October 5, 1999
A breath of fresh air A group of young radio stars are demonstrating how an independent radio station run for and by the people might work Namkhang Khamdaeng (third left) and Porntip Kalumpawanich (fourth left) and their guests rehearse scripts for the show and prepare material before going on air. Text And Pictures By Supara Janchitfah 'Sawasdee kha, this is the Note Tua Jiew (Little Notes) programme on air at AM 918 KHz, Radio Thailand, Bangkok. Today I have two guests Phi Pom and Phi Nid," announced up-beat hostess Namkhang Khamdaeng. Twelve-year-old Miss Namkhang is a great example of what "media of and for the people" should be. Both Miss Namkhang and her co-host, 10-year-old Porntip Kalumpawanich, participate in the entire production process, from planning each day's programme, to writing the script, interviewing guests and taking calls from listeners. It is the first radio station of its kind, a "youthful" enterprise, where the main agenda is to demonstrate how a public forum for people to exchange opinions without fear of political or commercial interference is possible. In full gear since last August, it is the initiative of a non-profit set-up called the Ta Sapparod Group (Pineapple Eye Group), known officially as the Youth Centre for the Promotion of Life Services and Environmental Awareness (YPLE). Run on a volunteer basis-the staff have to chip in their own time and money-the Pineapple Eye Group managed to secure a temporary permit for the frequency from Khunying Supatra Masdit, the minister in charge of the Public Relations Department last December. The "licence" is effective for a year, and will test whether the "people's media" can actually survive in the midst of fierce competition and state influence. Currently the group present five programmes from Mondays to Fridays at two time slots: 3-6 p.m. and 8:30-9 p.m. The station is very different from most of its commercial counterparts. There is no relentless pop music, no crass interviews with teen idols about their latest hairdo and no gossip about celebrities' personal lives. All the programmes are created by Bangkok youngsters. And it is they who decide what they want to hear-not what grown-ups think they should be fed. Other youngsters from the countryside help shape the shows too, by writing or calling in to give their opinions and suggestions. "I joined [the group] because as part of the audience, I was fed up with the things they've been giving us," said Miss Namkhang. A training programme for young people on the International Children's Day of Broadcasting held under the Children's Rights Convention. She complained of the materialistic orientation of most radio programmes she had come across. No matter where she moves the dial it seems the same message is repeated again and again-that which stresses appearance over substance. In one instance, a girl called in to boast about her rich and fashionable lifestyle, which Miss Namkhang said, reveals how "crazy" people in her generation have become. Her colleague Miss Porntip said: "Can you believe we have 12-year-olds who sing boy-meets-girl love songs? Or TV soaps which focus on the rich and their problems? I'd like to see more programmes that make me 'think' instead of bombarding me with consumerism." Miss Porntip and Miss Namkhang host the Little Notes programme. Each week, with the assistance of their guests, they choose which songs to play and what to discuss. Other shows also aim to stimulate analytical thinking in the minds of youngsters, but on a wider scope. The Children's Voice (Siang Dek) is a forum for children across Thailand to submit their reports about interesting phenomenon in their schools and communities. One teenager wrote about the controversial power plant projects in Prachuap Khiri Kan and voiced his concern about the potential environmental impact to his hometown. Gathering for the Children (Thang Wong Lao Mouth Phuer Dek) is another venue for youngsters to voice their concerns, but as it goes "live" the atmosphere is even more spontaneous. One show provides an outlet for youngster's imagination and creativity. In Khuen Nee Mee Nithan (A Tale for Tonight), children are encouraged to send in stories which are then read aloud on air. Youngsters can send in anything from folk tales they have learned from their parents or elderly relatives, or their own literary creations. Finally, the Yaowachon Khon Keng (Smart Youth) interview programme is geared toward promoting the concept that you don't need to be good-looking or super brainy to earn recognition and respect. Miss Namkhang and Miss Porntip (sitting) in the studio at Radio Thailand AM 918 KHz before recording their show. Co-ordinator Sakunee Kiatiwong-vanich is standing behind them and another volunteer checks the sound. Run by volunteer students from the Rajabhat Institute, Thon Buri campus, each week guests of honour are invited to talk about their lives and work. The criteria for choosing guests is that they make selfless contributions to benefit their school or community. Pineapple Eye co-ordinator Sakunee Kiatiwong-vanich said Miss Namkhang and Miss Porntip were not chosen to go on air because they were extraordinary. She said: "Both girls are average students and neither of their families are super rich. The goal of the station is to encourage each child's potential and build up their confidence; the programmes are an avenue to allow them to express their identity and opinions within the framework of democracy."The Pineapple Eye Group probably has a better understanding than many about how most kids can and like think about serious matters based on their personal experience. The group was formed by youngsters interested in promoting children's rights and environmental awareness in 1995. One of the founders, Chardchai Chuenraman, has been actively involved in this type of work since he was a secondary school student back in 1984. A decade later, most of his classmates have scattered, but Mr Chardchai went on to launch a national seminar on Youth and Environment. The participants subsequently decided to establish a centre where youngsters can meet and learn from each other. The Pineapple Eye Group has since been doing voluntary work encouraging people to help youngsters learn about civil society and environmental issues, using Buddhist teachings as a guideline. The training programme have received support from both government and non-governmental organisations. "During our workshops, we have come across many children who say they want to have their own forum where they can express their problems and communicate with each other," said Mr Chardchai. "Often young people are merely a passive audience, or