The PM's Secretary-General's Office had had talks with the premier's advisers and the Government Spokesman's Bureau on ways to improve public relations following criticism that the new administration had failed to sell itself and its goals, the source said.

Initially, the premier and his ministers would be invited to explain their activities.

The format would be similar to deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's weekly radio show.

If a major issue needed to be explained to the public, the prime minister would announce it himself - as he did on Wednesday night, when he talked about attending the Apec summit in Hanoi and problems in the deep South.

The Public Relations Department had also been told to step up reports on government initiatives, the source said. PRD director-general Pramote Ratchawinit said he had set up a working group to coordinate the programme with state ministries.

The government had not communicated with the public as much as it should, but it would move to publicise government initiatives more on Channel 11 and its radio stations, he said.

"We will coordinate with all of the media to publicise the government's work," Pramote said, noting that the strategy had already begun.

Darunee Hiranruk, a mass media lecturer, felt the government's work during its two months in office were not clear - especially in regard to political and media reforms. People wanted to know how the interim government was going to resolve problems created by the deposed administration.

"They should consider what it is the public really want to know - otherwise people will think it's just propaganda," she said. 

Piyanart Srivalo,

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation