Event

UNESCO and partners support panel discussion on the future of citizen journalists in Thailand

The ‘Journalism that Builds Bridges Project’ to receive attention after completion of year-long research and development.

3 November 2023

Event

The future of citizen journalists in the Thai context, when society is hungry for news

3 November 2023 - 10:00 am - 3 November 2023 - 5:00 pm

Location

Bangkok, Thailand

Rooms :

Bangkok, Thailand

Type :

Cat VIII - Symposia

Arrangement type :

Hybrid

The ‘Journalism that Builds Bridges Project’ (JBB Project), launched by multiple partners* in November of 2021, and completed in July of 2022, aimed at developing and nurturing a Thailand-wide grassroots network of some 50 young people, predominantly female citizen reporters, drawn from five media outlets in regions from throughout the country—The Isaan Record (Khon Kaen); Lanner Chiang Mai); Louder (Ubon Ratchathani); Prachatai (Bangkok); and Wartani (Pattani/Yala)—with the aim to sustainably produce positive, authentic, investigative content in safety. The principal aim has been to help shine a people-centered and gender-sensitive light on local challenges to social cohesion; economic and social inequalities; issues around justice; and community-level-conflicts, while providing training to female and LGBT+ assistant editors.

Over the course of the training, which transpired from late 2021 to mid 2022, over more than a year, all participants produced works through four websites. To date, more than 200 pieces by the trainees have been released to the public. It is now time to build a space for the trainees to meet and review their experience and journey, mainly by asking themselves a number of questions. For example, does being a citizen journalist mean building bridges among various parties in society to reduce conflict, or does it mean to open up new spaces for marginalised peoples? What, exactly, have been the project's objectives? What have been its principal outcomes?

This event is supported by the Embassies of the Netherlands, Finland, and New Zealand; and the UNDP and UNESCO.

Date, Time, Venue

Friday, 3 November 2023, 10.00–17.20
1st Floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
939 Rama I Rd, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok

Agenda:

(MC: Ms Nattakarn Sumon, Independent reporter)

10.00-10.15 Registration and Coffee

10.15-10.30 Introduction of the Journalism that Builds Bridges project

10.30-11.00 Attendees visit the exhibitions

11.00-11.15 Showing of video: Journalism that Builds Bridge, Before and active

11.15-11.25 Comments on impunity and safety of journalists, Joe Hironaka, Advisor for Communication and Information, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok

11.25-11.35 Comments, Renaud Meyer, UNDP Resident Representative Thailand

11.35-11.45 Comments, Miika Tomi, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland in Bangkok

11.45-11.55 Comments, His Excellency Mr Jonathan Kings, Ambassador of New Zealand

11.55-12.45 JBB Awards ceremony by ThaiPBS

12.45-13.45 Lunch

13.45-14.15 Launch of publication, Mapping the Thai Media Landscape: Charting a Course for Civic Journalism and reflection, 'Can a network of periphery media organizations change the media landscape of Thailand?'

Presenter: Asst Prof Phansasiri Kularb, Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University

14.15-15.15 'Challenges of female editors in the Thai media landscape'

Moderator: Archawit Inha, The Isaan Record reporter
Panelists:
- Ms Kultida Samabuddhi, Former Editor, BBC Thai;
- Ms Hathairat Phaholtap, Editor-in-chief, The Isaan Record,
- Nasiha Maso, Female/LGBT+ Assistant Editor Training Participant

15.15-15.30 Break

15.30-15.40 Launch of handbook for cultivating citizen journalists in the JBB project

Ms Hathairat Phaholtap

15.40-17.20 Views of Project’s Editors: 'Lessons of Journalism that Build Bridges: what was learned and is there a next step?'

Moderator: Porntip Morngyai, Special Desk Editor, Work Point TV
Panelists:
- Mr Ruslan Musor, Wartani;
- Mr Tewarit Maneechai, Editor-in-chief, Prachatai;
- Mr Teerapon Anmai, Louder/Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University;
- Mr Watcharapol Nakkasem, Lanner;
- Mr Kowit Photisan and/or Ms. Hathairat Phaholtap, editors, The Isaan Record.

17.20-17.30 Closing words

Co-hosts:

Citizen+ and the Foundation for Isaan Education and Popular Media (FIEPM)

* The funders of the project have been the embassies of the Netherlands, Finland, and New Zealand, as well as UNESCO and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). An important partner has been Thai PBS and in particular its Citizen+ program. The UN’s Peace and Development section in Bangkok has also played a key advisory role to the project.