แถลงการณ์คณะกรรมการรณรงค์เพื่อการปฏิรูปสื่อ (คปส.)

Various clips on civil journalism edited from the workshop conducted  by Suzanne McBride, Associate Chair, Journalism Department, Columbia College Chicago, The United States. The workshop hosted by Thai Netizen Network and supported by the Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Thailand in June 17th, 2009 at Siam City Hotel.

There are 5 parts; lecture1, Q&A1, lecture2, Q&A2, interviews.

May you make best use of these video clips freely, please kindly refer to Thai Netizen Network.

http://thainetizen.org/

วิดีโอบันทึกงานฝึกอบมรมเรื่องสื่อพลเมือง

โดย ซูซานน์ แม็คไบรด์ (Suzanne McBride) รองคณบดีคณะวารสารศาสตร์ วิทยาลัยโคลัมเบีย ณ เมืองชิคาโก้ สหรัฐอเมริกา

ในวันที่ 17 มิถุนายน 2552 เวลา 09.00 น. - 16.00 น.

ณ โรงแรมสยามซิตี้ จัดโดย เครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ต สนับสนุนโดย สถานฑูตสหรัฐอเมริกาประจำประเทศไทย

ทุกท่านสามารถเผยแพร่ หรือ นำ วิดีโอนี้ไปใช้เพื่อประโยชน์โดยไม่แสวงหากำไร ในการศึกษา รณรงค์ เรื่องสื่อพลเมือง โดยไม่ต้องขออนุญาต ขอเพียงอ้างแหล่งทีมาจากเครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ตด้วยค่ะ

http://thainetizen.org/

This morning before dawn, I posted short messages on Twitter and Facebook to commemorate the day of revolution for Constitutional Democracy in Thailand on the occasion of June 24 , lot of netizen friends re-tweeted the messages on this matter continuously. The role of social media or social network has played more vitally in Thai society especially among the Net generation. I wonder if a number of  Internet users are dramatically increased, how Thai Government will deal with the livelier community of social network in cyber world.    The role of Twitter has shown a dramatic consequence in Iran uprising as we’ve seen. I was requested by netizen friends to change my location and time zone in my Twitter to Iran’s time in order to cause technical jam when Iranian government attempted to hunt the dissident netizens who mobilizing themselves from online to offline world.

Internet is not only the media or medium for human communication but in fact a different world to live and share.

What has been discussed in the Internet might not be the agendas or stories selected by mass media.

Yesterday, I was at the workshop for activists on civil journalism, they’re encouraged to voice out and publish their own stories via online channel. This becomes a trend but how far social media could direct this country for changes politically, culturally and socially, it is so interesting to observe.

I meant to talk about the Siamese Revolution Day but just spoke about the media. I just wish to see mass media contribute airtime and space for historical stories like what happened today 77 years ago so the general public and young generation could learn about Thai history much more oriented.  But in fact we rarely heard about this kind of story from mass media. It’s never been a big news if compares with such a dramatized news of baby Panda or the orphanage child, Keigo.  I am not sure this early morning how many of people would have come to commemorate the day at the Royal Plaza where the symbol of the Revolution established in that area. I was once able to manage to go there since it’s too early. Before the September 19 coup in 2006, we could see various activists organized the event together. It was still a good memory to remind  that.

77 years on, where do we go next? I also don’t know but at least we came a bit far because the change at early dawn in 1932 contributed to certain level of liberty and democracy that I could enjoy. But many people do not think so.

I do not have any suggestion for now but I hope democracy in this country will be sustained and stregnthened despite the ongoing conflict. Hope we are willing to accept the reality and allow citizens to learn and discuss the history fully more, therefore we could understand the present and be cautious or prepare for the future. Mass media is important for this role, please do not ignore, try a bit harder and it will help a lot.

Wednesday 17th, June 2009, we are hosting a workshop on civil journalism therefore tonight I am reading something to prepare.  I picked the book  ‘We the Media’, written by Dan Gillmor (2004) . He quotes from Wes “Scoop” Nisker,  “If you don’t like the news…go out and make some of your own”. This would encourage Thai bloggers, netizens and activists to create personal and civil journalism.

