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 serving as the public’s critical voice
From the beginning, it started 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 cherish media freedom and independence.
Having spent considerable time in the media realm and experienced the pressures facing the profession, the idea of creating an independent, in-depth news agency was nothing but a reflection of deep comprehension. This is because the greater the pressure, the lower the “ceiling” imposed on journalists becomes, preventing them from conveying messages that inform and inspire people.
Aside from political influence, fierce competition and emerging pressures driven by rapid changes in the media landscape have contributed to declining revenues and brought the industry to the brink of collapse. The further the industry crumbles, the lower the ceiling falls, and the less meaningful its messages become.
To say the least, the media industry here is struggling to survive. Without freedom from these pressures, we risk eventually losing all journalistic integrity. Hence, the media must be free from such pressures and preserve their independence while maintaining a critical yet constructive mindset, enabling them to once again convey meaningful messages to the public.
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 maintain media freedom and independence.
As a non-profit social enterprise, it will be more flexible in garnering 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-informed 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, with a little seed funding and the help of technology, it has been proven that such a news agency can be established. Therefore, 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 essential at this critical moment, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration. We hope you will join us in this important endeavour. For further information or to review the full proposal, contact us @ [email protected]