Indie • in-depth online news agency to “bridge the gap” and “connect the dots” with a critical and constructive mind on development and environmental policies in Thailand and the Mekong region: to deliver meaningful messages and create the big picture critical to public understanding and decision-making, thus truly being the public’s critical voice
From the beginning, it was built from scratch: a news agency committed to exploring the advantages of online and social media platforms to broaden the horizons of knowledge and inspiration — and, above all, to uphold media freedom and independence.
Having spent considerable time in the media realm and experienced the pressures facing the industry, the idea of creating an independent, in-depth news agency was nothing but rooted in comprehension. This is because the greater the pressure builds, the lower “the ceiling” imposed on journalists becomes, preventing them from conveying messages that inform and inspire people.
Aside from political pressure, fierce competition and new pressures driven by rapid changes in the media landscape have led to declining revenues and a near collapse of the industry. The more the industry crumbles, the lower the ceiling and the less meaningful the messages.
To say the least, the media here are struggling to survive. Without freedom from these pressures, we will eventually have no journalistic integrity left. Hence, the media must be free from such pressures and maintain their independence and a critical, constructive mindset so they can once again convey meaningful messages to people.
This is particularly critical as our society undergoes transition and needs to be informed and inspired. A new model for the media is therefore urgently needed to offer a way forward. One such response is the idea of establishing a so-called “media social enterprise,” which is, at its core, an attempt to preserve media freedom and independence.
As a non-profit social enterprise, it will be more flexible in obtaining support from various sources. A mix of support — from project-based collaboration to public funding and contributions — could offer new possibilities. Without dependence on commercial interests and other external influences, a media social enterprise could remain independent, perform at its best, and act critically and constructively as intended.
It could then help “bridge the gap” and “connect the dots”, delivering meaningful messages and creating the big picture for people to understand the challenges, so they can make better decisions for their lives and society.
These are the reasons we at the Bangkok Tribune have been working to establish such a news agency.
From scratch, a little seed funding, and the help of technology, it has been proven that such a news agency can be established. Hence, we would like to invite you to join us in exploring the possibility of establishing an independent, in-depth news agency that upholds a critical and constructive mindset to serve as a critical voice for the public.
Your support is vital at this crucial moment. We appreciate your consideration and hope you will join us in this effort. For more details and the full proposal, please feel free to contact us @[email protected]