Presenter's chair becomes a hot seat

Some newscasters at the station are alleged to support former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who retained his influence in the two previous governments of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat.

The station was accused of reporting news in favour of the previous administrations while being highly critical of government opponents, particularly the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

However, well-known news announcers Tuangporn Asavawilai, Jirayu Huangsap and Soifa Osukhontip, insist they have merely performed their duties and will continue to do so even with the changes of government.

These newscasters moved from TITV, formerly known as iTV, after that station was seized by the post-coup government of Surayud Chulanont for failing to pay hefty fines for defaulted concession fees. The station later became public television and was renamed Thai PBS.

Jirayu said he is merely an employee of NBT and that he reads news from scripts prepared by news editors. He added that he did not think changes in government would affect his job.

"I do my job as instructed by management. As a news announcer, I will have to accept the changes," he said.

He said that newscasters often are criticised by angry viewers because they appear at the front reading the news. "My duty is simply to read the news; I do not select the news. I can't refuse to read certain pieces of news."

Jirayu admitted he had "become really tired" following the strong criticism he received doing his job. "I believe that anyone who read the news in my place would be taken to task," he said.

Tuangporn said she also was prepared for any changes in NBT after a new government came to power. She said it was highly likely certain news production contracts the station had entered into with private companies during the last two governments would be terminated.

She insisted that she disagreed with the PAD's methods of holding protests. "I am still firm to my word, even after the changes of government," she added.

The veteran newscaster said if NBT is scrutinised, other TV stations should also be examined to determine whether they are neutral. "As the public media, we can't take sides," she said.

Soifa said she is a freelance newscaster and has had nothing much to do with imminent changes in NBT. "Whatever will be, will be; I am not in a position to control it, so I will have to let it be," she said.

She said that normally she read economic news and only presented political news when there were no regular newscasters around. She did so briefly when a group of PAD guards in August broke into the NBT office in an early-morning trespassing and told its staff to stop broadcasting. She said that in doing her job that day, she became labelled a "PAD basher".

NBT, which stands for National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, saw its name changed during the Samak government when Jakrapob Penkair was the PM's Office minister overseeing state media.

Along with the name change, the private company Independence News Centre became involved in the station's news production. Pro-Thaksin politicians, who represent a separate company, got airtime for their "Truth Today" political talk show, which often attacked those critical of Thaksin and his alleged proxy governments.

"Truth Today" has been suspended after the new government came to power. Independence News Centre is run by former TITV executives who are close to banned politician Newin Chidchob. A group of MPs known as the Friends of Newin faction has now become part of the current government.