organisation has handled these claims. The BBC, after all, has been regarded as one of the most trusted organisations internationally.

The scandal happened after the Metropolitan Police in the UK launched a criminal inquiry into the allegations against Saville. The TV presenter was accused of abusing hundreds of youngsters, mainly girls, over a 40-year period, sometimes on BBC premises.

Although he died in October last year at the age of 84, the case does not end there because the allegations have raised questions about how the BBC handled - mishandled - these allegations at key times. And there has been claims of others committing offences as well.

This extraordinary incident shows how the behaviour of one individual can affect the integrity of an entire organisation. This case has shocked the British public, with people appalled to see a much-loved and respectable institution tainted in this manner.

As well as the police probe, British Prime Minister David Cameron has made strong remarks to set the tone of public sentiment.

Now, it is reported that a British judge will investigate the culture of the BBC during the years that Saville worked here. In addition, there will be an investigation at Newsnight to ascertain why that programme's news editor dropped a broadcast report about Saville.

For some, these developments seem unimaginable, given that this man's flamboyant style and charitable work. Whatever the outcome of the investigations, Saville is likely to be remembered more as a sex offender now.

Coincidentally, Thailand has also seen a case involving a TV celebrity whose image has been synonymous with a major network embroiled in a scandal.

THAI public less concerned about matters of fraud?

TV Channel 3 was been under significant pressure lately after the Anti Corruption Network released an open letter, asking Channel 3 to reveal its stand on alleged corruption involving anchorman Sorayuth Suthassanachinda, the most popular and the highest-paid TV anchorman in Thailand.

The letter, signed by ACN chairman Pramon Sutheewong and sent to Channel 3 operator BEC World Plc, reminded the management of its obligations to transparency and the fight against corruption. "The ACN is spearheading an awareness campaign to wipe out corruption complacency, which condones graft violations for the sake of self-gain," the letter said.

However, Channel 3 has so far done nothing to prove its intention to play a leading role in rooting out corruption. Its executives

admitted that it was a difficult business decision because Sorayuth's programmes have made major profits for the station, to the tune of millions of baht.

So far, the station has shrugged off the ruling by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, even though the anti-graft body found cause to suspect fraudulent transactions between Sorayuth's news production house, Rai Som, and MCOT, a listed company in which the state holds a majority stake.

It is very interesting to see the different reaction of the two media organisations to scandals involving top celebrities. While BBC executives appear to be taking responsibility for letting the Saville scandal happen under their noses, Channel 3 executives insist that Sorayuth will stay on. Why? Because of the amount of money his programme has brought to the station.

The different response is also attributed to the reaction of the public, who are the most effective at putting pressure on stations. Britons view the sex abuse allegations as gravely serious and want responsibility and accountability from people in charge. Thais, meanwhile, can easily ignore a scandal about fraud. A local weekender even suggested in a front-page headline that Sorayuth was attacked by Thai press associations for his fraudulent acts because others were envious of his fortune and fame, even though ethics is an integral element for the media company to earn respect.

Sorayuth's case should have set a precedent for society on how well-known organisations and media people can be exemplary models for the public on how to take an initiative to combat corruption. Unfortunately, for now, money seems to talk the loudest for the people who run Channel 3.

-- The Nation 2012-10-28

[hanuman2543]

Only money talks. Ethics and moral values are not high on the agenda here. Another example how the rich and powerful rape Thailand for their own benefit. If he has any moral conscience he would step down, but he is as greedy as many others. Hope that they throw the Thai Penal Code at him, but not very confident. Another hiso who thinks he can get away with it.

[Thai at Heart]

Stealing public money, isn't a crime if you are entitled, it would appear.

How does one become entitled is the question?

[siampolee]

In the U.K. as well as many other western countries public figures are held accountable for their actions good or bad.

Savile was an evil man who used his perceived saintly status to both protect him as cover concerning his and others of his ilk and their trails of deception and depravity.

However dead and gone he may be, there are no doubt some very worried people out there, justice will be served albeit late for many of the victims.

