The new board of directors at MCOT Plc yesterday appointed Pongsak Payakvichian as acting president with the responsibility of establishing a framework and principle for making MCOT a role model for state media that avoids any one-sided news access.

MCOT's acting president will also lay down a new policy for MCOT by focusing on value-added benefits to society and to make sure it belongs both to the government and the general public.

Boonplook Chaigate, a former secretary-general of Office of Civil Service Commission, who has been appointed by the new board of directors as the MCOT's chairman, said the board had concluded to appoint Pongsak Payakvichian, who is a senior executive director of Matichon Plc, as acting president at MCOT.

Pongsak would execute the board's vision in making MCOT focus on making profit for the people as well as its shareholders.

"We will not only focus on making money but also on benefits to our society. We want to create a knowledge-based society with good ethics," said Boonplook.

Withayathorn Torkaew, the board's spokesperson, said the management policy of this board of directors would lead to immediate changes at MCOT under the direction of Pongsak who has a thorough knowledge and understanding of journalism.

The discussion for any official process in seeking the president of MCOT will be held on November 10.

"The new board of directors will be laying down the framework in making MCOT a role model for other state media," said Withayathorn.