Thepchai Yong, Thailand – 2009 Honoree

Thepchai Yong is Managing Director of the Thai Public Broadcasting Service, Thailand’s first independent public broadcaster.  He oversees operations for all media outlets under Thai PBS, including a TV channel (TV Thai), a radio station and a website.  Under Thepchai’s leadership, Thai PBS has been recognized for its wide range of thought-provoking and knowledgeable programs as well as its commitment to pursuing journalism of the highest quality and integrity. According to Thepchai, “Public broadcasting is crucial in promoting democratic values and people’s participation in public life.”

With 28 years of journalism experience, Thepchai began his career as a proofreader for the English language daily, The Nation, and worked his way up to the position of editor. During the pro-democracy uprising in 1992 against the military-backed Suchinda government, Thepchai withstood pressure from the military to downplay the protests, choosing instead to report the truth. He was awarded the Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists for his leadership at The Nation during this tumultuous time.

Thepchai also served as News Director of ITV, Thailand’s first independent television station from 1996-2000. Thepchai pioneered a style of investigative reporting that exposed numerous corruption cases and political scandals. In addition to running ITV’s news operations, he anchored its main evening newscast. Under Thepchai’s leadership, ITV was recognized as Thailand’s most outstanding news channel.

In 2001, Thepchai helped found and later became President (from 2002-2004) of the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association, which represents the interests of broadcast media professionals.  He has also been heavily involved in a campaign for broadcast media reform aimed at liberalizing the airwaves.

In addition to being honored by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Thepchai has received the Human Rights Press Award from Amnesty International (Thailand) and in 2005 he received a Nieman Fellowship to spend a year at Harvard University.

Internews honors Thepchai Yong for his commitment to independent reporting in the public interest and his leadership in public service broadcasting in Thailand.

Q&A with Thepchai Young

2009 Internews Media Leadership Awards