The letter, to be submitted to NRSA vice president Alongkorn Ponlaboot, will also reiterate the TJA’s opposition to the draft bill although its chief drafter on Sunday said he was ready to take a step back.

NRSA media reform subcommittee chairman ACM Kanit Suwannet said on Sunday that he would consider dropping the proposed licensing requirement for media professionals due to strong opposition from the media industry.

However, Kanit stood firm on the plan to create the national media council, which would include two government representatives, supposedly aimed at ensuring smooth cooperation between the public and private sectors.

TJA spokesperson Pratyachai Datthuyawat said that media organisations are still not at ease with Kanit’s readiness to make the concession, as they view the drafters as determined to curb the role of the media.

“There are other professional councils, such as those of doctors and lawyers, but we don’t see any governmental representatives in them,” Pratyachai said. “The media, in particular, needs to be guaranteed freedom from state influence to protect our reporting capability.”

The organisation is still willing to take part in the media reform effort to ensure efficient media regulation by society and through self-control, he said. “The charter’s Article 77 stipulates that any legislation process shall include holistic opinion gathering from related actors,” he added. “I think it should be seriously followed.”