Peace jounalism in Thailand : a case study of Issara News Centre of the Thai Journalists Association

Abstract

In response to criticisms that the vernacular media made violence in southern Thailand worse through its war-journalism type of reporting, the Thai Journalist Association launched a peace journalism trial called Issara News Centre (INC). The INC aimed at bringing together reporters from Bangkok and the south to produce stories that give context to the complex conflict, get voices of stake holders other than the authority across, including the villagers. The TJA hoped that INC would help bring about empathy required for peaceful transformation of the conflict, at the time when the Thai public opinion was dangerously swaying toward tit-for tat type of solution. The research questions are whether the INC coverage conformed with peace journalism framework and how the mainstream media responded to the INC project, as well as factors influencing the strength and weakness of the INC. To arrive at the findings, the student conducted document analysis using Johan Galtung's peace journalism framework of the coverage of a violent incident at Tanyonglimo by the INC in comparison to that by mass circulation Thai Rath and Matichon newspaper. Interviews and participatory observation also formed substaintal parts of the research activities. The findings are that while Thai Rath employs war journalism method in its coverage, the INC applied peace journalism approach and Matichon showed inclination for peace journalism. Comparing the output of INC during two violent incidents in September 2005, and May 2006 pointed to human resource, capacity and commitment by national newspapers to the peace journalism trial as issues determining the strength and weakness as well as sustainability of the INC which represents peace journalism undertaking in Thailand