A panel vetting the media reform bill has agreed to drop the requirement that journalists have a licence to operate but not the setup of a media superbody.
ACM Kanit Suwannate, chairman of the National Reform Assembly (NRSA)'s Media Reform Committee, made the announcement on Sunday.
He said his panel also did away with the proposed penalties it had added to the bill -- a two-year jail term and a fine -- now that the licensing requirement was dropped.
The change would be made before the draft legislation was tabled for the NRSA for deliberation on Monday, he said.
The provision was strongly opposed by the media and concerned parties worried it could escalate into a major conflict, he explained.
The licence requirement of reporters was one of the two contentious issues of the bill.
Media groups have slammed the NRSA-sponsored bill on rights protection, ethical promotion and standards of media professionals, saying it is not based on principles of a free press, but designed to allow state interference and control of the media.
However, the other issue of concern remained -- the composition of the National Media Profession Council, which would have senior government officials among its members.
The council is empowered to penalise media outlets that violate their code of conduct.
ACM Kanit said the provision on the establishment of the 15-member national media profession council, with two members representing government agencies, would be retained because it was intended to facilitate cooperation between the government and the private sector.
"As for the concern that this will make way for the state to undermine media independence, I don't think this will happen. In making a decision, the council is required hold a meeting to pass a resolution. The number of media representatives is higher than that from state agencies. Moreover, the result of the meeting must be made public," he said.
ACM Kanit said the cancellation of the professional licence requirement is regarded as a step back to meet opponents of the bill halfway.
Currently, members of the media self-regulate through their several organisations. But authorities, including the prime minister, have said on different occasions this was not effective enough.