Business
NMG executives brief NRC panel on takeover risk

– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community
PHUKET: Top executives of Nation Multimedia Group (NMG), which includes The Nation newspaper, met yesterday with the Media Reform Committee of the National Reform Council (NRC) to express concern over a possible hostile takeover of NMG and the negative repercussions from this.
NMG chairman Suthichai Yoon led a group of the management team in an informal discussion at Parliament with the House Committee on Media Reform yesterday, voicing concern over possible media domination by Solution Corner (1998) Plc and its affiliates, which are perceived as being politically backed, through the purchase of a large quantity of NMG shares in December.
Suthichai told the committee it was imperative that the mass media be free to report news and to express opinions without being under the control of any business or political group.
He said the mass media could only be free and responsible to society when its management and majority shareholders have trust in ethics in management, business and editorial policy. Solution Corner (1998) and its affiliates bought a large percentage of NMG shares through suspicious means and this has raised doubts about its intention, the executives said. On top of this, the company already owns Spring News, a digital TV news station in the same news category as Nation TV, which is part of NMG. So, it has projected an image of attempting to dominate the news media and may have violated the conditions for the operation of digital TV, as stipulated by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
NMG president Duangkamol Chotana, and Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) chief Adisak Limprungpatanakij showed information that purportedly links the new group of NMG shareholders to a group of investors being now investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This exposed its alleged link to a certain political group.
NMG executives reaffirmed to the House Committee that they welcomed investors buying NMG stocks with the intention of making a profit and without any hidden agenda and that they had given an assurance that all managers and staff are ready to continue to play a responsible role in reporting, expressing opinions and in scrutinising various powers on behalf of Thai society, no matter what lies ahead.
“NMG media have proven themselves over the course of 40 years, both in crises and normal times. We have played a role as an ethical media that is determinedly responsible to society. We really hope that society will assist us to continue to carry out this duty without falling under the influence of any business or political group,” Suthichai said.
— Phuket Gazette Editors
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Business
Governments & old media versus social media – who will win? | VIDEO

We look at the recent changes made by the Australian and Indian governments to except control over the world’s biggest social media platforms. India has issued strict new rules for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just weeks after the Indian government attempted to pressure Twitter to take down social media accounts it deemed, well, anti social. There is now an open battle between the rise of social media platforms and the governments and ‘old’ media that have been able to maintain a certain level of control over the ‘message’ for the last century. Who will win?
The rules require any social media company to create three roles within India… a “compliance officer” who ensures they follow local laws; a “grievance officer” who addresses complaints from Indian social media users; and a “contact person” who can actually be contacted by lawyers and other aggrieved Indian parties… 24/7.
The democratisation of the news model, with social media as its catalyst, will continue to baffle traditional media and governments who used to enjoy a level of control over what stories get told. The battles of Google and Facebook, with the governments of India and Australia will be followed in plenty of other countries as well.
At the root of all discussions will be the difference between what governments THINK social media is all about and the reality about how quickly the media landscape has changed. You’ll get to read about it first, on a social media platform… probably on the screen you’re watching this news story right now.
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Business
The social media giants in battle with ‘old’ media and world governments | VIDEO

“The rules signal greater willingness by countries around the world to rein in big tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Twitter that the governments fear have become too powerful with little accountability.”
India has issued strict new rules for Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just weeks after the Indian government attempted to pressure Twitter to take down social media accounts it deemed, well, anti social.
The rules require any social media company to create three roles within India… a “compliance officer” who ensures they follow local laws; a “grievance officer” who addresses complaints from Indian social media users; and a “contact person” who can actually be contacted by lawyers and other aggrieved Indian parties… 24/7.
The companies are also being made to publish a compliance report each month with details about how many complaints they’ve received and the action they took.
They’ll also be required to remove ‘some’ types of content including “full or partial nudity,” any “sexual act” or “impersonations including morphed images”
The democratisation of the news model, with social media as its catalyst, will continue to baffle traditional media and governments who used to enjoy a level of control over what stories get told.
The battles of Google and Facebook, with the governments of India and Australia will be followed in plenty of other countries as well.
At the root of all discussions will be the difference between what governments THINK social media is all about and the reality about how quickly the media landscape has changed. You’ll get to read about it first, on a social media platform… probably on the screen you’re watching this news story right now.
Keep in contact with The Thaiger by following our Facebook page.
Never miss out on future posts by following The Thaiger.
Business
Turbulence ahead for Thailand’s aviation industry | VIDEO

When the airlines, in particular, were asking the government to put their hands in their pockets for some relief funding in August last year, it was genuinely thought that international tourists would be coming back for the high season in December and January. At the very least local tourists and expats would head back to the skies over the traditional holiday break. And surely the Chinese would be back for Chinese New Year?
As we know now, none of that happened. A resurge in cases started just south of Bangkok on December 20 last year, just before Christmas, kicking off another round of restrictions, pretty much killing off any possibility of a high season ‘bump’ for the tourist industry. Airlines slashed flights from their schedule, and hotels, which had dusted off their reception desks for the surge of tourists, shut their doors again.
Domestically, the hotel business saw 6 million room nights in the government’s latest stimulus campaign fully redeemed. But the air ticket quota of 2 million seats still has over 1.3 million seats unused. Local tourists mostly skipped flights and opted for destinations within driving distance of their homes.
As for international tourism… well that still seems months or years away, even now.
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