In an enlightening exchange at the 2024 Global News Forum, co-organized by the esteemed Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and Thai PBS, panelist and National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) member, Pirongrong Ramasoota, delivered eye-opening insights on a pressing issue that teeters the balance of modern journalism.
Prominent and trustworthy news agencies find themselves grappling for recognition among the cacophony of digital platforms and mobile apps. Ms. Pirongrong passionately urged governments and civil society to join forces, advocating for a collaborative effort to champion credibility in the news domain.
The enigma of our age—the internet—has facilitated a rampant surge of disinformation, clickbait, and sensationalism, Ms. Pirongrong observed. “Today’s platforms rely heavily on algorithms engineered by data. News quality plays second fiddle to user interaction, driving a wedge between authenticity and engagement,” she lamented. As digital migration becomes inevitable, news agencies find their prominence dictated not by journalistic ethics but by insidious algorithms, she added.
Peculiarly, Thailand paints a unique picture compared to its European and Asian counterparts. A significant chunk of the Thai population digests news predominantly from social media channels, particularly third-party platforms. This trend leaves a gnawing concern, as proper attribution to original news agencies often goes underground, she expressed. “This obscures transparency and breeds an unfair landscape,” Ms. Pirongrong emphasized.
With algorithmic relevance slipping through regulations’ fingers, Ms. Pirongrong urged news agencies to partner with both the public sector and civil society. This unity, she believes, is crucial to propel credible agencies to the forefront, ensuring their rightful place on digital interfaces, mobile applications, and connected TVs.
Drawing inspiration from Europe and Canada, Ms. Pirongrong elaborated on concerted efforts by governments and civic groups to foster labelling and clear branding of genuine public service media on platforms like YouTube. “Initiatives are also in the pipeline,” she shared, “to secure a prominent operator profile for public service broadcasters on connected TVs, particularly with industry giants like Samsung.”
Another fascinating move, she added, involves potential legislation mandating pre-installation of legacy public service broadcaster apps on mobile devices. Such measures, she advocated, could serve as a blueprint for Thailand to mend the fractured trust within its news ecosystem.
Here in Thailand, NBTC is making strides with an innovative social credit model for licensed broadcasters. This model, eyeing content quality starting with news, could pave the way for a certification of trustworthiness. “This certification would serve as a negotiation tool for these agencies to claim their warranted prominence on digital platforms in the foreseeable future,” Ms. Pirongrong speculated optimistically.
As the sun set on another day of enlightening discourse at the 2024 Global News Forum, Ms. Pirongrong’s words lingered, resonating with a call to action. At the heart of her message was a timeless truth: in the battle for truth and transparency, collaboration and innovation are our greatest allies.
Credible journalism is harder to find nowadays. Social media is just full of junk news.
Exactly! The algorithms only push what gets clicks and not what’s true.
It’s disheartening. We need more accountability for the platforms too.
Indeed. But how do we enforce it without infringing on free speech?
Balancing regulation with free speech is tough. However, without some form of regulation, disinformation will reign supreme.
Social media isn’t all bad. It democratizes information, anyone can share their voice.
But at what cost? False information spreads faster than truth and endangers democracy.
Algorithmic transparency could help. Platforms should reveal how they prioritize content.
Thailand’s reliance on social media for news is troubling. People need to know who is behind the news they read.
All news is biased anyway. Why does it matter who writes it?
Because knowing the source helps us assess the credibility and intentions of the information.
Interesting that Europe and Canada have better regulations. Why can’t Thailand just adopt the same practices?
It’s not that simple. Different political, social, and cultural factors make it unique.
Mandatory pre-installation of news apps sounds like government overreach to me.
If it ensures access to reliable news sources, I’m all for it.
Algorithms are the root cause. We need tech solutions by developers mindful of journalism ethics.
Tech solutions? You mean handing over more control to tech giants? No thanks.
The social credit model sounds interesting. Could it be the answer to ensuring quality content?
Social credit for news? That sounds dystopian!
If done right, it could really work to filter out bad info.
The collaboration between public sectors and news agencies is key. No single entity can solve this alone.
But what if they have conflicting goals?
Bringing in regulation is a slippery slope to censorship.
Right, and who decides what’s truthful? Dangerous territory.
There needs to be a balance. Complete deregulation isn’t working.
Labeling genuine news sources on platforms can help users identify them easily.
But won’t that be gamed too?
Efforts to educate the public on identifying credible information are just as critical.
The audience needs to be more discerning. They can’t rely on journalists or governments alone.
True, but people often lack the tools or knowledge to do so effectively.
NBTC’s efforts are commendable. It shows they’re actively seeking solutions.
But are those solutions practical or just idealistic?
Any form of control over news is just a way to suppress dissent.
How else do we maintain truth in media without some regulation?