Special Report: press associations vow to responsibly report conflicts

BANGKOK, 6 March 2014 (NNT) – As March 5th marks the National Reporter’s Day, The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) handed out awards for best news photo and best news article of 2013.

This year press associations wrote an open letter to journalists in the kingdom, suggesting that media outlets be more socially and ethically responsible in reporting conflicts.

As journalists are given the freedom to cover stories of violence and rising political tensions, they should have strong sense of responsibility when reporting the news, said the letter. It emphasized how the media could play a positive role in ideological or political conflicts.

It also urged the press to avoid exacerbating existing divisiveness by promoting hate speech and fuel tensions.

On the day, media practitioners in Ubon Ratchathani and Phrae also gathered to attend mass merit-making ceremonies in memory of press members who perished in action during the past year. The remembrance events are held annually to foster stronger relationships between journalists.

In Chon Buri, the local press association staged a scholarship presentation ceremony to children of journalists. The move is set to support the right to education for the next generation.

In the South, the southern press body, which was founded 57 years ago, held an annual assembly on March 5 to exchange information on the ever-changing industry and to strengthen the connection between press members.

In Thailand, March 5 of every year marks the National Reporter’s Day. The National Reporter’s Day is celebrated on the day, as the Reporters Club of Thailand was established on March 5, 1955. March 4 is meanwhile the annual general meeting day of the Thai Journalist Association.


-- NNT 2014-03-06

Now more than ever, we need the press. There will always be publications like Khaosod. That is what a free society is about. But for the others, we need journalists to ask tough questions. So often have we seen them silently taking dictation. They need to ask the tough questions, and when faced with evasion, they need to ask those questions again. Chalerm is now a private citizen. His " friendly meeting " with media heads is now the subject of journalistic folklore and toga parties. It is time to move on. It is time to stand up proudly as journalists and defend the public's right to know and the public's right to have answers.

The local press vowing to 'responsibly' report conflicts is like Chalerm promising to decapitate himself.

Did khaosod and the nation win anything?

And the award for best One Eyed view of the conflict goes too........

What are they celebrating?

That they are ranked 135 out of 179, in the Press Freedom index for 2013?

Journalists have a obligation to report the true facts to not only to the country of Thailand but to the world, their integrity should be beyond reproach , they should have no fear nor favour , free from intimidation and most of all, honesty to themselves , true journalist values are surly test when dealing with some members of the Thai establishment ,like conditions set for interviews by a previous PM , that he use to try to impose on reporters.

Journalists have a obligation to report the true facts to not only to the country of Thailand but to the world, their integrity should be beyond reproach , they should have no fear nor favour , free from intimidation and most of all, honesty to themselves , true journalist values are surly test when dealing with some members of the Thai establishment ,like conditions set for interviews by a previous PM , that he use to try to impose on reporters.

Journalists integrity beyond reproach? Even lawyers have no integrity here and you rely on them for justice - and pay them substantially.

I read as far as this:

"As journalists are given the freedom to cover stories of violence and rising political tensions..."

As long as they don't investigate and cover the crimes of influential people?

Welcome to the wonderful world of self censorship!

Funny!!!

Journalists have a obligation to report the true facts to not only to the country of Thailand but to the world, their integrity should be beyond reproach , they should have no fear nor favour , free from intimidation and most of all, honesty to themselves , true journalist values are surly test when dealing with some members of the Thai establishment ,like conditions set for interviews by a previous PM , that he use to try to impose on reporters.

Fortunately he is now' living in Dubai and his influence is on the skids.

I am actually surprised the Nation even printed it. To read the Nation you would think there was no more problems in the South. Yet the killings go on at about twice the rate of the murders of protestors do here.

That is censorship the Nation has forced on it's self. Read the Bangkok Post hardly a day goes by when there is not a death caused by the South's version of red shirts.

In Thailand we have censorship imposed on us in regards to the Royal Family but that hardly amounts to any thing compared to what the Media imposes on it's self.

Journalists have a obligation to report the true facts to not only to the country of Thailand but to the world, their integrity should be beyond reproach , they should have no fear nor favour , free from intimidation and most of all, honesty to themselves , true journalist values are surly test when dealing with some members of the Thai establishment ,like conditions set for interviews by a previous PM , that he use to try to impose on reporters.

True what you say. And those standards should apply to all journalists including foreign correspondents.

With the all pervasive patronage and 'business' networks between the rich, powerful and corrupt at work, media censorship is hardly surprising. Couple that with the real fear that if too much is reported, someone will get hurt or worse, it's still less surprising.

Invariably people of influence are always at the hidden centre of the stories that never go anywhere. Here's a few examples:

This recent story that claims that corrupt Royal Thai Navy personnel accept bribes from men conscripted to join up. It was reported in the Pattaya Daily News, but hasn't yet featured in a national newspaper. http://www.pattayadailynews.com/pattaya-news/2014/03/04/district-officers-involved-in-navy-discharge-fraud/

What ever happened about this horrendous case? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/618799-kidnapped-karen-girl-enslaved-by-cruel-thai-couple/

Or this one: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/112487-karaoke-singer-accuses-policeman-of-chopping-her-arm-off/page-6

Why isn't there any commited investigative reporting on the numerous corruption scandals that plague Thailand, and I don't just mean the current ones. Why isn't there any commited investigative reporting on how and why corruption is so commonplace, or, more importantly, on those reponsible?

Sure, both English language newspapers run fairly regular - usually hand wringing - rhetorical editorials on the evils noted above.

But that's about it.