IS THIS A JOB FOR A JOURNALIST?
According to a story in The Nation today "The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) will play a major role in investigating the business operations of Tesco Lotus and its Thai operator, Ek-Chai Distribution Systems (Thailand)." The story adds the move is intended to discover if Tesco Lotus is complying with Thailand's Foreign Business Act.
Is this really a job for journalists? Surely if any company is in breech of Thai law the relevent authorities should be the ones investigating?
There is more to this story. Tesco Lotus has issued libel law suits against Krungthep Turakij (Bangkok Business newspaper) senior editor Nongnart Harnvilai, Krungthep Turakij columnist Kamol Kamoltrakul and Jit Siratranont, a former MP who is now vice general secretary of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
The report adds "The association said Thai journalists viewed Tesco Lotus's damage claim as an action to silence reports on its rapid expansion in Thailand and criticism of its impact on small retailers."
Journalists anywhere should have no problems whatsoever with their stories so long as they can substantiate them. For certain you will be in trouble if you write anything that's defamatory or damaging. Don't get me wrong; if Tesco Lotus has contravened any laws they should be investigated, but whether journalists should be the ones doing the investigating ... I'm not sure?
3 comments:
What's this? Whatever happened to the "fourth estate"? Isn't one of the roles of the journalist to investigate and expose those areas in which the Government is failing in it's duty?
I am a big fan of investigative journalism but this just seems like journalists doing the job of government, perhaps ?
Or exposing the possibility that government is not doing it's job. Maybe the best way to shine the light on the government is to expose those areas where the government should be acting, and isn't. Nothing is more embarrassing than the curtain going up and the spotlight shining on an empty stage.
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