Media need 'meaningful role' in political debate, Thai execs say

[webfact]

MEDIA
Media need 'meaningful role' in political debate, execs say
Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The mainstream media should take a stance on today's hot issue - reform and the February 2 general election - to reclaim a meaningful role as society's guiding light, media executives said yesterday.

The media should ask themselves if the February 2 election should be held or not. If the media think it should not be held, then they should come up with other more useful options," said Thepchai Yong, editor-in-chief of Nation Multimedia Group.

Wiwat Chantasuwanno, deputy local news chief of Channel 5, said traditional media had been challenged by the growing power of social media, so they must think how they can reach out to the masses.

Kathathorn Assawawirattikorn, a representative from Channel 7, said the media should act as mediators in bringing rival political groups together to wring out solutions peacefully.

Sunthorn Thasai, editor of Thai Rath, said the media must be brave to reveal the truth and not serve as just the "lackey" of any group. Reform is a lengthy process that cannot be completed within one year.


-- The Nation 2013-12-19

[Curt1591]

I think "The Media" has done a pretty good job of whipping things into s frenzy.

[noikrit]

Shouldn't the Media just report FACTS in an unbiased way.......................

[Halion]

Thai Media, just another pathetic tool in the hands of the privileged few. Biased and manipulated lackeys of a failed system.

[tx22cb]

Shouldn't the Media just report FACTS in an unbiased way.......................

Depends if there is plurality of the Media and whether the Media are free from repercussions.

Depends if that Medium is funded publicly (by tax payers) or is private.

In the US, there are hundreds of TV channels and tonnes of newspapers and radio stations, some Media are definitely biased.

Fox News/Fox Channel are unabashedly pro-Republican.

Talk Radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh is also right-wing.

And both straight-forwardly say so. And they get money from their supporters.

In the UK, political parties woo the newspapers for their support during General Elections. Parties publish manifestoes, meet the Editors. Then the Newspaper will declare that they support the Tories/Labs/etc.

Public-funded BBC should be neutral, and mostly succeed.

In Thailand, the free TV stations are usually wary of political repercussions, so they tread carefully.

Cable channels are not unbiased - Blue Sky TV is pro-Yellows, another channel is pro-Reds.

[Nibbles48]

I think "The Media" has done a pretty good job of whipping things into s frenzy.

Is that how you see it?

We are talking about a media that more than two thirds of is controlled by the government. There are few who actually dare (or are free to) speak their minds.

So far Sky Blue have been the only ones who have actually exercised 'freedom of the press', and have been subsequently repeatedly threatened by government department such as the DSI with sedition charges and bank freezes etc.......

If the media were truly free to report their feelings, there would be a much bigger frenzy being whipped up and people in the north may start to see the truth about what is happening in their country.