Journalists in region 'still facing many threats, challenges'

[Lite Beer]

Journalists in region 'still facing many threats, challenges'
Pravit Rojanaphruk
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Journalists working in many mainstream mass-media outlets in Southeast Asia still face a lot of threats, says Gayathry Venkiteswaran, executive director of the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA).

Venkiteswaran, who spoke at a panel jointly organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and Unesco this week to mark World Press Freedom Day (which is today), said the Philippines, for example, was the world's third-most-dangerous place for journalists to operate in when it comes to attacks with impunity.

In Thailand, she said, anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters had marched to some media outlets and harassed journalists, while some other media organisations had been attacked.

Safety aside, media outlets in the region also faced a credibility crisis, with some having become "publications of slander and lies".

On the other hand, laws had been passed or were in the pipeline in many countries in the region to restrict freedom of expression on the Internet.

Anothai Udomsilp, director of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service's Academic Institute of Public Media, said media independence - particularly editorial independence - was still important in Thailand. Freedom of expression was also still a contentious issue.

"My colleagues find it difficult when they talk of total freedom of expression," he said, adding that there were "legislative difficulties" that restricted Thai reporters from exercising full press freedom. But in general, the principle was enshrined in the Constitution.

He also expressed concerns about widespread use of hate speech by citizens and the divisive nature of Thai society today.

Kavi Chongkittavorn, a columnist at The Nation, said Thai journalists were initially ill prepared for the security risks related to political-protest conflict zones over the past few years. But they had since seen a lot of improvement, although the Thai Journalists Association had yet to come up with guidelines to boost safety for journalists.

Kavi also questioned the euphoria surrounding the multiplication of news on digital television.

"We'll have 30 digital news channels. There'll be information overload. We have many information outlets but it's very useless."

-- The Nation 2014-05-03

[Mango Bob]

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

[ChrisY1]

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

Stupid post first thing in the morning.....the article is about journalists.....not Suthep, Jutaporn or anybody else.

It mentions hate speech......something you seem to be very adept at!

[issanaus]

One of the challenges they face is deciding if they are journalist, editorial writer, or paid public relations consultants.

The article is right when it said that there is more quantity of ":information" but real questions about quality.

In a country like Thailand that does not teach critical thinking and has sound bite presentation of news and current affairs how are the recipients of the "information" to sort the grains of sugar from the piles of sh-te.

[Tatsujin]

Foreign journalists are finding it almost impossible to get hold of bulletproof vests legally, they bring them in in carry-on but they're actually breaking the law by using them . . . no licence has been issued for 15 years+ I believe despite ongoing efforts by some to get the correct licences . . . and those journalist "associations" are worse than useless at doing anything whatsoever except suck up to whoever is currently in power.

[Tatsujin]

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

The red hate continues . . . and is why the country is so divided recently . . . carry on "bob", you're doing a great job at ruining what was a very nice place to live.

[clockman]

Until they repeal, the slander libel law. Which has been put in place. To protect the corrupt.!

[Mango Bob]

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Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

Stupid post first thing in the morning.....the article is about journalists.....not Suthep, Jutaporn or anybody else.

It mentions hate speech......something you seem to be very adept at!

Your one of them can't accept someone else's opinion so need to insult.

[Mango Bob]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

The red hate continues . . . and is why the country is so divided recently . . . carry on "bob", you're doing a great job at ruining what was a very nice place to live.

You know where the exit is. Leave if you don't like it. Another who can not accept others opinion other than Suthep.

[Tatsujin]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

The red hate continues . . . and is why the country is so divided recently . . . carry on "bob", you're doing a great job at ruining what was a very nice place to live.

You know where the exit is. Leave if you don't like it. Another who can not accept others opinion other than Suthep.

And yet another classically original, well thought out reply ... the "if you don't like it, leave".

Well thanks "bob" ... why would I leave my "home"?

And by the way ... I'm not a big fan of Suthep. I am however very pleased with the corruption and incompetence of Thaksin/PT/UDD that he has brought to the public awareness.

[tomhell]

Quote from article: In Thailand, she said, anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters had marched to some media outlets and harassed journalists, while some other media organisations had been attacked.

The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.

Tom

[Torrens54]

Foreign journalists are finding it almost impossible to get hold of bulletproof vests legally, they bring them in in carry-on but they're actually breaking the law by using them . . . no licence has been issued for 15 years+ I believe despite ongoing efforts by some to get the correct licences . . . and those journalist "associations" are worse than useless at doing anything whatsoever except suck up to whoever is currently in power.

Once upon a time, Australia had a very good Journalist's Association, the AJA (Australian Journalists Association) trouble was, it was taken over by Left Wing elements and is now part of something called the "Media and Arts Alliance" (or something of that nature.)

It is full of "Lefties," mainly from the ABC who "play amongst themselves and suck up to the Labor Party," while real journalists just get on with their jobs in Newspapers, Commercial Radio and Commercial Television. One day the Australian Government will wake up and stop funding the ABC, which has very few listeners/viewers, just no where near enough, to warrant the Taxpayer expenditure.

[Maggusoil]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Not only journalist but also those who don't support Suthep face the same here.

Stupid post first thing in the morning.....the article is about journalists.....not Suthep, Jutaporn or anybody else.

It mentions hate speech......something you seem to be very adept at!

Your one of them can't accept someone else's opinion so need to insult.

Yes, hate speech is a bit heavy for having an opinion, even if its not to your liking.

[Maggusoil]

Journalists have been jailed here as well as Eqypt.

The foreign press should take as much notice.

Imprisonment for an opinion is even heavier.