Broadcasting personalities yesterday claimed they employed "self-censorship" to ensure they remained on air and avoided government persecution.

Television and radio news and talk-show presenters told a Thai Journalists Association seminar "self-censorship" was the only way to protect programmes on government-controlled electronic media from the axe.

Well-known radio anchor and former political spokesman Suparp Klikhajay said he censored sensitive reports because he feared airing them would cause trouble for programme owners.

Pichian Amnartworaprasert, who was recently sacked as a radio anchor, said presenters needed courage to speak out and report the truth in the public interest. He called on the government to be more broadminded to criticism.

Well-known television anchor and former government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said the reputations of broadcast journalists would suffer if they were seen favouring the government.

But, some programmes or presenters had been terminated because they were simply too provocative, he added.

And, the former personality of axed Open Radio Pirun Chatwanitkul, found that no matter how hard broadcast journalists tried, the government was never satisfied with their "neutrality" or coverage.

It constantly attempted to control what was reported and liked to see 90 per cent of broadcast time dedicated to its message.

Senator-elect and former television and radio host Boonyod Sukthinthai believed the Thaksin government practised editorial interference. He added broadcasters had to learn how to avoid irritating the government if they wanted to keep their jobs.

Boonyod's radio show on a military-owned frequency was pulled from the air in early 2005. He alleged censorship was behind the move.

Former BBC Thai Service executive Wasant Paileekli saw more and more self-censorship in broadcasting. This was wrong and violated journalistic ethics, Wasant said.

Nation Group editor Thepchai Yong called on broadcast journalists to do their duty with neutrality, instead of choosing to become partisan and violating their ethics.

And, Manager Group senior editor Samran Rodphet called on the industry to stop being afraid and do its job.

Suphon Thanukrit

The Nation