NATIONAL REFORM COUNCIL
After heated debate, TJA nominates candidates to help media reform
Attayuth Bootsripoom,
Kornchanok Raksaseri
The Nation


Leena Jangjanja, right, registers in her bid to become a member of the National Reform Council as a representative of the Maha Prachachon Party. The registration period began yesterday and runs until September 2.

BANGKOK: -- Members of the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) had a heated debate yesterday on who exactly should be nominated to join the National Reform Council (NRC). They also debated which name should represent which agency.

As a legal entity, the TJA is eligible to nominate two candidates for the NRC, and board members agreed that the association should not lose this opportunity to help introduce and work on media reform. Initially, the TJA had decided that it would not nominate anybody from its board, but after much discussion, they settled on two names, including that of the TJA president Pradit Ruangdit.

"There has been lobbying by all sorts of people in the media and the media business. If the biggest association of media professionals does not send anybody, then the candidates will eventually come from media businesses, who are not really professional journalists. Then what kind of media reform can we expect?" This was one of the many points brought up at the meeting.

The TJA also nominated two more candidates in its capacity as a co-founder of the Foundation for Media Reform, but they need the approval of the other co-founder, the National Press Council of Thailand (NPCT).

The TJA had initially voiced concerns that no real media professional would have a chance to participate in media reform, and hence urged other media agencies to step up to protect the principles of freedom of press.

However, some people have questioned the decision of professional media agencies to nominate their own people. In the past, former TJA president Pattara Khumphitak ended up having to give up his post after joining the 2006 National Legislative Assembly.

Also, observers have been considering the list of the committee tasked with selecting names for media reform with equal doubt.

Announced on Wednesday night, this seven-member selection panel comprises a retired military officer, a media executive, an advertising executive, an official from the broadcasting and telecommunications body, a media academic, a veteran journalist and a former senior official from the government's public relations agency.

The soldier in the selection panel is General Noppadol Intapanya, who is also adviser to the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). He is a close friend and aide of former defence minister and ex-Army chief General Prawit Wongsuwan.

He was also married to Pantipa Sakulchai, president of Thai TV Pool.

Jamnan Siritan Nunbhakdi, chairperson of the Radio-Television Broadcasting Professional Federation, is obviously seen as a representative of the business aspect of media as she is chief of television company JSL Global Media. She is also believed to have close ties with the military.

Some choices not clear

The role of Takorn Tantasith, secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommuni-cations Commission, however, is not clear as he has yet to prove himself.

Similarly, the performance of Wannee Rattanaphon, chairperson of the advertising Media Agency Association of Thailand, will also be closely watched.

The inclusion of Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, appears to be the most appreciated, as she has been active in her academic role.

Veteran journalist Samroeng Kampa-u, who was TJA president from 1987 to 1988 and editor of Siam Rath newspaper, is another member for selection. Samroeng has yet to put down his pen as a writer.

The last person on the list is 80-year-old Arun Ngamdee, former director-general of the Public Relations Department.

Nevertheless, Wilasinee Pipitkul, an executive with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and a former lecturer in journalism who has been working with several networks and is pushing for reforms in many areas, said the names of the NRC selection committee were acceptable.

She also pointed out that members of media were part of selection committees for other aspects of reform.

"I believe the seven panel members understand the media system, if not in detail, then at least in terms of structure. I also think that the aim of media reform should be to promote media literacy and a sense of citizenship among the people.

"The point is to free the media from politics, capitalism and other influences. I believe the panel will work and push for reform in this direction," she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/After-heated-debate-TJA-nominates-candidates-to-he-30240992.html

[thenation]2014-08-15[/thenation]

The inclusion of Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, appears to be the most appreciated, as she has been active in her academic role.

Wow, a teacher who was actually teaching!

The inclusion of Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, appears to be the most appreciated, as she has been active in her academic role.

Wow, a teacher who was actually teaching!

Pirongrong is highly respected. She has had considerable hands-on experience in journalism and is known for her well-balanced views. She also brings polished English language skills to the table, important when explaining issues to the foreign media.

I don't agree with having working journalists sitting on the reform council - the TJA and other professional bodies should only be acting in an advisory capacity through a joint committee that would not be influenced by the military and would be capable of taking the military head-on should that be necessary. Let the academics or retired journalists like Veera Prateepchaikul take up the media cudgel.

I vote for K. Leena......love her hair and foot long eyelashes.....!

At first glance it appeared that Michael Jackson had made a reappearance with a weight gain.

Organizations should NEVER be trusted to have a hand in their own reform. It will be completely abused and totally pointless because EVERYTHING reformed will be for their own benefit.

 

It is like giving the fox the keys to the hen house.

 

They will just argue about everything, like they can't even agree here.... Nothing will get done properly on reform in this sector. If it is not beneficial, it will be argued off the table.

 

This is where the Junta are going to totally lose the reform war and everything is just going to slide back into the craphole.

 

This is Thailand.... Trust nobody (especially journalists).

 

Get rid of the self serving by making every sector reform while out of the hands of EVERYONE with vested interests.

 

Journalists insisting on reforming their own sector??????? May as well allow Thaksin to reform the election commission, or Yingluck to reform the rice commission or Nattawut to reform the transport system.... Honestly, they will all work without self interest and just for the good of the country.... honest.

