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Govt funding won't cost freedom: NRC
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Members of the National Reform Council (NRC)'s media reform committee yesterday rebutted claims by the four major media organisations that government funding would cost the media its independence.

The reformers said any such financing would be for the professional council, not individual news agencies.

Boonlert Kachayuthadej and Nimit Sitthi-trai said the media groups' statement was irrational and not based on facts. It did not represent any constructive proposals on how media reform should be carried out.

The four media organisation were the Thai Journalists Association (TJA), National Press Council of Thailand, Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, and News Broadcasting Council of Thailand.

Boonlert said the essence of the act concentrated not only on the establishment of a national media council, but also on regional and local media councils overseeing ethics issues among media members. It proposed that groups of regional representatives join the national council, that media safety is promoted and a media council funded.

The latter fund, he stressed, would be for the council to run, not for individual news agencies. As a result, the media would not lose its independence nor be dominated.

The four media organisations, under the Media Reform Working Group, on Tuesday issued a statement asking the NRC to review the panel's proposal, which won a majority of NRC votes on Monday.

They said the draft press freedom protection act had many flaws from the start, not least of which was the proposal for a new national professional media council that they viewed had problems in its structure, work procedures and sources of funding.

Instead of promoting media reform, the group viewed it as something that would push back the process as it was prone to be dominated by the state through any money given.

It proposed the NRC not rush the proposal; rather it should leave the details to be worked out further by media members themselves if its term ran out.

Members said they agreed in principle to their forming groups - but they must be assured of independence and free from any dominance.

Nimit added that the role of local media should not be neglected. They should also be given a chance to help reform the media along with their fellows. The council must ensure that there would be seats spared for local media members, while regional and local media councils should also be promoted along with the national body to help keep ethics among their members in check.

"I personally think if they are overlooked, the ongoing media reform could collapse," said Nimit.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Govt-funding-wont-cost-freedom-NRC-30265125.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-24

[Krataiboy]

Gradually, the road map towards Thai-style democracy is becoming clearer - and scarier.

[Srikcir]

"The reformers said any such financing would be for the professional council, not individual news agencies."

Completely misses the point being made by the news media. The council would act like any other state superboard to impose nebulous and undefined professional standards that will shift according to the needs of the government to control media output.

The NBTC has already demonstrated in its regulation of the broadcast media that it will adhere to the Junta's standards, however vague they may be. If the NBTC cannot function undependent of the government dictates, why would a professional council be any different?

[phoenixdoglover]

He who pays the piper calls the tune.