Hopefully thereafter mechanisms will exist to prevent such depraved practices being enacted on the scale that they were, sadly we shall never completely eradicate the problem , at least justice is being seen to be done which sends a warning to others.

An interesting programme to watch concerning Savile was aired on U.K. televisions Panorama programme on Monday October 22.nd 2012, it is available for downloading from a number of P2P sites and indeed it is a eye opening no punches pulled programme .which details fully the deceptive practices involved along what direction the inquiry is about to take..

Edited October 28, 2012 by siampolee

[MEL1]

Stealing public money, isn't a crime if you are entitled, it would appear.

How does one become entitled is the question?

As Thaksin Shinawatra, as he has all the answers about this one!

-mel.

[RickBradford]

With over 300 women coming forward publicly to report abuse by Savile, it would have been very hard for the BBC to sweep this under the carpet, which would have been their first instinct, I'm sure. After all, dozens of BBC executives are now known to have been involved in covering up Savile's activities in the 1970s and 1980s.

It remains a deeply corrupt and self-serving organisation, but the Savile scandal, which even a BBC reporter described as "the most serious crisis to hit the BBC in 50 years", was too much even for them to airbrush away.

Not much parallel with a Thai anchorman doing a bit of financial ducking and diving.

[lizardtongue]

4 words you do not want to hear after having sex, "Howsa about that then"

Sad thing is that this outshines all the good work he did! He is lucky not to be around to face these allegations!

[mike123ca]

What are the charges that anchorman Sorayuth Suthassanachinda is being accused of?

This is the first time I'm hearing this and just looking to get some background information.

[asiawatcher]

There is no way the Maleenont family will event entertain Thai law and oust Sorayuth. Rated as #7 of the 40 richest families in Thailand they will continue to thumb their collective noses unless it suits them to change their opinions. Thailand is nothing like UK law or the BBC and unlikely ever will be. Only two things motivate in Thailand - money and the level of corruption in obtaining it.

[fareastguy]

Thai society in the main has been subjected to corruption in one form or another since the beginning of time, I firmly believe that at certain levels the understanding is that it's not even seen as corruption but that of an elitist system akin to "caste system" as in India.

When you reach a certain level of status you are not only expected to behave in this manner but you are also immune from persecution or even prosecution, you become the privileged few.

The post say's that a high percentage of Thais are not worried about these forms of corruption in the same way as it is chastised & stamped out in other parts of the world, this is due to years & years of desensitisation.

Thailand is years behind other more democratically controlled countries & has not yet formed the true transparency that say Europe enjoys, I'm not saying they are by any means innocent, they have faults, fraud, corruption but when found it is generally dealt with publicly so the public can see justice has been served, and that no one or company is above the law.

Thai society has a lot of hurdles to climb over to get to this level, so it should not come as any surprise that at the moment what we see as intolerable actions by some are generally excepted by the Thai public.

They have to make the transition between desensitisation & sensitive.

Edited October 28, 2012 by fareastguy

[Kilgore Trout]

Once again, a completely horrible; crappy article. This kind of writing might fly in a 9th grade English class, but for a newspaper it is simply ridiculous and embarrassing.

Both in content and form

Just get native speakers who are journalists to write your articles, or edit them, for god's sake

[eezergood]

Tenuous link to say the least, 'piggybacking' off the BBC scandal to attract "clicks/readers". I would say I am shocked, but TIT!!!!

[arthurboy]

Thailand, corruption and self serving immorality/ amorality.

Surely some mistake. Ed.

[Bill999]

Once again, a completely horrible; crappy article. This kind of writing might fly in a 9th grade English class, but for a newspaper it is simply ridiculous and embarrassing.

Both in content and form

Just get native speakers who are journalists to write your articles, or edit them, for god's sake

Your choice of a semi-colon in your first sentence and the word "crappy" is interesting considering your criticism of the standard of the English in the article.

Maybe you would like to point out to the less well-informed of us why it was so bad? Apart from the slight misspelling of Savile's name I could only spot one out-of-place "that". But then perhaps my understanding of English is "...horrible; crappy".

[Thai at Heart]

The bbc and channel 3 Thailand in the same story.