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The inclusion of Pirongrong Ramasoota Rananand, lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Communication Arts, appears to be the most appreciated, as she has been active in her academic role.

Wow, a teacher who was actually teaching!

Pirongrong is highly respected. She has had considerable hands-on experience in journalism and is known for her well-balanced views. She also brings polished English language skills to the table, important when explaining issues to the foreign media.

I don't agree with having working journalists sitting on the reform council - the TJA and other professional bodies should only be acting in an advisory capacity through a joint committee that would not be influenced by the military and would be capable of taking the military head-on should that be necessary. Let the academics or retired journalists like Veera Prateepchaikul take up the media cudgel.

 

 

Agree.

 

I see another point, many Thai reporters / journalists are nothing more then scribes to write down what others say, with no questions or analysis and often what ends up in print is say two short paragraphs with numbers / dates / details in the first paragraph which conflict with numbers / dates / details in the second paragraph.

 

This leads me to wonder whether these reporters / journalists have any capability whatever to comment in regard to the bigger picture, say alignment to the development of civil society. (It also brings into question the overall capabilities of the newspapers concerned in regard to editorial capability / activity.)

 

Hence, what value would these people contribute to suggesting content for a new constitution? My guess is zero.

 

In fact these 'seats' at the constitution table would be better allocated to many others already respected people who have well proven their views align to the creation and maintenance of a balanced civil society with equal opportunity and equal access to education, opportunities and equal application of the law with no double standards. 

 

There are in reality many such good people in this wonderful country but in the past they have deliberately kept a low profile, and you can't fault them for doing just that.

 

Back to journalists, there are of course a small handful of Thai journalists who are capable and often write pieces which provoke our thinking

Organizations should NEVER be trusted to have a hand in their own reform. It will be completely abused and totally pointless because EVERYTHING reformed will be for their own benefit.

 

It is like giving the fox the keys to the hen house.

 

They will just argue about everything, like they can't even agree here.... Nothing will get done properly on reform in this sector. If it is not beneficial, it will be argued off the table.

 

This is where the Junta are going to totally lose the reform war and everything is just going to slide back into the craphole.

 

This is Thailand.... Trust nobody (especially journalists).

 

Get rid of the self serving by making every sector reform while out of the hands of EVERYONE with vested interests.

 

Journalists insisting on reforming their own sector??????? May as well allow Thaksin to reform the election commission, or Yingluck to reform the rice commission or Nattawut to reform the transport system.... Honestly, they will all work without self interest and just for the good of the country.... honest.

Agree with you. However, you left out: "let Suthep and Abhisit reform the Oil Palm  industry. Let Suthep and Abhisit reform the rubber plantations and industry. Let Monk Phra Suthep reform Buddhism. Let Yinlguck reform hi-so stores, etc.Let the Reds and Yellows reform open ended protests whenever, wherever and for as long as they want.

What  other country can boast 18 constitutions and almost as many coup d'etat in its history in less than 125 years? That I know of I think not even in Africa!

Reform while a strong man is at the helm begs the questions: Reform,  to benefit whom and to reform what?

Do I detect a Third World mentality?

 

Will it also free the media from the clutches of the NCPO, which has instructed the Press to publish only good news about it?

 

Organizations should NEVER be trusted to have a hand in their own reform. It will be completely abused and totally pointless because EVERYTHING reformed will be for their own benefit.

 

It is like giving the fox the keys to the hen house.

 

They will just argue about everything, like they can't even agree here.... Nothing will get done properly on reform in this sector. If it is not beneficial, it will be argued off the table.

 

This is where the Junta are going to totally lose the reform war and everything is just going to slide back into the craphole.

 

This is Thailand.... Trust nobody (especially journalists).

 

Get rid of the self serving by making every sector reform while out of the hands of EVERYONE with vested interests.

 

Journalists insisting on reforming their own sector??????? May as well allow Thaksin to reform the election commission, or Yingluck to reform the rice commission or Nattawut to reform the transport system.... Honestly, they will all work without self interest and just for the good of the country.... honest.

Agree with you. However, you left out: "let Suthep and Abhisit reform the Oil Palm  industry. Let Suthep and Abhisit reform the rubber plantations and industry. Let Monk Phra Suthep reform Buddhism. Let Yinlguck reform hi-so stores, etc.Let the Reds and Yellows reform open ended protests whenever, wherever and for as long as they want.

What  other country can boast 18 constitutions and almost as many coup d'etat in its history in less than 125 years? That I know of I think not even in Africa!

Reform while a strong man is at the helm begs the questions: Reform,  to benefit whom and to reform what?

Do I detect a Third World mentality?

 

 

 

Well you certainly don't have any idea how the reform council will work, as well as apparently being clueless about any reform being needed.

 

The council is totally separate to the NLA and will not have the General at the helm. He will be involved in the final selection of appointees and then they're on their own.

 

I think the TJA has every right to apply for positions as (they point out) it's better to have real journalists in the council than business owners of the media. In addition, there are some very good journalists here, You don't see them writing the day-to-day crap that becomes the TV Op articles. They (the better ones) are mainly columnists with an opinion.