The Thai media has come under the spotlight following the release of a report which claims that journalists received monthly payments from a food giant to boost its public image.
CP Foods is in the news regularly, including articles touting new products such as this report of new pig and poultry feed products introduced in 2012, reportedly at the height of payments to journalists and media. (File photo)
The report was uploaded on the Thailand Information Centre For Civil Rights and Investigative Journalism (TCIJ) website Monday morning. The firm was not named by the TCIJ.
The report claimed the company closely monitored social media and paid several social media websites to make sure negative news or comments about the company were deleted or did not appear.
Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF) later admitted the report referred to its public relations unit but said the report had been doctored and distorted.
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TCIJ director Suchada Jakpisut said the centre obtained the report late last year and had already verified the documents with many sources. She did not say who compiled the report.
Among those allegedly receiving monthly payments were 18 media organisations and officials (all the names were blacked out by the TCIJ) on radio, TV and printed media.
The payments ranged between 10,000 and 250,000 baht per month.
An unspecified organisation or individual received more than 7.7 million baht. It was also not specified when the payment took place.
From the report, the TCIJ discovered the company had developed a well-planned strategy of approaching and maintaining special ties with media representatives.
The report also indicated that people from the firm would visit senior TV officials to obtain “explanations” if their stations broadcast negative reports about the company.
Ms Suchada said the report did contain irregularities, citing the suicide of a company staffer. The company was alleged to have paid police officers to make sure the company’s name did not appear in a report obtained by the media.
“Is this considered a kind of corruption?” said Ms Suchada.
Punninee Nanthapanich, senior vice-president of CPF, on Monday said in a statement that “payments to the media” are a common practice, similar to buying advertising.
The company said the released report was partially doctored and distorted.
Those who released it might have misunderstood original documents.
The company’s PR department has been working closely with media organisations and representatives.
Apart from payments to buy advertising, the department also allocated funds to sponsor activities initiated by the media, including golfing events and seminars. However, this did not amount to much, she said.
“We can confirm that we never paid to ‘buy the media’ to conceal or distort news information,” she said.
The National Press Council of Thailand and the News Broadcasting Council of Thailand set up an independent panel on Monday, headed by former secretary-general of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Klanarong Chantik to investigate the matter.
Its findings would be made available to the public as soon as the investigation is over.