No need for PM Prayut to worry about use of words in headlines: experts

[webfact]

No need for PM to worry about use of words in headlines: experts
Phumpetch Roumjit
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha may not be happy with the choice of some words in news headlines but to media academics, there's nothing for him to worry about.

Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd has said there have been concerns that words like fung (boast), wo (brag) and heum (roar) can give the government a bad image and cause misunderstandings.

But Sukhum Nuansakul, a political analyst and former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, who has an extensive media background, said yesterday that those words were simply part of media's marketing strategies.

"The purpose of using heated words in headlines is to catch people's attention and make them buy newspapers. Officials should not worry about this," he said.

That kind of language would not be able to warp the truth of news, he said.

"People understand that media want to grab attention. They do not think the situation is as serious as those deprecatory-sounding words."

Mana Treelayapewat, vice dean of communication arts at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said it was the style of Thai media to use provocative headlines to pique readers' interest.

But while there was no need to oppress the media, they should report news without any hidden agenda, he said.

Prayut reportedly had issues with some choice of content in headlines.

"Do you like it when someone uses such words about you?" the general said.

Jumpol Rodkhamdee, a member of the National Reform Council and a media expert, said the media should be more careful because some words might cause readers to become biased.

"Exercise caution to ensure that information is given that is not going to cause problems or confusion," he said.

The media should understand that while enjoying press freedom, they must also act responsibly and accountably, he said.

Prayut's latest worry was not unusual, he added.

"When the country is not in a normal situation, it's quite common that the government will issue warnings against anything that is threatening its stability or against news reports that are not accurate," Jumpol said.

When the government has concerns about what appears in the papers, it should consult self-regulatory media bodies, he said. "There's no need to go public."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/No-need-for-PM-to-worry-about-use-of-words-in-head-30247099.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-06

[JOC]

<Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd has said there have been concerns that words like fung (boast), wo (brag) and heum (roar) can give the government a bad image and cause misunderstandings.> Quote

Words are not giving the government a bad image, but their actions..................

[srchino]

You can't make this <deleted> up[emoji23]

[kalbo123]

Wow what an expert is that, words do not matter.

[NongKhaiKid]

Thainess, fawning or just plain stupidity ?

Probably all three.

[mikemac]

<Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd has said there have been concerns that words like fung (boast), wo (brag) and heum (roar) can give the government a bad image and cause misunderstandings.> Quote

Words are not giving the government a bad image, but their actions..................

If I were the PM I would be more concerned with the words used on Skype by the string puller who is in "self imposed exile", not words printed in newspapers.

A great man once said to solve a problem you must first find the source or cause of the problem and resolve or remove that issue first, before trying to fix the actual problem.

The only reason Thailand has a new government is because of the raft of dubious actions, and inactions, of the PTP. They can only brag and boast now about massive losses of the publics' money while they were in power.

Any issues anyone may have with the present government would not exist if the previous government had have done the right thing by the people of Thailand.

I am not going to list the wrongdoings by PTP, it would take all day, but you know what I am talking about.

[Soutpeel]

...one of the more bizarre "news" stories from the Nation this week.

[mikemac]

It's funny, but whenever a story is printed in the newspaper that concerns the present government and it's policies and announcements the red crowd are all over it like a cheap suit, treating it as gospel. Never once do they consider the source may have been misinterpreted.

But stories that dare to mention the PTP and their wrongdoings are utter rubbish.

Make up your minds, do we believe what is written in the paper, or not ?

[thesetat2013]

Wow what an expert is that, words do not matter.

These are the same Thai experts that went to Thai school copying other Thais work and passing their Thai courses even if they learned nothing

[NongKhaiKid]

Don't worry general and listen to your ' experts '.

You are the leader of Thailand and have international stature, didn't you wow all the delegates in Milan ?

How do I know, a Thai official said so.

You can say anything you want as you are Thai and just how many world leaders have a near 94% popularity rating ?

Ok, ok there's the fat boy in Nth. Korea, Robert in Zimbabwe and the Chinese leaders and a couple of others not worth talking about.

[shirtless]

The bikini line comes to mind. Say what you want but the world is listening.

[emilymat]

Words are crucial, and so is punctuation. Take this headline from the a UK newspaper in WWII.

