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sirusman
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Bangkok Post sacks the Editor
BANGKOK: Journalists at Thailand's oldest newspaper, the Bangkok Post, protested on Friday over a management decision to transfer its editor, known for his critical stance against the government.
The editorial staff of the English-language daily said in a statement the abrupt removal of Bangkok Post Editor Veera Prateepchaikul was a threat to their professional independence. The management of Post Publishing PCL promoted Veera to the largely inactive job of deputy editor-in-chief, according to Editor-in-Chief Pichai Chuensukswadi.
Bangkok Post reporters said Veera, a long-serving journalist at the paper and its editor for the past 21 months, had resisted management efforts to have the paper soften its critical coverage of government policies of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. ``He has in effect been sacked despite the beautiful words given by the management that the decision is a promotion,'' said Bangkok Post reporter Ampa Santimatanedol. ``The management may have been concerned that the newspaper's editorial policy under Veera has frustrated their business interest by its constant attacks on the government,'' she said.
Ampa joined the paper's 100-member editorial staff who spent 90 minutes on Friday seeking clarification from its management.
But Pichai denied the charge, saying Veera's transfer was intended to help him revamp the newspaper and its sister Thai-language newspaper, the Post Today.
``We reassured our reporters today that the Post will report in line with its policy in the straightforward manner. Under no circumstances, even under any pressure from shareholders, will we not agree to publish a factual story,'' Pichai said.
But media watchdogs and critics said Veera's abrupt transfer raised question about the newspaper's independence.
``For the sake of transparency, the Post Publishing board must explain to the public on the dismissal of Veera from his post to maintain the newspaper's credibility,'' the Thai Journlist Association said in a statement.
Some Bangkok Post reporters said some of their earlier stories had been withdrawn apparently over concerns that they would make major shareholders unhappy.
Post Publishing is 30 percent owned by the family of retail business tycoon Suthikiart Chirathivat, 20 percent by the SCMP Group, publisher of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, and 3.7 percent by Thailand's Bangkok Bank PCL.
A government spokesman denied charges that the authorities had interfered in the editorial policy of the paper, saying Veera's transfer was entirely its internal decision.
``A restructuring of a newspaper or media agency is its internal decision, a policy of its owners. No government or political party has the power to intervene or influence it,'' government spokesman Suranand Vejjajiva told Reuters.
Source: Reuters
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:09 am on Feb. 20, 2004
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sirusman
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VJ sorry about that I am spoooopid
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:55 am on Feb. 20, 2004
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fastmover
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Being left handed, I object to the use of that word!
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 10:59 am on Feb. 20, 2004
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Arcadius
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"Under no circumstances, even under any pressure from shareholders, will we not agree to publish a factual story,'' Pichai said.
So effing what? The question is whether Veera was sacked because of a critical editorial stance. The answer will be clear soon enough from the Post's leader columns.
Pretty godawful newspaper as it is. If it turns into a TRT groupie, it'll just be a complete waste of 20 baht.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:07 pm on Feb. 20, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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When I first visited LOS in 1998 I thought it was quite a good paper. Of late and certainly since Thaksin I thought had become lightweight and poor.
I didn't even know they criticised our beloved 'Chairman' ?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:07 am on Feb. 21, 2004
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Arcadius
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Well, the BP hasn't actually been 'hostile' to Thaksin, and has supported many government initiatives.
But to it's credit, when it disagrees with govt policy it hasn't been afraid to say so on its opinion pages. For example, it was very critical of the glorified 'shoot to kill' drugs clean-up, the pre-APEC disruptions and the proposed teenage curfew.
Other than that, though, I find it amazing that such a fascinating country can often seem so tedious reflected in the pages of its leading EL newspaper. Imho, the BP's news sense is weak and the standard of its reporting is piss-poor.
These defects would actually make a legitimate case for replacing the editor - the title could do with quite a hefty kick up the arse. Conceivably that's the reason, but I doubt it somehow. Anyway, the evidence will be before us soon enough.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:23 pm on Feb. 21, 2004
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FarangBha
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CRAP...
Thais have a very high newspaper circulation/readership... everyone knows that the media relies on advertising for revenue... the biggest advertisers arew the mobile phone operaters... and who is the biggest opperator???????????
They cant afford to risk losing that revenue... some very courageous journalists have spoken out against this... but its like Murdoch owning one third ot the worlds media empire.... except f_cksin has more direct say... without saying anything, because they're all scarred sh_tless.....
Maybe the tide is turning... but he's such a powerfull guy... and the locals love a 'success story'... he needs to trip up big time for voters to turn against him....
I would reckon the early closing policy could do it... but the service industry couldnt organise an orgy in a brothel, or a piss-up in a brewery... let 'em keep trying with pointless petitions.... aand cry all the way to the grave...
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 3:09 pm on Feb. 21, 2004
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