MEDIA FRAMING OF NEWS REGARDING THE VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT IN THE SOUTHERN BORDER PROVINCES OF THAILAND

Abstract

The Objective of this study is to examine the media framing and factors affecting news framing regarding the violence and conflict situation in the southern border provinces of Thailand. The study also examines stakeholders’ suggestions of how to frame the news moreb constructively and appropriately in Thailand’s context. This study used Robert Entman’s method in analyzing news framing. The mainstream media, namely Matichon and Thai Rath newspapers, and the alternative media, such as Isra and Aman news agency websites, were chosen as samples for content analysis. Seven southern conflict incidents during 2004-2009 were selected for analyzing news framing, namely, the gun robbery at Battalion IV; the arrest of the KrueSe mosque; the dispersion of muslim’s demonstration at Tak Bai; the Marines as hostages; the bombs in Hat Yai; the shooting of Yala-Hat Yai passengers and the killing of pregnant teacher by a disguised soldiers. The study also conducted in-depth interviews with 12 media news gatekeepers and 36 stakeholders concerning southern conflict situation. The results showed that different types of media shaped news con flict content differently. The newspaper told the stories and placed the news frame in the direction of political conflict between state and opposition groups, which initially as were called terrorist groups and separatist movements. However, the opposition groups later were called the insurgency. Which are eliminated through the use of keywords in the headline and repeat. The Newspaper explain the events to serve the society by political leaders and elites are interpreted according to the concept and framework of the Cascade Model by Entman. While the website is rejected the rim Entman believes that when an event is political leaders and elites will determine the direction of the understanding of society through the framework’s news. because the new media framing of the Policy Agenda Setting rare. The website framed the southernconflict incidents emphazising solution to the problem by putting the frame in the direction of humanity and peace. The most influential factor of presenting news is the media corporate structure and political policy. Finally, there is no fixed format for a constructive approach to the news framing. The media must adhere to professional ethics and social responsibility.