"Eight Army push bottles up Germans"

Just a comma missing but the whole sense of the sentence is changed.

[scorecard]

Reality check:

- The general is a general, he's not a slick politician.

- He no doubt wishes, after the event, that he hadn't used some words, phrases, etc.

- Right now Thailand doesn't need slick politicians, it does need a man who can use his power to quiet things down and achieve some desperately needed reforms, which will ultimately put the country back into the hands of the good people of Thailand.

- Let's be honest, 99% of Thailand past slick politicians don't want reforms in fact they would have no hesitation to make changes which make it easier for them to rape the country. And many of these people are capable of slick PR / slick words, but often quite dishonest.

Go general go.

[Fat Haggis]

It's funny, but whenever a story is printed in the newspaper that concerns the present government and it's policies and announcements the red crowd are all over it like a cheap suit, treating it as gospel. Never once do they consider the source may have been misinterpreted.

But stories that dare to mention the PTP and their wrongdoings are utter rubbish.

Make up your minds, do we believe what is written in the paper, or not ?

Oh come now Mike, didn't the anti Goverment people say pretty much all the same things about the PM then, as they are now ?

The media can build you up Nd they can tear you down too just as easily.

The General/PM needs to develop thicker skin and stop worrying too much, he has 93% of the population behind him !! ?

I'd like to remind some people that Saddam and Ghadaffi also had their people behind them, right up to the point they perpetrated in their downfall.

Ghadaffis own security team passed on his movements to the rebels who were part of the 100% that loved and adored him.

Only a fool would believe that the current PM has 93% of the country behind him, and let's face it when these polls are done, how many ordinary folks off the streets are participating? And I'm also pretty sure that most know that anything not construed as going with the flow results in 2-3 weeks in "happy camp" ?

There's always going to be an opposition to anything he, or any other PM says or does, it's simple human nature and politics, no point in getting wound up about it Mike, and besides, unless you have a vote your comments are pointless to the 90% Farang here who also don't have a say either.

[evadgib]

Words are crucial, and so is punctuation. Take this headline from the a UK newspaper in WWII.

"Eight Army push bottles up Germans"

Just a comma missing but the whole sense of the sentence is changed.

Or "Monty flys back to front"

[draftvader]

"The purpose of using heated words in headlines is to catch people's attention and make them buy newspapers. Officials should not worry about this," he said.

This is completely true when there is no electorate.

[Thaddeus]

"I'm going to walk into town"

v

"I'm going to march into town"

Same isn't it, just for the headline of course. (and this bloke is an expert! the bar is set very low, praise be to Thai educational standards)

[klauskunkel]

Sukhum Nuansakul, a political analyst and former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, who has an extensive media background, said yesterday that those words were simply part of media's marketing strategies. "The purpose of using heated words in headlines is to catch people's attention and make them buy newspapers. Officials should not worry about this," he said. "People understand that media want to grab attention. They do not think the situation is as serious as those deprecatory-sounding words."

What this expert seems to not understand is that people form a subconscious image in their mind based partly on those headlines, examples: Chalerm - brash, drunk, loud-mouth. Jatuporn - thick, red, rage. Yingluck - clueless, hiso, shopping. Suthep - used car salesman, opportunist, insincere. And so on...

[fab4]

Reality check:

- The general is a general, he's not a slick politician.

- He no doubt wishes, after the event, that he hadn't used some words, phrases, etc.

- Right now Thailand doesn't need slick politicians, it does need a man who can use his power to quiet things down and achieve some desperately needed reforms, which will ultimately put the country back into the hands of the good people of Thailand.

- Let's be honest, 99% of Thailand past slick politicians don't want reforms in fact they would have no hesitation to make changes which make it easier for them to rape the country. And many of these people are capable of slick PR / slick words, but often quite dishonest.

Go general go.

For once I agree with you. Well, actually only the last sentence, but hey...........................

[recycled]

Reality check:

- The general is a general, he's not a slick politician.

- He no doubt wishes, after the event, that he hadn't used some words, phrases, etc.

- Right now Thailand doesn't need slick politicians, it does need a man who can use his power to quiet things down and achieve some desperately needed reforms, which will ultimately put the country back into the hands of the good people of Thailand.

