Muslim media faces a tough time in the deep South
By Lekha Kliangklao
Although media outlets catering to the needs of Muslim people have been established here for several decades, not many people of non-Muslim faiths have been aware of their existence. For instance, Thang Nam newspaper which was first published more than 30 years ago with an aim of serving as a mouthpiece of the Muslim people managed to resume operations late last year after it was forced to close down temporarily due to financial problem.
Thang Nam newspaper has inspired several Muslims in the far South to launch new publications and other forms of media, including broadcast media and websites, taking advantage of the internet. But the boom period for the Muslim media was said to start about six years ago in the aftermath of an eruption of a new round of bloody violence in the far South. Community radio stations, websites and new publications emerged like mushrooms in the rainy season.
Associate Professor Imchit Lertpongsombat, dean of the Faculty of Communications Technology of Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani campus, described the the Muslim media boom as a healthy phenomenon which will allow people outside the Muslim society to have more access to information from a different perspective about events in the far South.
She said that, as a matter of fact, several Muslim reporters had been working in the strife-torn region for mainstream newspapers for quite a long time. However, she noted that the protracted unrest situation has opened a window for the creation of alternative media by Muslim people.
Associate Professor Imchit admitted that some of the new media might not survive. In order to survive in the long run, she said that the new media must be credible and straightforward in their presentation of facts, especially in their presentation of investigative reports or in-depth news coverages in order to win the trust of their readers or audience.
Since mainstream media has limited space for news reports from the far South, the various local Muslim media outlets will help fill up this gap, said Imchit, adding that the flourishing of this alternative media has become a huge source of knowledge for the writing of history about the region.
A veteran journalist for more than a decade, Rosidee Paduka, managing editor of Public Post newspaper, said that websites or internet news have a better future than the other forms of media because of its speed and low operating costs.
For the Muslim media to survive in the fiercely competitive environment, he said the media operators must be professional, independent in news presentation, ideological and, more importantly, have strong financial support.
He pointed out that several of the new media outlets in the region were found to be either short of funding, professionalism or principles. Thus most of them are not capable of serving as a true mouthpiece of Muslim people, he said.
As for Public Post newspaper, Rosidee Paduka said the paper had allocated 30 percent of space for news coverage about the deep South. On business prospect, he admitted that even mainstream media was suffering badly. For Muslim media, he said it would be harder and the only way to survive under the current economic difficulty is to be more professional in their operations.
Banyat Thipmad, an executive of www.muslimthai.com website, said his website was dedicated to news coverages about the unrest situation in the deep South. He said that the website had received widespread response from readers. However, he noted that it was important for local media to work more closely with media outside the region in the presentation of more investigate and analytical reports.
Bebe Soraeda Findee, a founder of Thang Nam newspaper and an executive editor of Nisa Variety magazine, admitted that many Muslims were not interested in Muslim media and did not attach much importance to them. Hence, many Muslim media did not survive although there are always the newcomers to emerge.
She appealed for help for the Muslim media if they are to survive. “Muslim media are in pain because you cannot eat principles. This is a fact of life. Who will help the media to survive especially under the present situation when there is still injustice in the society and media can be helpful (in the fight for justice),” she said.