NMG editorial team insists it is free from management pressure

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NMG editorial team insists it is free from management pressure
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE NATION GROUP Editorial Team submitted an open letter to three media bodies yesterday to affirm that editorial staff are not being influenced by management and that the group is now facing a possible threat from a new shareholder and his affiliates that could compromise its editorial independence.

"We affirm that we all carry out our duty under the media's code of ethics and adhere to accuracy and impartiality in protecting the public interest. We are not under the influence of management, as claimed by SLC," the team said in its letter.

It was referring to Solution Corner (1998), which had acquired a stake of at least 12.27 per cent of Nation Multimedia Group by December 16 and issued a statement on Monday claiming that NMG editorial staff were under the influence of management.

The SLC move followed one by NMG executives to oppose any attempt to dominate its media outlets.

The team issued the letter on behalf of the editorial staff of all NMG media outlets - The Nation, Krungthep Turakit and Kom Chad Luek newspapers; Nation TV and Now 26 television channels; and Nation Radio, Nation Weekender magazine and related news websites.

Copies of the letter were submitted to Pradit Ruangdit, president of the Thai Journalists Association; Jakkrit Permpool, chairman of the National Press Council of Thailand; and Suphap Kleekachai, president of the Digital Television Club.

The Nation Group Editorial Team stressed in the letter that its members would continue to carry out their duty unwaveringly as a watchdog as they have been doing for more than four decades.

Copies of a pledge made by Nation News People on Tuesday, which reaffirmed the intention of all staff at NMG to continue to serve the public as a fair and independent voice, were also attached to the three letters.

Siriwat Vongjarukorn, vice chairman and president of MFEC, released a company statement clarifying that he had not yet decided to buy SLC shares through a private placement, as had been reported in the Nation Group's media.

He said the reports caused |him to be viewed as part of |SLC's network in acquiring NMG shares.

In SLC's filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on December 18, the company mentioned Siriwat in its list of investors who would be allotted private-placement shares.

However, the allotment period was scheduled from December 18, 2014, to March 31, 2015.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NMG-editorial-team-insists-it-is-free-from-managem-30251999.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-16