THE media regulation bill preparedby the National    ReformSteeringAssembly (NRSA)smedia    reformcommittee as part of nationalreform has faced    harsh criticism thatit seeks to control media    outlets,rather than protect the media.  
    The key points that major mediagroups have strongly    opposed arethe make-up of the proposed professional    council and the medialicensing system outlined in the    bill.  
    This has led them to call for ACMKanit Suwannet, head of    the committee sub-panel spearheading theproposal, to be    removed.  
    But he stuck to his guns and vowedto look into the    details again. ACMKanit talked to The Nationabout    theideas behind the story, plus hispanels next    moves amid fierce  
    resistance by many media professionals.  
    HOW DID THE PANEL COME UP WITH THE IDEA TO HAVE THE    MEDIA REGULATED THROUGH NEW MECHANISMS LIKE THE MEDIA    PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL AND SUCH?  
    We didnt. It was something we took from the now-defunct    National Reform Council (NRC)s committee on media reform. They    are not around today as they were dissolved after the previous    draft charter was aborted. But what they studied remained, and    we continue their work. The professional council was part of    their study.  
    WHY WOULD THE PROFESSIONAL COUNCIL BE SET UP, WHEN THE    PRESS ALREADY HAS THEIR OWN ASSOCIATIONS?  
    For that, you will have to ask the NRC. We just took the baton    from them. But from the study they conducted, the thing about    the regulation proposed, they said it was necessary.  
    Yes, the media has associations, federations and everything as    self-regulatory mechanisms, which abide by some laws such as    that of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications    Commission (NBTC). But it doesnt work very well. It hasnt    been very effective.  
    So, the idea of establishing the professional council came    about to allow co-regulation.  
    Everything follows the study conducted by the NRC.  
    IS REGULATING CONTROLLING OR NOT, IN YOUR    VIEW?  
    Those are two completely different words. They are not even    close to one another. Looking at them either in Thai or in    English, they are two different words.  
    But I understand that maybe the media has a lesson from the    past that gets them so worried. I totally understand  but    personally I think, we can talk and discuss this over and    adjust it.  
    There is nothing rigid about the composition of the council. We    can change both the composition and the qualifications [for    people on the council].  
    Now I have assigned everyone on the panel to think [the    proposal] over, we will discuss what the composition should be    and who should represent the state in the council when we meet    again.  
    SO, THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES WILL NOT SIT ON THE    COUNCIL AS FIRST PROPOSED ANYMORE?  
    We discussed that in the meeting on Monday. Some people in the    NRSA whips said they should still be there because the council    will be subsidised by the state. So, there should be some    connection.  
    But we will think about the new composition again  who should    sit on the council. We try to make them as relevant to the    media field as possible.  
    WHEN STATE REPRESENTATIVES REMAIN ON THE COUNCIL, HOW    WILL YOU ASSURE THE MEDIA THAT THEY WILL BE    INDEPENDENT?  
    Well, both sectors, private and public, must go together. We    have dealt with concerns about the composition [of the council]    and reduced the number of the permanent secretaries down from    four.  
    But actually, there is nothing to worry about. The four    permanent secretaries are from different ministries. They are    independent. They each have one vote. And the media can still    scrutinise them. Especially now with social media, you can    publish all the documents online.  
    It is impossible for the permanent secretaries to have    influence over you. This is not to mention seniority and    credentials of a permanent secretary position. Now the    reformers are doing homework. If it is not a permanent    secretary [on the council], then what should they be?  
    WHAT ABOUT LICENSING OF THE PRESS? WILL THAT BE A MEANS    TO CONTROL THE MEDIA AS CLAIMED?  
    Even presently you do have a kind of licensing, but it is at    the company level. We just expand it to an individual level.  
    But as the official name of the bill suggests, the licensing    system will rather help to protect your rights as well as to    promote media ethics and standards. If you are a certified    press worker with a licence issued, you should be entitled to    benefits and privileges such as awards.  
    As a result, you will love your institution. You will want to    maintain your standards and report the news ethically. Unlike    when there is no clear system or no licensing, you can come and    go however you like. It lacks order.  
    SO, IS A LICENCE COMPULSORY OR NOT?  
    We propose that it would be. But I want to stress that any    training or examinations prerequisite for a licence are    entirely the responsibility of the council. You have full    control. This is not against the draft constitution.  
    BUT WILL THE THREAT OF LICENCE REVOCATION BE A FORM OF    MEDIA CONTROL BY THE STATE?  
    Not by the state. It would be the authority of the professional    council. The council is entitled to issue its own regulations.    If you meet the minimum standard, there is no way your licence    can be revoked.  
    It is the same as driving. If you drive well and safely, you    are fine. Unless you do something wrong, you wont face any    consequences. And there are steps before any revocation, which    comes last on the list. First you get warned, then you get    fined. If you dont show improvement, you will be suspended.    Revocation is the last and the strongest measure.  
    GIVEN THE COUNCILS ENTITLEMENT WOULD HAVE EXTENSIVE    AUTHORITY, HOW WELL DO YOU THINK IT CAN SERVE THE    MEDIA?  
    That would depend on the composition of its members. Now it is    unclear, but the number of permanent secretaries will be    reduced. It can be cut down to three, two or one. It remains    undecided. But at least one will stay. It is necessary since    self-regulation has not proven effective.  
    WHEN CAN THE DRAFT BILL BE FINALISED AND WHAT ARE YOUR    NEXT STEPS?  
    Everything will be clearer early in March. After that, we will    forward it to the whips. Then it enters the NRSA and the    Cabinet. That is the process, if it can go through and doesnt    get rejected.  
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Kanit offers changes to controversial media bill - The Nation