they are brainwashed into being materialistic. But if they have their own radio or television channels, they can produce their own programmes to suit their age and needs."Another impetus for the formation of the station was an increase in youth suicides in 1998. The Pineapple Eye staff were asked by their young friends if they could do something to stop the trend. "I know we cannot do much, but at least it is better than doing nothing. Young people need friends to guide them in the right directions," said Mr Chardchai. In October 1997 the new Constitution opened the way for "people's media" (see sidebar). Using Article 40 the group became the first to test the limits of the new national laws. Despite having virtually no financial support from commercial companies, Mr Chardchai and friends trained some youngsters on how to write scripts and make clear announcements. Because they are strapped for cash they have had to make many improvisations. "We don't have enough equipment. We've had to dig into our own pockets to produce each programme," said Mr Chardchai. The wave band they have poses another constraint as very few people listen to the AM band in Bangkok and the frequency often suffers from technical interruptions and inadequate clarity. But on the up side, the initial response from upcountry listeners has been encouraging. Currently, the Pineapple Eye Group is training more people-at the moment all the shows are organised by two coordinators and volunteers. The group would like to ask the government to allocate them a better channel or frequencies so they can reach a wider audience. Despite the obstacles, the group has high hopes for the future of the Thai media. Their goal is to establish a news agency run by and for young people. Ms Sakunee said: "The problems of the young are often caused by adults. "'We want to encourage our young people to monitor their own problems and convey them to the society. We want a better channel so we can reach more people. "My wish is to see the air waves belong to and be managed for the benefit of our own people. "We can do it. Just give us a chance." Info for donations: - Name of organisation: The Youth Centre for the Promotion of Life Services and Environmental Awareness (YPLE) - Contact persons: Ms Sakunee Kiatiwong-vanich and Mr Chardchai Chuenraman - Address: 36/23-24 Moo2 Ramintra 24, Anusawaree, Bang Khen, Bangkok 10220 - Phone: 512-2770, (1188)413-6807 - Fax: 512-2770 The Group does not need financial help but would welcome donations of radio and production equipment and the time of radio producers or other media experts. Anyone wanting more information on the group's needs can call the above numbers. Toward free and fair media Although the new Constitution promotes public participation in all aspects of governance, the road toward equality in people's rights is still a rocky one. The struggle for a genuine media for and by the public is one example. Article 40 states that ... "transmission frequencies for radio or television broadcasting and telecommunication are national communication resources for public interest". However, understanding of what constitutes a "free and fair" distribution of broadcasting frequencies seems to be lacking among many policy-makers, said Supinya Klangnarong of the Thai Volunteer Service. "Some committee members who worked on drafting the organic law seemed to be confused as to the differences between the people and private sectors," she said. In effect, the essence of the people's sector is very different from the private sector, Ms Supinya said. "The people are fundamentally the majority of the country, but their voice has hardly been heard in the media. It is crucial they have the right to frequencies so they have their own channel to express their concerns." But the push for such media independence has not been easy. Since the first argument over the structure of the regulatory body to allocate the frequencies in April this year, nine public hearings have been conducted around the country. For the past six months, the draft of Article 40's organic law has been debated among the members of the Parliament's drafting committee. Tomorrow it will be submitted to Parliament for the third reading. Critics expressed worry about some last-minute changes to the draft that may distort the original push for the people's sector clause. "Although the drafting committee has agreed to stipulate the people's sector must receive at least 20 percent of all the existing frequencies, there could be changes during the legislation process. We have seen similar things happen to other organic laws such as Forestry Community and the Human Rights bill," said Jiraporn Vithayasakphan of Chiang Mai University and a member of the Parliament drafting bill committee. "We have to wait and see whether the government and the politicians are really aware of the people's right to communicate," said Ms Jiraporn. Below are the major recommendations made during the public hearings: The independent regulatory body: People should be able to participate in the process of establishing the two regulatory bodies: the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The regulatory bodies should be independent and open to public scrutiny. The frequencies allocation: The frequencies allocation should be free and fair and for the highest benefit of the people. The allocation must cater not only to the state and private sector, but also to the people's sector. The distribution should also take into account the rights of local people and underprivileged groups to have access to the air waves. Frequencies allocation should not consider profit but also the content which will benefit society as a whole. The Selection Committee: The Selection Committee's main task is to select the regulatory bodies' commissioners. The Selection Committee should consist of representatives from a variety of occupations, and sectors, which must include NGOs and representatives of local and consumers groups. The public has voiced objections to appointing a representative from the Permanent Secretary Office of each Ministry to the selection committee. The process to select the Selecting Committee should be transparent and legitimate.		Current Issues in Thailand Bangkok Post Year-end Economic Review NEW! SEA Games news archive! Database 10 yrs Thailand Tatler Magazine Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Motoring Special We Care NEW! Phudhong Foundation leper colony Back Issues Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 1999 Last Modified: Tue, Oct 5, 1999 For comments and letters to the editor see : notes Comments to: Webmaster Advertisng enquiries to Internet Marketing