- Let's be honest, 99% of Thailand past slick politicians don't want reforms in fact they would have no hesitation to make changes which make it easier for them to rape the country. And many of these people are capable of slick PR / slick words, but often quite dishonest.

Go general go.

The General Prat Prayut and politicians are not slick, just sick. This ring master couldn't run a country fair let alone a country.

[balford]

It doesn't matter which words he uses the media will twist it to suit their own agenda - or that of the owner of the outlet. Good news doesn't sell.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

[tingtong]

to name things on their name...

end of the day, the good general is a military dictator!!

he can say what he wants, and those disagree, watch out!

[slipperx]

Quote

Words are not giving the government a bad image, but their actions..................

And or inactions

[heybruce]

Reality check:

- The general is a general, he's not a slick politician.

- He no doubt wishes, after the event, that he hadn't used some words, phrases, etc.

- Right now Thailand doesn't need slick politicians, it does need a man who can use his power to quiet things down and achieve some desperately needed reforms, which will ultimately put the country back into the hands of the good people of Thailand.

- Let's be honest, 99% of Thailand past slick politicians don't want reforms in fact they would have no hesitation to make changes which make it easier for them to rape the country. And many of these people are capable of slick PR / slick words, but often quite dishonest.

Go general go.

To summarize: Democracy bad, d*******ship good!

[Dogmatix]

He should stop worrying about nonsense like this and start worrying about how his government is going deliver on the wide sweeping economic, legal and social reforms he promised. After a promising three month start he seems to have lost momentum after forming the government as all types of vested interests have started clamouring for attention. Good government performance will be rewarded with words like 'praise' in the media. There is still time to get back on track.

Edited November 6, 2014 by Dogmatix

[WhizBang]

The good general would seem to have a thin skin, and is most definately NOT used to being questioned.

The old saying... 'If you cannot stand the heat, get out of the kitchen', comes to mind. The general is out of his depth and needs to reconsider what his (stated) long term goals are. Bleating on about trivia and trying to muzzle the press and free speach will only serve to backfire on him eventually.

[iReason]

"Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha may not be happy with the choice of some words in news headlines"

Welcome to the Big Leagues.

"Do you like it when someone uses such words about you?" the general said.

Boo Hoo...

Don't be sad.

Perhaps just address a few things;

"A few days ago, Prayuth appeared angry when Thais demanded the government increase transparency.”

“I beg you not to dig up anything. There is no benefit in so doing.”

“I must say that you cannot do that for the time being.”

http://thediplomat.com/2014/10/thai-junta-beset-by-corruption-scandals/

Edited November 6, 2014 by iReason

[heyexile]

Don't worry general and listen to your ' experts '.

You are the leader of Thailand and have international stature, didn't you wow all the delegates in Milan ?

How do I know, a Thai official said so.

You can say anything you want as you are Thai and just how many world leaders have a near 94% popularity rating ?

Ok, ok there's the fat boy in Nth. Korea, Robert in Zimbabwe and the Chinese leaders and a couple of others not worth talking about.

This brilliant satire lifted from prachatai and written before the op piece sums up not listening to experts as an all powerful ruler. http://twitter/com/pakhead An Interview (with apologies to a Bird, a Fortune and a Fish)

Submitted by prachatai on Wed, 05/11/2014 - 08:04

Harrison George

Khun Jod Lukplasaenmon. You are an advisor to the Prime Minister.

Yes. Yes, I am.

And so you give advice to the Prime Minister.

Well, we try. There’s a team of us, you see. But the PM is a very intelligent man, you know.

Is he?

Oh yes, a tremendous intellect. So sometimes he doesn’t need our advice. Most of the time, in fact.

I see. So this campaign against corruption, was it something that you advised? Or perhaps …

Oh well, I think that was a no-brainer really. So the PM thought of that himself. But he is terribly keen to eradicate corruption. And I think our track record speaks for itself.

Yes, of course. There was the overpriced lottery tickets, …

Yes, that was an early one.

… and the jet ski mafia on Phuket.

Yes, we cleaned all that up.

Yes. Except that it seems that they are back.

Back?

