Leaders of three major media associations hold a meeting yesterday to condemn what they described as political manipulation that promotes ‘artificial media’ to divide members of the press into two groups – one supporting the Thaksin government and the oth

Three professional media organisations yesterday condemned the political manipulation in promoting an "artificial media" to project the image of a divided media - one working for the government and the other against.

"In addition to using the media outlets under its control to attack the mainstream media, the government is trying to establish a network of other media for information," Banyat Tassaneeyavej, chairwoman of the Thai Press Council, said.

Banyat said the present situation was similar to that preceding the 1992 Black May incident in which the mainstream media circulated factual information despite the government cover-up responsible for the street protests and triggering the bloodshed.

The statement was read out by Banyat and endorsed by the Thai Press Council, the Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcasting Journalists Association.

The media groups cautioned the public to be on the lookout for reports churned out by self-serving politicians and spread via selected newspapers, websites and short message services.

The groups also pledged to uphold their professional duty of unbiased reporting.

Broadcasting association chairman Somchai Sawaengkarn expressed concern that society might be heading for confrontation following the emergence of newspapers, cable television stations, satellite television programmes airing questionable views.

"One talk-show host has resumed a programme seen as a mouthpiece to incite hatred similar to what he had done in relation to the 1976 October bloodshed," Somchai said.

He urged his fellow media professionals to refrain from fanning the flames of hatred and sensationalising the news.