Not ‘regulating’ media during trip, says government

[snoop1130]

Not ‘regulating’ media during trip, says government

By The Nation

 

Government spokesperson and Public Relations Department chief Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

 

Government spokesperson and Public Relations Department chief Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Thursday defended the government’s plan to ask for “cooperation” with the media during the Cabinet trip next week, saying it ‘s not “regulating” the media as criticised.

 

The issue had emerged after some media and social media users circulated an August 15 letter inviting editors of all media outlets to meet on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the Cabinet trip, including news reporting.

 

Sansern said this was not “regulating” the media as criticised, but “asking for cooperation” to produce news scoops concerning other Cabinet members who would also join the trip, set for August 19 to 22.

 

Sansern said that in the past news reports mainly covered the Prime Minister, despite the fact that other Cabinet members also joined him on trips. Cabinet member’s acknowledgement of Thailand’s problems and efforts to tackle them should also be communicated to the people, he said.

 

That led him to ask media outlets which ministers they wished to follow, and let them choose.

 

“ I did not force them to do it, but let them pick their choices by themselves. But they should not pick the same choices. Some TV channels asked me to pick choices for them but I didn’t do so, because I know that each channel has different topics of interest,” said Sansern.

 

He said that he understood that media that accompany the tour would produce reports of their own to be aired on their own channels, but he asked them to do pieces to also be aired on the government’s channel, NBT.

 

“I just tried to figure out how best to communicate stories which are not just of the Prime Minister, but of other Cabinet members, and wish to see diverse views from other media members, not just ours, NBT,” said Sansern, insisting that the media are still free to think of issues for their reporting.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30324102

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-8-17

[coulson]

If they *should not choose their own subjects* then they are not *free to think of issues for their reporting*

[Samui Bodoh]

I am tired of reading stories that insult my intelligence.

 

Anyone else?

[Lupatria]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

insisting that the media are still free to think of issues for their reporting.

According to Public Relations Department chief Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd I think all these 2017 headlines must be considered as “fake news”:

 

Leading Thai journalist facing possible sedition prosecution

Regime aims to tighten media control surveillance

No FB posts on dictatorship or corruption

Military bars press from forum on national park bill

FB likes can constitute criminal conspiracy in eyes of law enforcers

TV news channel suspended in Thailand

New media bill threatens “unlicensed” journalists with imprisonment

New reporters will have to undergo training and pass KPI assessments

Govt to have more control over media under new media bill

Journalists criticising military should be executed NRC member:

“Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet, a former police commander, recently gave interviews condemning the military,” recounted Thawatchai. “He has no respect [for the military]. Journalists who report these things should be executed by firing squad.”

etc. etc. etc.

[sawadeeken]

Report what is if interest.......... To hell with telling them to only look in 'ONE' direction.........