Social media sites have, perhaps unsurprisingly been the main outlet, however increasingly government ministers and others in positions of responsibility have cast doubt on the objectivity of foreign media reports.
I won't list all the links but there has been a huge amount of noise as the objectivity of media like the CNN and the BBC have come under-fire.
Public opinion is to be expected to a degree (although the personal abuse and allegations directed at CNN's Dan Rivers go over the top) but to see other journalists and senior officials joining the angry voices is somewhat disturbing. Particularly as Bangkok Pundit recently delivered this analysis suggesting much of the criticism is unfounded.
Today The Nation's cartoonist had this 'amusing' take on it all.
I find this cartoon to be inappropriate, not to mention disrespectful, of the foreign media who risked (and in a few cases lost) their lives to provide a story with greater accountability and objectivity, rather than just regurgitating what the rest of the media is saying.
Much of the revisiting of events, and uncovering of wrong doing (such as the death of an Italian photographer and shooting of unarmed protesters at Wat Patum) is reliant upon accounts and footage taken by foreign reporters. Mocking them is hardly respectful in these circumstances.
But here it is, I really think someone at The Nation should apologise for this...but I doubt anything will happen.
12 comments:
What's "funny" about it is that it's not even funny haha or good satire. If the Nation could have drum rolls and whistle noises they probably would so you get the joke. It's not surprising though with all the propaganda (on all sides) and ubiquitous SE/MOSO campaigns that the media can't come up with anything funny or intelligent. The Nation's definition of "Hard Talk" is an interview between Yoon and Michael Yon in which they both agree with each other on everything. Insightful.
Jon, presumably the "viewers" will not be reading The Nation or any of the somewhat biased Thai press? I think you have a fair point but remember we foreigners do not understand Thailand......or so I am told frequently.
I agree that as a foreigner you have to accept some things are being "Thailand", but, to use a somewhat hackneyed argument, Thailand and Buddhism are about respect, regardless of whether one agrees with foreign media reports this cartoon has gone way over the top.
Agree Leosia. What is most worrying is the number of foreigners says The Nation is going a good job. Yes they are using Twitter...but the work and bias is generally still much the same.
I too stick to the same old cliché :
military = bad guys
poor farmers = good guys
The reason it's a cliché is because it's true and because the ones with the guns have made sure it remains true. I imagine The Nation means it's a cliché in the sense of "so what else is new". The Nation is out to "embrace and extend" the old cliché... that's called "innovation".
The Thai military is public enemy number one in Thailand.
The cartoon should do well in massaging the egos of expats who use The Nation as their major source of news (because it is written in English). How superior and insightful they'll feel compared to the moronic foreign media and it's audience.
Jon, Personally I find the cartoon spot on. Where were all these reporters months ago? They only show up on the scene when there is despair and human carnage to be seen because that is what sells.
Half of these journalists do what they do for the money and the other half are only in it for the hopeful prospect of getting that one big story. These journalists knew the dangers and took the risk...not for the Thai people and certainly not for democracy but for their own bottom line.
To paint them in any other light is absurd. Journalism has become more about ambulance chasing and lets not forget the battle cry " if it bleeds it Leeds".
I think having been in Thailand and seen the CNN/SKY/BBC bias in reporting then I think the Thais have everyright to complain, non of those media corporations understood what was building up, why, the implications for the country and only got involved with the dramatic healine stuff that might make occaisional headline news back home, the lack of detailed balanced analysis of what the fundamental issues were was completely flawed. Taksin is a deeply corrupt politician, right from the his first election and a suspicious supreme court verdict 5-4 on election violations kept him in power and its been downhill ever since. The problem is western media outlets like nice easy simple good vs bad stories, well its not that simple in Thailand.
Observing the same events from a very different point of view:
http://www.zcommunications.org/discredited-and-servile-western-mass-media-perverts-information-about-thailand-by-andre-vltchek
Never been a fan of his cartoons and this is not gonna change my opinion of him, I actually find this wrong on many levels. Does anyone notice that the 'PRESS' armbands are red, where the real ones are green? Also, a 'DONATE' pouch on the cameraman? WTF?!
I can't believe how much The Nation has blasted the bulls*** mark several times, especially this week they have been praising Col. Sansern (military spokesman and often seen during the CRES TV announcements). Have a look: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/05/28/politics/Staying-cool-under-fire-30130388.html, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/nationvdo/showvdo.php?id=3031&cateid=6, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/05/30/opinion/Saluting-the-kingdom&039;s-coolest-colonel-30130465.html
The Nation's Editor Thanong is well known being a 120% supporter of PAD (Yellow Shirts Folks and their backers, the "Elite in the Palace") so it's not surprising their articles are always one-sided version. Ignore those people at best...
We need colors, man, like the Bloods and the Crips. Oh wait, that won't work, they're both bad...
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