NRC endorses report on media reform, press protect draft law
Praphasri Osathanon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Reform Council (NRC) yesterday endorsed a report on media reform and a draft law on the protection of press freedom proposed by its panel on media and information technology reform.

The report covers three media reform issues, namely media regulation, press freedom and responsibilities, as well as prevention from interference and dominance. This report will be submitted along with the draft law to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for further consideration.

The NRC passed the report with 107:10 votes and the draft law with 167:20 votes.

Wasan Phaileeklee, vice chair of the committee, said the NRC had reviewed problems related to the media and had come up with these reform proposals.

He added that ensuring press freedom comes with responsibilities, hence the committee has proposed a new legal and educational structure to protect press freedom and promote media ethics. A new professional standard of practice has also been proposed.

To prevent possible interference and dominance, a new law as well as a public monitoring and scrutiny mechanism had been proposed. Self-regulation would also be promoted. The committee also proposed the setting up of a professional media council as a regulatory body as well as a public mechanism to support the work.

The NRC members took turns debating media regulation, and mainly questioned the composition of the council as well as its financial support.

As for setting up a council to promote self-regulation, it will be financed by the Finance Ministry, state agencies as well as public donations. However, some NRC members wondered if this form of financing would ensure its independence.

Some NRC members also voiced concern about "fake" media, saying there should be a mechanism in place to scrutinise and get rid of them. They proposed a professional registration system along with penalties.

Wasan said the committee would take all suggestions into account when reviewing the report and draft law before forwarding them to the government. The NRC members will be given another seven days to study more recommendations, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NRC-endorses-report-on-media-reform-press-protect--30264874.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-21

I can almost get behind government reform, but have very little confidence in the reformers. Is it the business of government, however, to "reform" non-governmental organizations or groups? A regulated free press is an oxymoron.

A "Free Press" should be regulated only to the extent of reporting or opiniating on the basis of fact or truth.

If any media is shown to have contrived a contorted or misrepresentative version of events in favour of sectarian interest, commercial or even headline appeal then it deserves sanctions surely?

News media in any form is traditionally considered under the definition of "news". Therefore considered acurately informative and should not be propogandist

In contrast are the Gloss Magazines which should be considered entertainment gossip.

Legislation should be limited strictly to instilling a differentiation.

As for TVF? Debate is healthy!

Media reform? In Thailand, where investigative journalism is literally criminal. Really? How fascist. And what a pathetic power grab. The bit "it will be financed by the Finance Ministry, state agencies as well as public donations" says it all.

the NRC: ass clowns and circus sluts, every one of them.