Print Media

There are 50 Thai-language dailies, and two English ones--the Bangkok Post and The Nation. Leading national Thai-language dailies, including Matichon and Siam Rath, are popular among well-educated Thais. The more popular Thai Rath and Daily News have broader appeal to the general public. Sin Sian Yit Pao is Thailand's leading Chinese-language newspaper. Outside of Bangkok, provincial newspapers are published every 15 days, and Bangkok-based newspapers are available across the country. In addition to domestic dailies, Thais have access to foreign newspapers that are sold in bookstores.

The Thai press is among the freest in Asia. Freedom of speech is guaranteed under the Constitution and there are no special regulations controlling the press. So free is the Thai press that only laws on libel and invasion of privacy restrict its reports. Thai newspapers use their freedom to the fullest, and they are widely recognized for their in-depth reporting.

Thailand has a thriving publishing business with hundreds of newspapers, magazines, and paperback titles. Certain foreign best sellers appear in Thai shortly after publication abroad. International magazines with popular appeal, like Elle and Reader's Digest, are also proving popular in Thai.

Broadcasting

Radio

Thailand has 523 radio stations nationwide, 212 of them are on AM (Bangkok-38, provinces-174) while 311 are on FM (Bangkok-40, provinces -271). The biggest operators are The Public Relations Department with 145 radio stations, followed by the Royal Thai Army with 128 stations and the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand with 62 stations. AM radio tends to appeal to popular tastes, especially with rural listeners, while FM radio offers more popular music, as well as jazz and classical music, English-language newscasts, and original soundtracks of certain foreign films shown on local television.

All radio stations with the exception of a small number of specialist stations, such as those dedicated to traffic reports, hook up with Radio Thailand, the national radio under the Public Relations Department, for official newscasts which are transmitted daily at 07.00 and 19.00 hrs. Outside these hours, all radio stations enjoy the freedom to produce their own news programs for independent broadcasting.

The National Broadcasting Services of Thailand

The National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT), operating under the supervision of The Public Relations Department, has served as an official channel of communication between the Government and the public. News and information on government policies and administration are disseminated by means of the NBT's television and AM/FM radio stations, which are located in every region of Thailand. Everyday, NBT's official half-an-hour radio newscast is mandatorily transmitted on all stations nationwide at 07:00 and 19:00 hours. Apart from newscasts, the other broadcast programs are designed to impart information, general education and entertainment, as well as provide vocational guidelines to the public.

In addition to the domestic service, the NBT operates an external service, offering overseas listeners news, current affairs, and entertainment programs.

The NBT began its external service in 1938 in only French and English. Radio Thailand's world service, now broadcasts in 12 languages, namely: English, French, German, Lao, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Khmer, Malay, Indonesian, Japanese, Burmese, and Thai, for a total transmission time of 10 hours 15 minutes a day. Radio Thailand broadcasts on short wave at 9.665 and 11.905 megahertz on the 25 and 31-meter bands. The broadcasts are transmitted from Bang Phun, Pathum Thani province in central Thailand, and relayed over transmitters in Ban Dung, Udon Thani province in northeastern Thailand, on frequencies shared with the Voice of America. Radio Thailand offers English-language programs 4.15 hours a day. Its newscasts can be heard locally on FM 95.5 and FM 105 MHz at 07:00, 12:30, and 19:00 hours.

The NBT headquarters is located at 236, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Huay Khwang, Bangkok 10320. Radio Thailand's domestic service can be reached at (662) 277-8181, Fax. (662) 277-8182 and (662) 277-5881, while Radio Thailand's world service is at (662) 277-1814 and (662) 274-9098, Fax. (662) 277-6139 and (662) 274-9099.

Television

In 1955, a government enterprise put Thailand's first TV station into operation in Bangkok. Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to begin regular TV transmissions. There are now six national color television stations in Bangkok, namely Channels 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. All of them are government-owned with their own affiliated stations in the provinces. However, the Government permits the private sector to run Channels 3,7 and ITV.

The Public Relations Department handles the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, which operates TV Channel 11 with its broadcast programs emphasizing education and public services. Channel 11 serves as the parent station of eight TV station networks in the provinces across the country. The website for TV channel 11 is http://www.tv11.iirt.net

Television in Thailand is mostly commercialized and generally appeals to popular taste. Each free television channel produces its own programs ranging from news to soap operas. Entertainment broadcasts may be Chinese, Japanese, British, and American but usually with a Thai soundtrack dubbed in.

The Foreign Media

About 300 correspondents, cameramen, and photographers representing 128 news organizations are based in Bangkok. These include major wire agencies, such as Reuters, Agence France Press and Associated Press.

Besides these agencies, many other publishers are based here, such as Asiaweek, the Asian Wall Street Journal, Business Asia, Far Eastern Economic Review, Financial Times, The Straits Times, and the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Apart from print media, the world's broadcasting media organizations are also well represented in Thailand. These include the BBC, CNN and NHK.

The Public Relations Department's Foreign Office is responsible for the press accreditation of every foreign correspondent, including photographers and camera crews, based in Thailand. A press card from the PRD provides a correspondent access to government information and official events that are open to the media.

Eligible applicants for press cards issued by the PRD are as follows:
    a) Correspondents or representatives of newspapers, foreign news agencies, radio and television stations. The card is valid for 1 year.
    b) Thai nationals who work for foreign agencies, radio, and television stations. The card is valid for 6 months.
    c) Local correspondents, radio and television representatives going abroad on temporary mission. The card is valid for the period of assignment.

For more information, please contact the Foreign Office, at The Public Relations Department, 9 Rama VI Road Soi 30, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Tel. (662) 618-2323 ext. 1708, 1709, Fax (662) 618-2358.

The Foreign Correspondents' club of the Thailand

Media representatives, both local and foreign, as well as those interested in current events, can apply for membership of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT). The club organizes weekly luncheon speeches, as well as casual social events. There are eight categories of membership, including ordinary membership for foreign correspondents who are based in Thailand, journalists employed by accredited local news organizations, associate members of non-journalists, Thais, expatriates, diplomats, politicians, business people, and academics, as well as others who are interested in the group's activities.

The Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand is located at Penthouse, Maneeya Center Building, 518/5 Ploenchit Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, and Tel. (662) 652-0580-1, Fax. (662) 652-0582.