In another article “What ethics should bloggers have?”, written  in  ‘Handbook for Bloggers and cyber-dissidents’ published by  Reporters Without Borders (RSF), he points that

“In a world of new journalism, where shift from a lecture to much more of a conversation, ethical journalism depends less on codes of ethics than the values and principles that are a foundation for honorable journalism” He concludes that there are pillars of good journalism: thoroughness, accuracy, fairness, transparency and independence”

He points fairness is as difficult “means among other things, listening to different viewpoints, and incorporating them into journalism. It does not mean parroting lies or distortions to achieve that lazy equivalence that leads some journalists to get opposing quotes when the facts overwhelmingly support one side”

“Fairness is also about letting people respond when they believe you are wrong, even if you do not agree.”

“Ultimately, fairness emerges from a state of mind. We should be aware of what drives us, and always be willing to listen to those who disagree.”

Continued posting this news from The Nation written by a young rising journalist, Taweeporn Kummetha, she wrote series of media and politics for The Nation recently, her points are crucial. I felt a bit tired when gave her interviews since she always asked many (good)  questions She didn’t  only want me to fill her story but enthusiastically love to learn and argue with. She said she tried her best to write impartial reports in this partial world of journalism, which is not easy task I must say. Every time I see young journalists who are  obsessed with the role of journalism I feel happy and inspired. Despite the media is highly being criticized because it’s biased and very commercialized but I still do take the role of journalism seriously and count it as the solution. More importantly, no matter what kinds of medium are, the essence of journalism is carrying the truth based on facts and free opinion.

Red media thriving, despite govt crackdown By Thaweeporn Kummetha
The Nation
Published on June 16, 2009

Although the Abhisit government grabbed a chance during the emergency decree - sending troops to raid and shut down the pro red-shirt media, D Station and community radio stations - the red media reincarnated after only a month.

…………………………….
Supinya Klangnarong, a media-rights activist, said political media was not a new phenomenon in Thailand. The creation of the red-shirt media was a mirror to the beginning of yellow-shirt media. With the sense of being a minority and the government’s opposition, they had to make space to voice their opinions, she said.

The difference between red-shirt media and yellow-shirt media, Supinya said, was in the means of suppression administered by the government.

“The suppression of red-shirt media by the Abhisit-led government was no different from the suppression of the yellow-shirt media by the Thaksin-led government in 2006. However, the means of suppression differed as the Abhisit government used the law to shut down the media, while the Thaksin government used defamation suits [to attack the media professionals],” she said.

เครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ต ขอเชิญท่านที่สนใจเข้าร่วมกิจกรรมการบรรยายและการอบรมเชิงปฏิบัติการในหัวข้อ

**”สื่อพลเมือง”**

โดย ซูซานน์ แม็คไบรด์ (Suzanne McBride) รองคณบดีคณะวารสารศาสตร์ วิทยาลัยโคลัมเบีย ณ เมืองชิคาโก้ สหรัฐอเมริกา

ในวันที่ 17 มิถุนายน 2552 เวลา 09.00 น. - 16.00 น.

ณ ห้องรัตนโกสินทร์ โรงแรมสยามซิตี้
โดยมีเนื้อหาดังนี้

- หลักการของความเป็นสื่อพลเมือง
- เครืองมือในการสร้างสรรค์ของนักข่าวพลเมือง
- จริยธรรมและความรับผิดชอบของสื่อพลเมือง
- ความเสี่ยงทางกฏหมายในการเขียนบล็อก และความเสี่ยงของบล็อกเก้อร์
- องค์ความรู้ว่าด้วยเรื่องสื่อที่เกิดขึ้นใหม่
- การจัดการดูแล และการสร้างชุมชนออนไลน์ให้เติบโต
- หัวข้อที่น่าสนใจอื่น ๆ

กิจกรรม นี้ได้รับการสนับสนุนวิทยากรและการอบมรมจากฝ่ายข้อมูลข่าวสารสาธารณะของสถาน ฑูตประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกา ซึ่งเป็นกิจกรรมที่มีที่นั่งจำกัด **จำนวน 35 ที่นั่ง** เฉพาะผู้ที่ลงทะเบียนร่วมกิจกรรมล่วงหน้าเท่านั้น

ท่านที่สนใจ สามารถแจ้งความประสงค์เข้าร่วมกิจกรรมได้ที่ freethainetizen AT gmail.com

**การอบรมครั้งนี้ไม่มีค่าใช้จ่ายใดๆ**

เครือข่ายพลเมืองเน็ตจะปิดรับการแจ้งการลงทะเบียนรอบแรก  **ภายในวันที่ 8 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2552**

