Thai opinion: Media have to be cautious over New Year largesse

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STREETWISE
Media have to be cautious over New Year largesse
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Towards the end of each year news offices in Thailand welcome a flock of corporate publicists coming to express their thanks for media support during the year.

They bring along diaries, calendars, notepads and baskets of fruit and other food. This is aside from Thank Press and New Year parties hosted on an annual basis.

Most of these visitors had called ahead, in November, seeking updates on personnel. Is a particular reporter still working at the paper? Has that person's title changed? These have been the most regular questions I have been asked in the past 25 years. The updates are necessary so the PR staff can plan their gifts accordingly.

One of the publicists told me the preparation took a lot of time and effort. In her organisation, which has more than 20,000 employees nationwide, each department is asked months ahead how many of these "souvenirs" it wants to reserve. The communications department makes its choices for media offices and reporters.

Giving presents to patrons has long been a Thai tradition, but in my long career I've found the tradition tending to get more and more pricey. That's understandable given the increased number of incorporated entities, now more than 600,000. The growing population of the country, now 67 million, also means more patrons. Some regulatory offices are also extended to cope with extra work if all these operations are to be facilitated.

The choice in New Year gifts has also widened. From diaries and notepads in addition to greeting cards, it is increasingly common to find power banks - a vital accessory for reporters who need to take photos, record voice clips and shoot video. Three years ago a 3,000mAh power bank was considered luxurious. Thanks to the falling price, some companies now hand out ones with 6000mAh or more. In the past, media office cabinets were full of notepads. Now there is nothing but the edible and non-edible stuff that's distributed and consumed.

The pricier the gifts have become, the less thankful the recipients seem to be. Few reporters keep the New Year cards. Some young reporters have developed a cheeky habit of chasing gifts and souvenirs at Thank Press parties. Many such parties are held during November and December, sometimes more than one on the same day.

Upon receiving a diary and a pen at a party hosted by a government ministry, a reporter turned to his friend. "That's it? Let's move on! We can be at the next party in time."

This is regardless of the fact that notepads and pens will last the entire year and remind them of the senders. Only a few reporters go to Thank Press parties with the sole intention of having a chat with top corporate executives, something quite impossible at press conferences.

It was shocking to learn that a big company spent more than a million baht last year on a party and a lot more on New Year's gifts just for the press.

I can't help but think that if our nation is serious about tackling corruption, we will need measures that encompass all sections of society.

Government employees and politicians have been barred from taking gifts worth more than Bt3,000.

In the area involving private firms and independent organisations, new initiatives have emerged this year.

Anyone checking the Bank of Thailand website will see a note asking all those who offer gifts to any executives or staff for New Year or other occasions to ensure transparency and to comply with the principles of good governance.

Recently the Bank of Ayudhya emailed its suppliers to urge that they not give gifts or other valuable items to staff at any of its business units. Gifts are identified as anything valuable and anything that can be used, such as cash, airfare, discount vouchers and vouchers for accommodation and vehicles. Suppliers are also asked not to host receptions for the staff or invite them to attend sport outings, such as a round of golf.

A corporate PR was also surprised that this year his gift basket, meant for the chief of Money Channel - a business unit of the Stock Exchange of Thailand - could not be delivered to the intended recipient.

It seems some organisations have learned when enough should be enough. A tiny gift could expand into a very special gift that might compromise the entire operation.

It is people's nature to be attracted to freebies and it is also natural that they want more and more. This is despite the fact that Christmas and New Year should be a period when everyone realises the true purpose of life and becomes focused on measures to improve themselves. To honour this auspicious moment, media professionals should be sufficiently pleased when corporate publicists assist them well in terms of providing the information they need. Of course, greeting cards should be always welcomed!

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Media-have-to-be-cautious-over-New-Year-largesse-30250435.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-23

[Somtamnication]

Ah! The old money-stuffed-in-a-notepad trick-write-what-we-want-you-to-write trick. Been around since Roman times. Next!!

[chainarong]

It depends on the giver and what that involves, if I gave the nation staff all plastic biros for the new year for keeping us all entertained through out 2014 , that's fine, if Thaksin left a few Bentley's in the car park that's a bribe , there is a difference , Happy New Year Media Thai and Khun Thaksin 2

[RubbaJohnny]

Easy just stop all of it ,then no danger of favouritism ,bribe corruption,howvere will never happen.

The greatest shackle on the evoltion is the fact the young accept it.

[outsider]

In the real world, yes. In Thailand... hmm...