Should 'political TV' make a comeback?

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Should 'political TV' make a comeback?
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Legislation must first address hate speech and dubious funding sources

Among the political voices suppressed following the coup in May are some that had become quite familiar. They were controversial, to say the least. Pro- and anti-Thaksin TV stations have been utterly subdued since the military take-over, yet complaints about restrictions on freedom of expression have rarely extended to them - for good reasons.

As long as the military junta remains in power, it’s hard to imagine "red" or "yellow" or "blue" TV stations being revived and getting back to their provocative and combatant best. Even the most vocal critics of the coup have found it difficult to oppose the crackdown on the politically oriented TV stations, whose trademarks were hate speeches and no-holds-barred broadcasts of fiery political rallies.

Yet the issue of politically connected stations will resurface as Thailand grapples with its divisive politics and ponders measures to bring about peace and reconciliation. The TV stations, to begin with, had dubious sources of funds. The alleged practice of getting funding from politicians raised strong legal questions. How "fair" was Thai politics to smaller parties?

Since the issue of "political" TV stations is closely related to the matter of freedom of expression and how the powers-that-be have often exploited state mechanisms to guide or control broadcasting, there is no getting around it. Those responsible for "reforming" Thailand must tackle this delicate issue with a clear and unbiased conscience.

The first political station was the Manager Group's ASTV. It was hell-bent on attacking Thaksin Shinawatra, his family and basically everything they did. However, ASTV was around so long that citizens might have forgotten where the station got its impetus. It came from Thaksin’s clampdown on critical TV programmes in the first place.

One thing led to another. A TV station was founded to guard Thaksin against just such attacks and wage war against ASTV. The red shirts’ TV played a big role in the uprising of 2010 and, like ASTV before it, displeased the powers-that-be. When the Pheu Thai Party came to power in the aftermath of the red upheaval, another political TV station made a flamboyant bow. Bluesky TV was fundamental in last year’s anti-Pheu Thai street campaign, but it, the red shirts’ station and ASTV were jointly blamed for the unprecedented climate of hatred shrouding Thailand.

Should political broadcasting even be allowed? Of course it should. Should funding come from politicians? Absolutely not: The negative consequences are all around us. Blatant lies were told. Obscene language was common. Ethics was virtually non-existent. And television's regulators, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, could do nothing about it. Politicians want the audience to hate their rivals, but in the process viewers end up hating not just political figures but their fellow citizens. The hatred was real, deep-rooted and, by the time of the coup, becoming dangerous.

Sooner or later the issue of political TV stations will have to be tackled. Whenever suppression of freedom of expression is decried, it’s easy to overlook or sidestep the danger of free-for-all political TV. To promote democracy and guard against the uncontrolled consequences of hate broadcasts, we need to strike a firm balance. The funding rules must change and be strictly enforced, and regulations must be set to prevent hate propaganda, outright lies and defamation.

With freedom comes responsibility. If political TV stations are to be revived, everyone involved must keep that in mind.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Should-political-TV-make-a-comeback-30250257.html

-- The Nation 2014-12-20

[chainarong]

Media to the masses should never be a front for political propaganda , any country that has blatant media as a political tool is run by either a dictatorship or dick heads ( take your pic) and what's more to interfere with those fine homely soaps that frequent the TV screen in Thailand is absolute blasphemy. political opinions have a place in society but not in the lounge rooms of home and after the happiness B/S would anybody think otherwise.

[Tatsujin]

Media to the masses should never be a front for political propaganda , any country that has blatant media as a political tool is run by either a dictatorship or dick heads ( take your pic) and what's more to interfere with those fine homely soaps that frequent the TV screen in Thailand is absolute blasphemy. political opinions have a place in society but not in the lounge rooms of home and after the happiness B/S would anybody think otherwise.

People always hold up the USA as a "success" for pretty much everything including "democracy" and "freedom of the press/reporting" ... however CNN and Fox News at the very least are nothing more than out and out liars, scaremongers and are paid to broadcast what they do for political/business aims to keep the nations people scared, all under the guise of news reporting.

[TommyUK1960]

Tatsujin, on 20 Dec 2014 - 08:43, said:

chainarong, on 20 Dec 2014 - 08:23, said:

Media to the masses should never be a front for political propaganda , any country that has blatant media as a political tool is run by either a dictatorship or dick heads ( take your pic) and what's more to interfere with those fine homely soaps that frequent the TV screen in Thailand is absolute blasphemy. political opinions have a place in society but not in the lounge rooms of home and after the happiness B/S would anybody think otherwise.

People always hold up the USA as a "success" for pretty much everything including "democracy" and "freedom of the press/reporting" ... however CNN and Fox News at the very least are nothing more than out and out liars, scaremongers and are paid to broadcast what they do for political/business aims to keep the nations people scared, all under the guise of news reporting.

In the UK we have the dreaded BBC and SKY News.

