On-line Media, Citizen Media, Social Media: Increasing Democratic Debate and Meeting

the Challenge of Ethical Standards

Chavarong LimpattamapaneePresident, Thai Journalists Association

Advisor, Online News Providers Association

State of Online Media in Thailand

All major newspapers have online versions but few of them make profit from the web.

Declining of printed media force newspaper to focus more on online and other platforms.

News websites without mainstream media are not popular and not profitable.

Emergence of independent non-profit news websites that focus on investigative reporting.

Use of Social Media for Online media

Increasing number of Facebook, Instagram and twitter users is crucial for the growth of online media.

number of Facebook, twitter and Instagram users

Facebook : Users & Demography for the Thailand

17,469,060 users

number of Facebook, twitter and Instagram users

Twitter Users Credit : Zocialrank.com

number of Facebook, twitter and Instagram users

Instagram Users Credit : Zocialrank.com

Use of Social Media for Online media

Both mainstream and online media are making use on social media to increase audiences’ accessibility to media.

Without social media, many online media may not grow as it should have been grown today.

Sometimes, social media can set agenda for the online and mainstream media and vice versa.

Mutual Support of Citizen Media & Social Media

More social media users realize that they can be journalists by using social media.

Mainstream media are now monitoring social media to make sure that they will not miss public agenda set by citizen journalists.

Social media becomes an essential public space for citizens to express political views.

Increasing of political groups to pressure the press by using social media.

Case study on Ethical Standards related to the use of online & social media

Channel3 reporter and her report during political conflict.

Posting controversial newsclip during political crisis.

Spotting and gossiping Prime Minister day to day work by social media users

Reporting of photo from citizen journalists

Thai Prime Minister posting at the respected pagoda in the south sparking critics in Social media

Suspected Iranian terrorist suffered from his own bomb in Bangkok

Ethical Standards: Online Media & Social Media

Online media practices the same ethical standards, set by the media self-regulation bodies with additional code of practices that fit the nature of social media.

Must not create anger and hatred among people in society and must not incite violence that will lead to conflicts in the country.

Must make a reference of the source of news and information in order to express the respect of the rights of ownership and possession.

Should realize the difference between news writing and opinion pieces.

Thank You