Media may be given guidelines on news coverage: emergency decree

[webfact]

MEDIA FREEDOM
Media may be given guidelines
The Nation

CMPO might give instructions on news coverage to some editors, Paradorn says

BANGKOK: -- THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) might invite editors from some media outlets to instruct them to not provoke unrest through their reports, CMPO secretary Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday. However, he did not reveal who would be invited.

His statement comes one day after the government invoked the emergency decree in Bangkok and its surrounding areas to deal with the ongoing anti-government protests led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban. The order, which went into effect yesterday, will remain in force for two months.

Paradorn, meanwhile, dismissed reports that the centre will use the authority it has been granted under the emergency decree to shut down media, saying this invitation has nothing to do with gagging the press.

"We should understand that news reports should not be the source of provocation and instigation that can lead to chaos and unrest," he said, adding that the media should not be worried if it sticks to reporting facts.

When asked if he would invite the BlueSky Channel, which has been broadcasting the anti-government protests, Paradorn said he had already conveyed the message and that its editors would be invited if there are any inappropriate news reports.

Separately, a commissioner from the National Broadcast and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) said yesterday that the power of suspending TV channels lay in the hands of the broadcasting regulator.

If the CMPO wants to suspend the operation of TV, the order should come from the NBTC, unless the suspension is related to an unauthorised channel, Supinya Klangnarong pointed out in a Facebook post. She also said the BlueSky channel has just renewed its licence for another two years. "If the CMPO asks the NBTC to do this, they have to give us a reason. Because the BlueSky Channel has done nothing wrong - it was given a licence. If its content violates the law, then the CMPO will have to send the content to us to decide if it is unlawful," she said.

She added that the emergency decree could not be used to overrule the NBTC's authority to regulate licensed broadcasters.

"Don’t panic. Your [operator's] licence now is a defence for press freedom, however, this license comes with responsibility to all citizens. Let's work together to uphold press freedom and the code of ethics," Supinya wrote.

Meanwhile, four professional media groups issued a statement yesterday warning that the emergency decree would intensify the conflict and lead to the infringement of media rights and freedom, which is unconstitutional. The statement came from the Thai Journalist Association, Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, News Broadcasting Council of Thailand and National Press Council of Thailand.

They also said the ongoing violence did not warrant the use of law to curtail the freedom of expression, adding that the decree might give the authorities the power to censor media that is critical of the government - a move that is also unconstitutional.

They also advised the government to be mindful in their press statements to prevent the distortion of facts.


-- The Nation 2014-01-23

[chooka]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

[CMfoodie]

Why don't they just hire Roger Ailes - Pres. of Fox News - who can teach them all about fair and balanced reporting.

[NongKhaiKid]

The headline reads ' guidelines ' but the next line says ' instructions ' which is probably more accurate.

[Crushdepth]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

No, it's called censorship.

Both sides have their own loony media outlets, as you are well aware, and this will just be used to stifle the ones that are "inconvenient" to the government.

[noitom]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

Fat chance.

[coobah666]

Look out Thailand here comes China??????

[whybother]

"CMPO might give instructions on news coverage to some editors"

Shouldn't all editors be given the same instructions?

[noitom]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

No, it's called censorship.

Both sides have their own loony media outlets, as you are well aware, and this will just be used to stifle the ones that are "inconvenient" to the government.

Escalated censorship that will never be rolled back once it's over.

[Somtamnication]

This is old news. The media has always been "requested" to provide fair coverage. cough cough

[simon43]

If its content violates the law, then the CMPO will have to send the content to us to decide if it is unlawful," she said.

She just contradicted herself! It is violates the law, then it violates the law. Under a SOE, it is not up to her to decide.....

[Thait Spot]

Animal Farm meets 1984

How very Orwellian

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[h90]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

Yes the government will get very angry if some media report too much in favor of the government. As it is unbalanced against the demonstrators.

Sure....It was Thaksin who made the censorship on the internet big...

[h90]

If its content violates the law, then the CMPO will have to send the content to us to decide if it is unlawful," she said.

She just contradicted herself! It is violates the law, then it violates the law. Under a SOE, it is not up to her to decide.....

But who decides things who gets the money....so no one want to give that up

[ManopY]

Freedom of the press => R.I.P.

[MaxLee]

THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) might invite editors from some media outlets to instruct them to not provoke unrest through their reports, CMPO secretary Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday. However, he did not reveal who would be invited.

The IN-C-MA-PO-ABLES are demanding absolute censorship!!!!! For the sake of saving the country's FACE. Shut down the internet and social media already... Arrest EVERY Teenager who posting some funny SH*** on LINE, track everyone's social media conversation,... put a redshirt guard at EVERY house in Thailand to make sure those innocent people get beaten to death for voicing their opinions

Edited January 23, 2014 by MaxLee

[firestar]

THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) might invite editors from some media outlets to instruct them to not provoke unrest through their reports, CMPO secretary Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday. However, he did not reveal who would be invited.