[Commerce]

Should 'political TV' make a comeback?

When did it ever leave? Friday night is simply a modern addition/edition.

[Lupatria]

A fruitless discussion in due of consideration that this country is still not ready for certain things: ASEAN, freedom of speech, basic democracy, unbiased political and social education, tackle corruption, meritocracy, delayering, etc.etc.

[ginjag]

The best TV is a neutral and balanced fair view. Have debates as in UK. with different political persons-interviewed by strong to the point interviewers. people do not need paid propaganda rammed down their throat--or brainwashed ideas.

[ginjag]

Media to the masses should never be a front for political propaganda , any country that has blatant media as a political tool is run by either a dictatorship or dick heads ( take your pic) and what's more to interfere with those fine homely soaps that frequent the TV screen in Thailand is absolute blasphemy. political opinions have a place in society but not in the lounge rooms of home and after the happiness B/S would anybody think otherwise.

And the rest (red channel) omg. but agree with what you say. leave out all these paid brainwashers out of it---they should work for a living.

[mike324]

I think political channels are fine and should be shown to give people views on both sides, but in Thailand talk show hosts ask people to go attack the opposition, block this and that, etc hence Thailand is not ready for it and should not have it. The misleading propaganda they spew and hatred is too much.

[MaxLee]

Media to the masses should never be a front for political propaganda , any country that has blatant media as a political tool is run by either a dictatorship or dick heads ( take your pic) and what's more to interfere with those fine homely soaps that frequent the TV screen in Thailand is absolute blasphemy. political opinions have a place in society but not in the lounge rooms of home and after the happiness B/S would anybody think otherwise.

YEP our PM nationwide every Friday at 8.00 pm.....

[mikiea]

"freedom of speach" will get you jailed faster than a thai lady can say "you are hansom man" the training wheels will remain in place a long time

[wabothai]

This question might be posed after the junta with its crackdown on free speakers has been replaced.

[scorecard]

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The best TV is a neutral and balanced fair view. Have debates as in UK. with different political persons-interviewed by strong to the point interviewers. people do not need paid propaganda rammed down their throat--or brainwashed ideas.

Well yes, and 'neutral and balanced' are key words.

Amongst such program from the UK we have HARDTALK, but I certainly wouldn't call that a debate nor neutral and balanced. And I certainly wouldn't call the lady who appears as an interviewer (can't find her name - zabawi or similar) a balanced journalist, far from it.

There definitely is a need to keep the populace well informed and all governments should be there to do the will of the people which includes keeping the people (their employers) well informed.

TV probably is the ideal main vehicle but it seems to me a new format needs to be created which ensures that a large number of people are requested to appear and speak on these programs and there are always well selected people who have the opposite or different view. And no politicians allowed to dominate a specific program (perhaps including only allowed to speak for 3 minutes or whatever) / nor allowed to appear more than say 3 times in one year.

Banned politicians or dismissed public servants never allowed to appear.

Perhaps a new format should also include:

- A team of moderators who are respected by the public.

- Audience participation

- Audience allowed and encouraged to put their questions and comments on paper and passed to the moderator to put to the speakers

- Viewing audience encouraged to send it questions and comments by e-mail

- TV channel, government officials, political party officials totally banned to interfere in any way

This wouldn't be all that hard to organize

[whybother]

NO

[rickirs]

Should 'political TV' make a comeback?

It never left. NCPO Chief and PM Prayuth uses TV to force his weekly propoganda program. When he recently learned that some stations in the North stopped broadcasting his speechs, he ordered them to start broadcasting his speeches. Since martial law is still in effect and the NCPO has judicial powers, it can back up Prayuth's demands by arresting station owners and operators under the "rule of [its] law."

[Fred Flinstone]

Your not allowed to be critical of Government -

This thread is designed to make us forget this

A Newspaper , that is a mouth piece is even seeing its freedoms dimmed-

Soon it will be ""Obama Praises General "" and anyone questioning this will get LM laws slapped on them .

Watch

[LazarusRising]

What is the "bringing happiness back to the people" crap the nation currently has to endure if not "political TV".

[seajae]

The best TV is a neutral and balanced fair view. Have debates as in UK. with different political persons-interviewed by strong to the point interviewers. people do not need paid propaganda rammed down their throat--or brainwashed ideas.

honestly, can you imagine yl debating anyone at all, she would have a totally blank look on her face and not be able to answer any questions/queries let alone say anything that is at all plausible. A ten year old could run rings around her in a debate, in fact I doubt many politicians at all could stand up and debate anyone as they simply dont have the brains to do so, all they know is one liners and b*****t. It would be like watching playschool

[Wilsonandson]

Of course there should be political tv. All opinions of Thais must be televised and not hidden underground. The more understanding of each group, party, etc. . . The more Thais can understand and solve the differences and thus bringing peace and harmony to the Thai community at whole.