The King and Thai media

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

The King and Thai media

Kavi Chongkittavorn
The Nation 

BANGKOK: -- On December 5, 2004, King Bhumibhol spoke for the first time about the role of the media. He said the media monitor what is going on in society, acting as a mirror for the government in power and society as a whole.

In the same message, he also talked candidly about himself, reiterating that as a king, he did not see himself as infallible - a king who could do no wrong in the ordinary sense of the word. He clearly said he was not above criticism. He added that he welcomed critical comments based on fact and objectivity.

For the Thai media, the King's comments were significant because he supported the media doing their job professionally in informing society. He was an avid newspaper reader, a veteran ham radio operator and an early user of computers. He often used computer graphics to compose his New Year cards and messages for the Thai people.

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