The IN-C-MA-PO-ABLES are demanding absolute censorship!!!!! For the sake of saving the country's FACE. Shut down the internet and social media already... Arrest EVERY Teenager who posting some funny SH*** on LINE, track everyone's social media conversation,... put a redshirt guard at EVERY house in Thailand to make sure those innocent people get beaten to death for voicing their opinions

Already been done, not just recommended, by Suthep's government :

2010 Statement by "Reporters Without Borders" in regards to the Thai government’s actions, “The right to information is more important than ever when a country is in crisis.” So far, around 4,500 websites have been blocked in an attempt by the regime to institute partial censorship of news about the nine-week crisis. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Twitter account has also been blocked since May 19.

On that same day, the leadership’s Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) blocked Facebook and Twitter, which had been functioning as alternative sources of news after TV stations began broadcasting government-controlled programming...."

Don't remember you posting smilie faces or The Nation doing anything but it's usual yellow cheerleading back then.

Edited January 23, 2014 by firestar

[Baerboxer]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

You might be right. Or they may be required to report the facts as provided by the caretaker government only. It may not consider that the reporting of disgruntled unpaid rice farmers suing and trying to oust the caretaker regime to be in the interests of promoting peace and harmony, for instance.

Remember, the Shin clan have a long history of loathing the free press and have tried to control the media on many occasions. (Easy to research).

We shall see.

[tingtongteesood]

The Poo woman and Taksin's goon squad keep banging on and on about 'democracy' and this just shows once again that they don't know the meaning of the word. One important part of a REAL democracy is that the press has full freedom, without a really free press there can't be true democracy....

[h90]

THE CENTRE for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) might invite editors from some media outlets to instruct them to not provoke unrest through their reports, CMPO secretary Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday. However, he did not reveal who would be invited.

The IN-C-MA-PO-ABLES are demanding absolute censorship!!!!! For the sake of saving the country's FACE. Shut down the internet and social media already... Arrest EVERY Teenager who posting some funny SH*** on LINE, track everyone's social media conversation,... put a redshirt guard at EVERY house in Thailand to make sure those innocent people get beaten to death for voicing their opinions

Already been done, not just recommended, by Suthep's government :

2010 Statement by "Reporters Without Borders" in regards to the Thai government’s actions, “The right to information is more important than ever when a country is in crisis.” So far, around 4,500 websites have been blocked in an attempt by the regime to institute partial censorship of news about the nine-week crisis. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Twitter account has also been blocked since May 19.

On that same day, the leadership’s Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) blocked Facebook and Twitter, which had been functioning as alternative sources of news after TV stations began broadcasting government-controlled programming...."

Don't remember you posting smilie faces or The Nation doing anything but it's usual yellow cheerleading back then.

Thaksin blocked 10.000s of webpages. He built the infrastructure and legal framework for doing it. Every government blocked a lot contend....No matter what color the government has.

The only one who didn't block (at least on the beginning, I didn't check later) was the military junta, who shut off the censorship.

Considering that Surayud was an adviser to the king before and many webpages that were blocked were due to content about the royal family, everyone can build his own opinion.

I can't recall if Sonthi or Surayud told: "Who is smart enough to use the internet is smart enough to build his own opinions" when turning off the censorship....

[Tatsujin]

"We should understand that news reports should not be the source of provocation and instigation that can lead to chaos and unrest," he said

That's right . . . that's the job of their Ministry of Propaganda and the Royal Thai Police . . .

[Scamper]

As the administration and the media are now wrestling each other over the definition and ownership of the word " facts " yet another - truly chilling - sign that freedom is now going to be fought in the studios of television stations - a war Chalerm has every intention of winning, we now know who the boss is. Chalerm's in power. Therefore, he is able to judge what are facts and what are not. It's that simple to Chalerm. But what we now have is an administration that is illegally invoking an emergency decree, as they are not constitutionally empowered to do so as a caretaker administration - a decree issued under the pretext of bringing peace to the streets - and yet the first and only order of business since the decree was invoked was to go after the media. The media have been the target all along, as it always has been to Thaksin. You see, Thaksin and facts - well, let's just say they they haven't been on speaking terms for some time.

[falangadang]

So the media will be required to give a more balanced and unbiased version of events so as not to fuel one side.

No, it's called censorship.

Both sides have their own loony media outlets, as you are well aware, and this will just be used to stifle the ones that are "inconvenient" to the government.

Escalated censorship that will never be rolled back once it's over.

The rolling back of censorship could be an issue.

This would then mean that the only real truthful news that could be relied up would come from Facebook and the social media from real people on the ground.

This is what has been happening in Kiev in the Ukraine under the Euromaiden protests. The media were being gagged and so the real news then only emerged on Facebook.

The same has been happening throughout the Arab Spring uprisings and in fact were major forces in the momentum thereof.

If there's one thing that applies to the government and the endorsed media the world over is that they cannot be trusted. Government = Legalized Mafia | Mainstream Media = Propaganda Machine!

[JRSoul]

"Meanwhile, four professional media groups .............. advised the government to be mindful in their press statements to prevent the distortion of facts."

This is a polite way of saying "Oy you! Knock off the lying!"

[siampolee]

Seems as if the image below is the emblem of the C.M.P.O. the illegitimate offspring of that animal C.A.P.O.