An editor of The Nation was awarded the Asean Media Award yesterday by the Asean Association of Thailand for his outstanding reports, commentaries and analysis on Asean Affairs.
Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior editor, received the award from Khunying Laxanachantorn Laohaphan, the current president, at a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The association was set up in 2008 to promote awareness and understanding of Asean affairs among the Thai people.
According to Luxasachandorn, the association has engaged in dozens of activities that promoted the knowledge of Asean among various stakeholders. Several seminars on Asean were held in key cities in the four regions of Thailand.
"We want to encourage the media to write about Asean and realisation of the Asean community," she told The Nation Channel in an interview.
Kavi is a veteran journalist who has covered politics, regional and foreign affairs for The Nation over the past two decades. His Englishlanguage column "Regional Perspective" and the Thai language column "Lok Sara Jipata" in Kom Chat Luek often dwell on key issues related to Asean.
"His comprehensive works have played a very important role in increasing the knowledge and understanding of Asean for the Thai people and the region," the citation said in part.
The Asean Association of Thailand is the first of its kind in Asean. Other countries have expressed interest in setting up similar associations to promote public awareness and understanding of Asean.
The National Bureau of Broadcasting, operator of Channel 11, and its radio sector were honoured for their contribution in promoting Asean during the Thai chairmanship last year. Vorarat Taniyugi of Mathichon Daily, Nosphon Saengchart of Community Radio Network of Community Empowered Group, Somkiart Onwimon, a broadcaster, were given and outstanding award for their contribution in print and radio.