*หมายเหตุ: การบรรยายจะดำเนินเป็นภาษาอังกฤษ โดยจะมีล่ามแปลเป็นภาษาไทยตลอดการอบรม*

——

Thai Netizen Network would like to invite you to a workshop on

**”Civil Journalism”**

conducted by Suzanne McBride, Associate Chair, Journalism Department, Columbia College Chicago, The United States

on 17 June 2009, 09.00 - 16.00,

at Rattanakosin Room, Siam City Hotel.
The workshop consists of the following topics:

- Principles of Citizen Journalism
- Tools for Citizen Journalists
- Ethics and Responsibilities for Citizen Journalists
- Legal Risks to Blogging
- Insight into Emerging Media
- Managing and Growing Communities Online

This workshop is organized by the contribution from Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Thailand therefore it is

**free of charge**.

The workshop is limited for only **35 seats** and Thai Netizen Network is opening for registration from now on **until 8 June 2009**.

Please send a registration e-mail to freethainetizen AT gmail.com.

Please read full story of the ideas of Netiquette for Netizen both in English version and Thai from www.thainetizen.org, also follow with the editorial on Mind your manners when you go online addressed by The Nation published on May 17, 2009 toward Thai Netizen Network after a forum weeks ago discussing on the ideas of Netiquette.   I’d like to discuss more with The Nation’ s editorial but at the moment I am away from Thailand, having no concentration.  Hope I could do it when I get back to my old desk in Bangkok.

Have a lovely weekend!

Listen and talk to the other person in a deep and loving way are not easy but do it to your own heart is even more difficult. When the head gets confused and the heart gets hurt, it distracts yourself from your own mind but to rely or depend on something that is out.  It is not simply to just listen and talk to your mind deeply with a loving manner unless you do practice it regularly. Everyday, so many feelings and sensation arise to our mind either to satisfy or disappoint us. We cannot really control anything.  Looking in your own heart, you may seek some solution if you do not completely sink  in such hopeless mind but looking into Thai society, you do not see any solution that could bring Thailand out of the crisis in near future yet, of course true JUSTICE will definitely bring peace (which very difficult to gain) but to stabilize it we do need also a compassion and mutual understanding. The role of communications must fulfill.  I believe in the power of communication, it can bring peace or war, though I have been doubted by the role of political media which highly enjoyed freedom producing hatred and condemnation, it went  against the construction of peace within our own mind and society,  however, I still insist that various kinds of medium shall be allowed to convey people’s concerns and diverse opinion, equally and fairly. Trying to stop people to speak or shout will even lead them to the incitement of violence. Why no one ever learned the simple lesson that trying to block expression means encouraging them to fight and sacrifice. The great lesson from May 1992 is still meaningful to think again. I am going to join the panel discussion  on the occasion of 17 years of May 1992 at the 14 October Memorial building on this  Sunday. I am going to talk about this. Currently, Thai Govt still does not allow the opponent voices, Red-shirted media to continue, I would urge Democrat Government and National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to implement the policy that allows Red-shirted media to play its role based on its rights and freedom. Then NTC shall try to have both groups (Red and Yellow’s media) engaged to discuss the code of conduct for exercising free speech that should come with more respect and responsibility.

I know it is very idealistic but nobody has attempted to do it yet, it is worthy to try.

On Sunday 10th, May 2009, Red-shirt movement calls for a mobilization in town once again, it would lead to another incident or not, nobody knows. Hatred feeling has been so much reproduced since anti-Thaksin movement started in 2006, now anti-Democrat movement also has continued the hatred sensation within another group. Political media and speech have become tool to condemn and build hatred, it is powerful than the role to build love and harmony, obviously. Some people believe that conflict would lead to real change but I think that the compassion would do.

Before ending my note today, I would like to quote these sentences and contribute to Thai society, the power-holders, all stakeholders and every individuals.

“Love, friendship and respect do not unite people as much as a common hatred for something”
Anton Chehkov

“Loving speech is an important aspect of practice. We say only loving things. We say the truth in a loving ways, with nonviolence. This can only be done when we are calm. When we are irritated, we may say things that are destructive. So when we feel irritated , we should refrain from saying anything. We can just breathe.” Thich Nhat Hanh

LET’S BREATHE!

As the conflict escalates and the government reverts to crude censorship and veiled threats, all kinds of journalists here are bracing for what they fear could be an assault on their ability to neutrally gather and present the news, and a blow to press freedom.

http://cpj.org/blog/2009/04/media-caught-in-the-middle-of-thai-conflict.php

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