The Dynamic of Alternative Media in the Digital Age and Peace Journalism in the Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

Abstract

                Unrest in southern border provinces has been ongoing for more than 15 years. During that time, there were many alternative media organizations in the southern border provinces and alternative media organizations are regarded as presenters of a series of information that the mainstream media has not reached and it may be one of the most important mechanisms to create a peace process in the area.
                This research focuses to study about the establishment, existence and development including factor that affect to the alternative media in southern border provinces on their own responsibilities by depth interview and analyze the content that present with 5 media organization including Surveillance Center in the Southern of Thailand, Aman Media, Wartani Media, Patani Forum, and Woman Surveillance Network in the Southern of Thailand. The research found the interesting point which is the main factor that affect to the establishment and existence is “capital” that is used as a tool from the government to play a role andinfluence for some of alternative media to guide and communicate in the point that the government agency desire with an increasing tend to the rest of alternative media relying on the weakness of alternative media’s employee that seek the budget for their proceed. This kind of government’s action assumes as the information operation that reflect to realize the importance and role of alternative media in the area that may eventually affect to the independence or collapse of the alternative media in the southern border provinces at the end. Meanwhile, alternative media plays a role of peace journalism but cannot function to be powerful due to lacks of conflict sensitive journalism knowledge