Thai media struggle to survive in the age of digital disruption

The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) has described 2024 as the “Year of Hardships” for the Thai print and broadcast media, as the industry as a whole is facing increasing challenges from digital disruption and changes by consumers in the ways they access information.

These resulted in reductions in advertising revenues, readerships and audiences, as well as mass layoffs or pay cuts among media professionals.

Such challenges may impact the freedom of the media, job security for its members and even further media migration online, said TJA in its summary report of the media situation this year.

The TJA summarised the two main problems confronted by the media.

First, breach of liberties and freedoms of the media. The TJA cites three cases in the past 11 months:

· The arrest of Prachathai independent photographer Natthaphol Panpongsanon on February 12th, by Phra Ratchawang police, on charges of violations of the Cleanliness Act and the Act on Archaeological Sites, for reporting on and taking photos of a person as he was spray-painting graffiti on the wall of the Grand Palace. Media organisations allege that the police action may constitute harassment of the media. The suspect was later released on bail.

· A reporter from Thai PBS was slapped on the head by General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath party, after he was asked why he didn’t attend a parliamentary meeting to vote for the appointment of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister.

· Pheu Thai MPs called for the removal of some programs from Thai PBS, because a senior reporter criticised Prime Minister Paetongtarn. This is viewed as another example of harassment of the media.

The three incidents, said the TJA, have resulted in increased self-censorship by some media outlets.

Second, layoffs of members of the media and media migration to online platforms.

The TJA said that the Thai media is increasingly losing their advertising revenues, forcing them to resort to governmental agencies and big businesses for funding, to the extent that their role in the check and balance system is being compromised.

Additionally, many consumers have turned to social media as their main sources of information, instead of the traditional media, as social media are free of charge, said the TJA, as it admits that it is difficult for the mainstream media to change the lifestyles of the consumers under the present context of Thai society.

The TJA cites several cases of mass layoffs, pay cuts or closures of businesses by several media outlets this year, as they struggle or fail to survive.

For instance, the closure of Voice TV in May, after 15 years in operation, the lay-offs of 100 staff at the Mono 29 TV station, the voluntary early retirement program at Thai Rath newspaper and, recently, the lay-offs of 300 staff at Channel 3 TV.