MCOT's board of directors is committed to making only minor adjustments to its programming at next Tuesday's meeting, with a big reshuffle probably occurring next March, when the company is expected to welcome its new president.

The move is set to address questions raised by MCOT employees about non-transparency in the new programming, which is seen as benefiting certain producers.

"We'll have only a minor change in programmes produced by MCOT, while all independent producers have been told to fine-tune their programmes in order to create better value for viewers," said vice president Chidnarong Kunakrisadathikarn.

Board chairman Boonplook Chaiket said both the board of directors and MCOT management would be independent and not tolerate interference from any players, be they shareholders, influential people or even politicians.

"We are all united in making MCOT an independent media agency and creating benefits for every employee and organisation, as well as society," said Boonplook.

"All MCOT programmes will be of good quality and value. Programme content will be diverse and deliver useful information and knowledge to viewers, particularly to our youth."

Acting president Pongsak Payakvichien also said yesterday that to show his sincerity in helping shape MCOT to benefit society and not to cause conflict as reported, he would donate his salary to charity.

"I insist that during my tenure there will be no outside orders for any programming reshuffle. Any change will

be proposed only by management," he said.

Meanwhile, the Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) yesterday issued a statement reiterating its belief that the conflict between MCOT staff and the

new executives appointed by the government was an example of the abuse of power.

The statement said that although the policy set by PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan would be carried out with good intentions, it would still suffer a lack of transparency and run counter to democracy, because power had been exercised on a preferential basis, and all participants - MCOT staff, programme-producers, consumers and the public at large - had been guilty of negligence.

Although touted as a "back-door solution" from authorised executives and other private media firms, the statement said that without public input in changing policy governing Channel 9's programming, the solution would not enjoy the trust of society.

"All professionals and staff at MCOT have the right and freedom to express their grievances against threats and intervention on the part of state power," said the CPMR.

It agreed that all participants should urge that media reform be transparent in order to emancipate state-directed media from politics and serve real public needs.

"No state procedures outside the principals of good governance and social participation are likely to be trusted by the public," said the CPMR, adding that intentions of media reform were in danger of being viewed as transferring benefits among privileged groups rather than benefiting society.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation