Thai senators pledge better welfare for media professionals

Senators from professional group No.18, specialising in mass communication and literature, have committed to enhancing the status and quality of life for media professionals.

One of the leading senators in this group, Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, revealed that the recently elected Senate candidates come from diverse media backgrounds, including roles such as public relations officers in hospitals. As the most senior senator in this group, Chaiyong expressed his readiness to leverage his extensive experience to bridge the gap among the members and help achieve their objectives.

The 68 year old Chaiyong currently holds the position of Chairman of the Southern Newspaper Association of Thailand and head of the Daily News Southern Office. He highlighted that the welfare of local journalists, particularly those working as news stringers or local correspondents, has seen little improvement since he began his career in 1974.

“Ninety-five percent of local journalists work as stringers or local correspondents for their news agencies in Bangkok.”

These journalists receive payment only when their news pieces are published in newspapers, featured on radio shows, or broadcast on television. Chaiyong further explained that the decision by many agencies to reduce pay for these correspondents has made local journalism akin to volunteer work. Many journalists are forced to take on side jobs while striving to maintain ethical standards.

He said many agencies’ decisions to cut pay make working as a local journalist similar to working as a volunteer. They have to do side gigs and are compelled to be as ethical as possible.

Covering stories

Journalists often work with multiple news agencies simultaneously, with some covering stories for up to six television channels to make ends meet. This situation has led many to engage in questionable local businesses to support themselves.

Chaiyong added that I will work as a medium between the locally trained and professionally trained journalists to find a means of mitigation that can help improve the well-being and reputation of these journalists.

Meanwhile, a former Editor-in-Chief of Prachatai and now a Senator, Tewarit Maneechai, expressed his intention to join the House Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation, as well as the Committee on Human Rights. Tewarit aims to advocate for journalism protection laws, including the Anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (Slapp) Bill.

His primary goal is to safeguard smaller media outlets and individual journalists from being bullied by the public sector or business investors for sharing news stories.

Tewarit emphasised the importance of these protections, stating that my main goal is to push journalism protection laws, including the Anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (Slapp) Bill, to protect smaller media outlets and individual journalists.

Both senators are determined to use their positions to improve the conditions and protections for media professionals across Thailand, focusing on both welfare and legal safeguards, reported Bangkok Post.