Media

In the Bangkok Post, one of the two leading English newspapers in Thailand, Thai academic Thitinan Pongsudhirak offered a sad commentary this week on the state of political affairs in the kingdom. I hate to hit someone who was just our guest, but at roughly the same time that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited CFR in New York to proclaim his support for a free media and his government’s commitment to getting democracy back on track in Thailand, the Thai authorities arrested Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the groundbreaking – and boundary-pushing – Thai website Prachatai. Hmm. Her crime, allegedly, was not taking down comments on the site that the government claimed were offensive to Thailand’s royal family. As Thitinan notes, Prachatai is left-leaning, but no more so than news and opinion publications in many other countries that are “receptive to dissenting opinions.” More broadly, Thitinan notes, the Prachatai case is emblematic of an emerging “soft civil-military authoritarianism” in Thailand in which new technologies are used to control the Internet and other forms of free speech, judicial interference is utilized to disbar opposition politicians, and the smooth Oxford-educated Abhisit presents a public face and a democratic facade to the world. In one reader comment after Thitinan’s piece the writer expressed surprise that someone educated at Oxford could preside over such draconian policies! It may well be, as some Thai friends believe, that Abhisit is not happy with the extent of repression currently hindering Thailand’s media, universities, and politicians; he may indeed not even be informed before the military and other authorities act against critics. Some allies of Abhisit insist he is the “good man,” the only person keeping the military and royalist forces, behind the scenes, from imposing even more draconian policies and potentially canceling the elections scheduled for next year outright. Perhaps. But he hasn’t taken any real public steps to support that view of him, so it’s impossible to confirm. Pushing to keep the heat off sites like Prachatai would be a start. (Photo: Sukree Sukplang/courtesy Reuters)

CFR’s Mohamad Bazzi says while a new unity government in Lebanon after months of political uncertainty is welcomed by Washington, inclusion of Hezbollah poses potential challenges.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Morrie Helitzerrecalls an anecdote of him trying to penetrate the Iron Curtain of the Soviets soon after World War II. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Kathy Gannon notes the impact of being the only western journalist in Taliban-controlled Kabul on September 11th, 2001. She also laments the "particularly worrisome" decline in international coverage at a time when it is increasingly important to have a deeper grasp on world events, cultures and people. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Manjeet Kripalani talks about spotting the early trends in globalization towards India and her coverage of that trend. She goes on to propose a shift in the news industry that would see news organizations from countries like India and Mexico take on the void left by western organizations that are increasingly deprived of funding. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Jaime FlorCruz talks about her work on a 24-hour cable news network and presents ideas on dealing with the evolving "consumption patterns" of foreign news. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Donald Kirk considers the strange inverse proportion of improving communications and dwindling foreign reporting. He also remarks on the importance of exposing atrocities committed during the Korean War. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Harry Heintzen was a Scandinavian reporter during the Cold War and he recalls the vigorous reaction his writing drew from the Soviet Union. Looking ahead, Heintzen provides a concrete option on how to sustain international journalism. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Mort Rosenblum points out that "distant guesswork costs nothing," but competent foreign reporting comes at a high price. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Lewis Simons recalls his revealing report on corruption in the Philippines but anticipates a coming downfall of international reporting. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow Marry Anne Weaver discusses the emergence of Pakistan as a hot-bed for terrorism and the lapse in U.S. foreign policy that partially caused this emergence. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.

As part of the Edward R. Murrow 60th Anniversary initiative current and former fellows discuss the stories that have had the most impact and present ideas for sustaining serious international journalism. Former fellow James Goldsborough talks about the backlash of the Vietnam War felt in Western Europe and declares education as a way to foster demand for international journalism. For more on the initiative, visit cfr.org/murrow.