Now we know the value of free media: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Now we know the value of free media
The Nation

The storming of television stations by protesters has forced a re-evaluation of this cornerstone of democracy

BANGKOK: -- Anti-government demonstrators proclaimed a cautious victory yesterday in what they call their long battle against the Thaksin regime. But protesters had already lost many "friends" for their intimidation of the media. On Sunday the demonstrators stormed into six television stations and demanded coverage for their side.

They accused free TV of biased reporting, but their own actions were certainly a violation of media freedom and drew complaints from several media organisations. However, the move by Suthep Thuagsuban-led protesters has had a positive affect, bringing a re-evaluation of the media, its freedom and its role and obligations in society, especially at a time of conflict.

The anti-government campaign's accusation has forced TV stations to consider whether they are performing their duty to keep the public informed of political events. Suthep asserted that the free TV stations - mostly under influence of government and businesses - have failed to adequately cover the protest movement. Prior to his statement, the social media were buzzing with complaints that free TV was paying little attention to the protests. The clash in front of Ramkhamhaeng University on Saturday night, which left one person dead and many injured, did not make it onto free TV at all.

While condemning the intimidation of media by the protesters, the Thailand Journalist Association (TJA) expressed concern that most TV stations are failing to report the widespread protests, preferring instead to keep their normal schedule of programmes. "Commercial benefits have taken priority over the public interest and right to information," the TJA said. But pressure on media organisations is also coming from the government side, with its public-relations department working overtime to present a pro-government picture of events.

While the profit motive explains why commercial TV stations are largely ignoring the crisis, the lack of coverage on mainstream free TV needs to be thoroughly examined. Here we need to focus on the difference between choosing not to broadcast protests and being coerced into doing so. If free TV stations decide such coverage is not in the public interest, they have no obligation provide it. But if they are in some way being coerced into ignoring protests, media freedom is being infringed.

Suthep has apologised to the media outlets, but claimed their failure to reflect the importance of "the people's uprising" meant he had no choice but to storm their premises. The former Democrat Party chieftain might have gained some sympathy, but media intimidation is simply not acceptable in a democracy, and especially at this time when society is most in need of independent sources of information. His action deserves just as much criticism as does the government's influence on free TV.

Nevertheless, the misstep may be a blessing in disguise, since it offers an opportunity for soul-searching. The television stations will have to determine whether their lack of coverage is a matter of their own freedom to choose or complying with the government. They should ponder why most people are looking to satellite TV and the social networks for the information. At the same time, the government must bear in mind that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy that must not be undermined. And the National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission must weigh these questions as it prepares to regulate more digital channels.


-- The Nation 2013-12-04

[Tatsujin]

Media is not free here in any objective sense. They air the views of whoever is in power and are not "independent" at all. Objective reporting is a lost/dying/never was here in the first place art.

[Thai at Heart]

Suthep isn't wrong. TV stations here are very politicised or under the control of the army.

What is there to say. Coming from the nation that has a huge editorial bias, what can anyone say?

[Jasun]

The media should be balanced, like Sondhi.

[AryanicAristocrat]

The Thai Media themselves need a reforn and also education!

[JRSoul]

My lady explained why there was no coverage. The people interested in the protests weren't home to watch, they were out protesting, and those not interested were home.

Makes sense, in a Thai way.

[ginjag]

The media should be balanced, like Sondhi.

I think Jutaporn -red leader, very neutral person and fair, should be in charge of a fair media.

[spirit47]

Free media, what a joke...but I think this is a worldwide problem. All news are filtrated, and all sending the same informations. Nobody asks today why you see, what you see in the news, they make it for you...All media today have one duty, manipulating people, up to that what the people who have the power want.

[falangadang]

Yes,... and the media in the west is "free" right?

Not so,... western media is owned by the bankers and financiers that control the nation's money.

That's why we hear so much propaganda on the mainstream news (CNN Fox etc) as they are all in cahoots with government and their entire programming is to make the public believe what they want them to believe and at the same time dumb them down and condition them with programming such as massive sports focus, Big Brother etc etc,.. all designed to achieve an objective which is "brainlessness and numbed conformity"!