PROFILE
Radio host prefers to keep low profile
Prayoon Krongyot, the host of "Thailand Daily" on FM94.25 MHz radio, is cautious about revealing his personal information.
To Nation reporters or to his audience, he introduces himself as an educator with master's degrees from Chulalongkorn University in education administration and public administration. He said he wanted to keep his radio job apart from his main job for safety reasons. A reporter asked him to reveal more in order to prevent accusations of being supported by politicians or political parties. He said he had a main career with a salary of around Bt30,000 and an Bt8,000 honorarium. He had to finance the programme with his own money when it started but later received financial support from listeners and commercial spots. Nation reporters found out that he was the head of education in Bang Kapi district. Prayoon, 46, said he had been born in Maha Sarakham and studied as a novice for 10 years until he reached level five of dharma. Although he is an educator, he has always been interested in politics. "I think I'm qualified for a political career, especially because of my desire to solve social problems, but I don't want to embark on a political career unless called upon by the people. I'll have to think it over anyway," he said. He was driven to put out a programme about education. "I talk a lot about education. I see selfish, undisciplined people everywhere, and I wanted to do more than just vent my feelings casually. It's also annoying to see the media being biased. That's why I had to start a radio programme," he said. He would like to host a television programme, he said. He first interviewed educators on a music programme, then went on to host a talk programme called "Than Khon Than Khao" ("People Update, News Update") before changing it to "Thailand Daily", which has become increasingly popular. "I'm not a media professional. I had to do my homework, or "Than Khon Than Khao" would have been awkward. For "Thailand Daily" I don't have to prepare much. I just talk about what I want to talk about, such as the Election Commission or the media," Prayoon said. He has been threatened a few times, and a woman once tried to buy his air time for another programme. But he's still hanging on with the good wishes of listeners who tell him not to give up, he said
Kornchanok Raksaseri The Nation
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