The jet skis. Well, they never really went away. And the lottery tickets are now sold at the old prices.

Ah, but the price did go down for a while.

So corruption was uprooted?

Yes, yes, of course. For a limited period of time. But you see corruption is a very complicated business and it has, unfortunately, er, ...

Re-rooted itself?

Exactly.

Is this perhaps because the lottery ticket campaign failed to go after the 3 or 4 big wholesalers who still more or less monopolize sales?

Well, it’s still early days. You can’t expect corruption to disappear in just a few weeks. And certainly we will take lessons from the lottery tickets case.

So you will be going after the big fish in the future?

Possibly. Or perhaps pursue cases where there are no big fish in the first place. It all depends, really.

Now of course, there has been a lot of criticism of the investigation into the deaths on Ko Tao.

The two British tourists. Yes, very sad.

Yes and two Burmese migrant workers are currently charged with the murders.

Yes, the evidence is overwhelming.

Well, perhaps so, but why then is there so much criticism, both here and abroad, of the police performance?

Well there shouldn’t be any criticism here. That’s not our policy.

Oh? So people in Thailand believe that the police have done a good job?

Who knows? But whatever they think, there shouldn’t be any criticism. It’s not allowed.

But you will admit that there’s criticism from abroad? From the UK and Myanmar?

Well, you see, they’re far away. And there’s a language problem. They don’t understand the facts. It’s a problem if you’re not Thai.

So you would say the police investigation has been …

Perfectly adequate. Well, as the PM said, according to the UK police, everything had been done just as in the UK.

Yes, the PM did say that. So in the UK the police conduct re-enactments? In front of the media? And release personal details about the victims? And let everyone walk all over the crime scene?

Well, the PM said they studied from the same textbooks. But perhaps there are different interpretations.

But the PM has himself made comments about the case that have been, well, unhelpful.

You mean the bikini comment?

Well, …

You must understand, this case is terribly serious and people were getting very tense about it and the PM sensed this, you see, he’s awfully good at sensing these things. And he thought he could perhaps he could lighten the atmosphere a little.

With a remark that most people found offensive and for which he apologized. But no, I was thinking more about the Prime Minister’s comments about the UK government’s concerns.

Concerns?

Yes, the UK government issued a statement on its website, and I quote, ‘The Minister for the Far East and South East Asia Hugo Swire summoned the Thai Chargé d’Affaires.’ But Gen Prayut denied that the Chargé had been summoned and said that the Thai side had offered to explain the situation.

Well, we did offer an explanation and it was accepted.

Yes, that’s what the PM said. But the UK government also said, and again I quote, ‘there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities.’

Er, yes, there was concern. There was concern that the Thai police had managed such an excellent investigation and apprehended the culprits so quickly.

I see. But if, just for the purposes of argument, you understand, if we look at this from a different perspective, you could say that the police have made a complete pig’s breakfast of it and the PM is making a terrible mistake in standing by them.

Well, that’s not our perspective.

No, I understand that. But most people will say that if you’re really going to get rid of corruption in government then the police would be high on your list. And the Ko Tao case, at least from one viewpoint, would have been the perfect place to start. But the opportunity seems to have been passed up.

Well, reform of the police, dear me, it’s a big job, you know.

Too big for this government?

Oh no. Certainly not. But you must realize, the police may have a lot of information about everyone, you and me, even members of the government and the NLA and so on, …

Which you want them to keep secret?

No, not as such. But just think about it. If somehow the Thai police were not corrupt and became efficient and solved crimes and stopped torturing detainees and got the traffic moving and all that sort of thing, well, how do you think that would make the military look?

Khun Jod Lukplasaenmon, thank you very much.

About author: Bangkokians with long memories may remember his irreverent column in The Nation in the 1980's. During his period of enforced silence since then, he was variously reported as participating in a 999-day meditation retreat in a hill-top monastery in Mae Hong Son (he gave up after 998 days), as the Special Rapporteur for Satire of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, and as understudy for the male lead in the long-running ‘Pussies -not the Musical' at the Neasden International Palladium (formerly Park Lane Empire).

Tags:

• anti-corruption
• Ko Tao
• overpriced lottery
• UK
• Alien Thoughts