Prachatai
{{short description|Thai online newspaper}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Prachatai
| full_name =
| native_name = ประชาไท
| native_name_lang = th
| logo = Prachatai.png
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| logo_caption =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| map2 =
| map2_size =
| map2_alt =
| map2_caption =
| abbreviation =
| nickname =
| pronounce =
| pronounce ref =
| pronounce comment =
| pronounce 2 =
| named_after =
| motto =
| predecessor =
| merged =
| successor =
| formation = {{start date and years ago|June 2004}}
| founder =
| founding_location =
| dissolved =
| merger =
| type = Nonprofit
| tax_id =
| registration_id =
| status = Nonprofit foundation (The Foundation for Community Educational Media)
| purpose =
| professional_title =
| headquarters =
| location_city = Bangkok
| location_country = Thailand
| location_city2 =
| location_country2 =
| addnl_location_city =
| addnl_location_country =
| addnl_location_city2 =
| addnl_location_country2 =
| coordinates =
| origins =
| region_served =
| products =
| services =
| methods =
| fields =
| membership =
| membership_year =
| languages = Thai
English
| owner =
| sec_gen =
| leader_title = General Manager
| leader_name = Pongpan Chumjai
| leader_title2 = Editor-in-chief
| leader_name2 = Tewarit Maneechay
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| board_of_directors =
| key_people =
| main_organ =
| parent_organization =
| subsidiaries =
| secessions =
| affiliations =
| budget =
| budget_year =
| revenue =
| revenue_year =
| disbursements =
| expenses =
| expenses_year =
| endowment =
| endowment_year =
| staff =
| staff_year =
| volunteers =
| volunteers_year =
| students =
| students_year =
| awards =
| website = {{Official URL}}
| remarks =
| formerly =
| footnotes =
| bodystyle =
}}
Prachatai ({{langx|th|ประชาไท}}, {{lit|Free People}}) is an independent non-profit online newspaper in Thailand. Focusing on news from and commentary on NGOs, social movements, and human rights issues, the website became an alternative source for social and political news in a country where many media outlets are state backed, including military-run, or for-profit.{{Cite book|last=Haberkorn|first=Tyrell|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/952643548|title=Voices of a free media : the first ten years of Prachatai|date=2014|publisher=Foundation for Community Educational Media (FCEM)|isbn=978-616-92252-0-1|oclc=952643548}} Its current editor-in-chief is Tewarit Maneechay, with Pongpan Chumjai serving as general manager. The site publishes mainly in the Thai language, with selected articles translated to English.
History and objectives
The newspaper was established in June 2004 by a group of concerned Thais who included a senior member of the Press Council of Thailand, a well-known lecturer in journalism, two members of the Thai Senate, a number of senior journalists, and a number of Thai NGO leaders. On September 6, 2004, Prachatai began daily online publication. In January 2006, it registered as a non-profit foundation, named The Foundation for Community Educational Media.{{Cite web|title=About Prachatai English|url=https://prachatai.com/english/about|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Prachatai English}} It has four stated objectives:
- To provide the Thai public with access to reliable news and information relevant to developing and strengthening the democratic functions of Thai civil society.
- To focus news coverage on the problems, concerns, activities and accomplishments of local communities and civil society movements and organisations.
- To strive for freedom and independence of Thai news media.
- To promote active public participation in Thai news media.
Prachatai, together with other selected Thai independent media (Budpage, Same Sky, Midnight University, Open, and Questionmark), was collectively curated as "Thai Bookazine" to participate in The Magazines project of the Documenta 12 exhibition.{{Cite web|title=Bangkok Documenta Magazine NO.1|url=https://prachatai.com/journal/2007/06/13019|access-date=2020-09-17|website=prachatai.com|language=th}}{{Cite web|last=kean|date=2015-11-08|title=Magazines mania at Documenta 12|url=https://medium.com/@keanmwong/magazines-mania-at-documenta-12-b8fd882fe449|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Medium}}
Charges
In 2011, its then general manager, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, won the Courage in Journalism award from International Women's Media Foundation.[http://iwmf.org/honoring-courage/2011-courage-in-journalism-awards/chiranuch-premchaiporn.aspx Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Thailand] - 2011 Courage in Journalism Award Chiranuch, a well-known free speech advocate, has been subject to arrest and detention based on lèse majesté accusations for not removing what authorities deem offensive material quickly enough{{Cite web|last=Pravit|first=Rojanaphruk|title=Witness insists prachatai.com director guilty|url=http://nationthailand.com/news/30164915 |access-date=2020-09-17|website=The Nation Thailand}} from the website. In this matter, she has received international acclaim and support.{{Cite web|title=Thailand: Internet Trial a Major Setback for Free Speech|url=https://prachatai.com/english/node/3239|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Prachatai English}} On 30 May 2012, the Criminal Court delivered its verdict in Black Case No. 1667/2553, in which Chiranuch faced ten alleged violations of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act, being found guilty of one charge and being sentenced to one year in prison and a 30,000 baht fine, subsequently reduced to a suspended sentence of eight months and a 20,000 baht fine.{{Cite web|title=THAILAND: Verdict in landmark freedom of expression case|url=https://prachatai.com/english/node/3240|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Prachatai English}} Chiranuch appealed to both the Appeals Court and the Supreme Court, both of which upheld the sentence (the latter in 2015), establishing the precedent that Internet intermediaries are liable for lèse majesté content in Thailand.{{Cite web|title=Supreme Court rules against Prachatai in Internet intermediary liability case|url=https://prachatai.com/english/node/5725|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Prachatai English}}
In July 2016, one of Prachatai
Person of the year
Prachatai website has published special content since 2016.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Person !Ref. |
| 2016
| Naritsarawan Keawnopparat |
| 2017
| Social Healthcare Interest Group |
| 2018
| RAP Against Dictatorship |
| 2019
| Political Refugee Group |
| 2020 |
| 2021
| Worawan Sae-Aung "Pa Pao"{{cite news |title=Police to charge naked protester for indecent exposure in public |url=https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-to-charge-naked-protester-for-indecent-exposure-in-public/ |work=www.thaipbsworld.com |date=29 September 2021}} |
References
{{Reflist}}