Boiiiiiing, kaboomching, wah, wah, wah, waah.

Who would have thought

[NCFC]

There is no way the Maleenont family will event entertain Thai law and oust Sorayuth. Rated as #7 of the 40 richest families in Thailand they will continue to thumb their collective noses unless it suits them to change their opinions. Thailand is nothing like UK law or the BBC and unlikely ever will be. Only two things motivate in Thailand - money and the level of corruption in obtaining it.

Perhaps, but then the BBC did not entertain the thought of ousting Savile during a forty-year period as it suited the BBC not to lose face over one of it's major stars.

Rather than pointing out how much better the BBC has handled this case compared with the Sorayuth case, the conclusion I draw is that the BBC has behaved much worse and over many decades. This isn't about money but about the sexual abuse of children, the ability of a powerful person to get away with it, and the ability of a powerful organisation to ignore what was happening. That has to be much,much worse than the Sorayuth case.

[Mole]

Well, the BBC swept it under the carpet for decades while Savile was alive and making money for them...

So I guess when it comes to money, BBC isn't that much different from CH3.

[rubl]

Regarding the BBC case the plot seems to thicken

"28 October 2012 Last updated at 12:31 GMT

Jimmy Savile: Ex-pop star Gary Glitter arrested by police"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20114378

[Nisa]

What a ridiculous Editorial comparing apples to oranges and for what purpose? What is next, comparing an athlete's time in the Olympics with another's who is in the Special Olympics?

[Bagwan]

Well, the BBC swept it under the carpet for decades while Savile was alive and making money for them...

So I guess when it comes to money, BBC isn't that much different from CH3.

How did Savile make money for the Beeb? As far as I am aware their income is from the licence fee and a small business selling CD's and DVD's now being heavily diluted by YouTube, Pirate bay and others.

I never liked Savile believing that the character that he portrayed appealed only to simple indiscriminating minds but he did make me start using a seat belt when in a car, and it cannot be denied that he actively supported many charities. I seem to remember that he was also accused of being a slum landlord.

[Kilgore Trout]

Once again, a completely horrible; crappy article. This kind of writing might fly in a 9th grade English class, but for a newspaper it is simply ridiculous and embarrassing.

Both in content and form

Just get native speakers who are journalists to write your articles, or edit them, for god's sake

Your choice of a semi-colon in your first sentence and the word "crappy" is interesting considering your criticism of the standard of the English in the article.

Maybe you would like to point out to the less well-informed of us why it was so bad? Apart from the slight misspelling of Savile's name I could only spot one out-of-place "that". But then perhaps my understanding of English is "...horrible; crappy".

Hello.....McFly......

1)The entire article is a mess; there is a ridiculous attempt to link the two cases that have nothing in common

2)It appears to be an informative article, then the writer randomly speaks in first person

3) Some of the "paragraphs" aren't even sentences, or cohesive for that matter

4)The whole thing seems cut and pasted; certainly not proofread

Need I go further......again this is a (so called) professional newspaper

[keemapoot]

For some unknown reason. , this news didn't make it into the Nation today, but it was reported as top news at the other newspaper we are not allowed to mention, and I have altered the quote so it is changed.

Administrative Court judge says Sorayuth wins and MCOT has to pay more than 49 million Baht to his company

So, rack one win up for the guy with the mouth full of gravel. Ah oh, was the judge in his pocket? Stay tuned as this judge's decision is not binding on the Anti-Corruption Division....

[rubl]

For some unknown reason. , this news didn't make it into the Nation today, but it was reported as top news at the other newspaper we are not allowed to mention, and I have altered the quote so it is changed.

Administrative Court judge says Sorayuth wins and MCOT has to pay more than 49 million Baht to his company

So, rack one win up for the guy with the mouth full of gravel. Ah oh, was the judge in his pocket? Stay tuned as this judge's decision is not binding on the Anti-Corruption Division....

Topic started 06:14 today:

"Thai Judge Issues Opinion Backing Sorrayuth: Mcot"

http://www.thaivisa....sorrayuth-mcot/