Thai news influencer sparks controversy with news copyright claim
Renowned news influencer Chainon Harnkirirat, better known as Off, sparked controversy today when he posted on his Facebook page, Off Chainon, followed by over 490,000 individuals, asserting that his page was not about copying news but summarising it. This statement provoked a strong response from Thapanee Eadsrichai, or Yam, a prominent journalist from The Reporters, who accused Chainon of misinterpreting the profession.
Thapanee argued that summarising and rewriting other people’s work, while linking back to various news agencies, does not absolve one of copying. She lamented the plight of journalists who had to weather the elements and endure tedious commutes to gather news, only for their hard work to be summarised and repackaged by others.
Thapanee empathised with her fellow journalists who, despite their low wages, persevered out of passion for the job. She urged her colleagues to press on and reassured them of their value and integrity.
In the past, the two parties had a disagreement when Duangrit Bunnak organised a faecal-throwing event, during which Chainon screen-captured a live broadcast by The Reporters and posted it on his platform. This led to Thapanee posting a message calling out news copiers, emphasising the hard work of journalists who had to endure unpleasant conditions to gather news, reported Sanook.
In response to the backlash, Chainon apologised and acknowledged his mistake. He affirmed that he had spoken to Thot Limsotsai, the reporter who covered the faecal-throwing event, and personally apologised to him, promising not to repeat such an incident in the future.
In related news, Khao Chaison Police Station in the southern province of Phattalung summoned a news reporter for further questioning after he posted a story on social media about a robbery that occurred at a gambling den.
On August 15, the unnamed news reporter took to Facebook to share information about a robbery at the gambling den. Read more about this story HERE.
