Impacts of Thai Mass Media on News Quality and News Value during the Pandemic of COVID-19

Abstract

The objectives of this research were the impacts of the Thai mass media on the news quality and news value during the pandemic of COVID-19. The data was collected via an in-depth interview form, with 32 samples from academics and professionals in Communication Arts, including the news-consuming public. The results of the study indicated that 1) most of the sample group regarded COVID-19 as a positive effect on news quality, that is. news must have a higher news quality than usualm especially the accuracy, completeness and precision. The negative impact is affecting the balance and fairness of the news coverage of business interests, resulting in some one-sided information being given. The overall impact is that the media are unable to present difficult news but easy to understand because the media are still unable to clearly understand the complex and sensitive issues in the matter of COVID and (2) most showed positive views on the impacts on news value, that is, the media tended to focus more on progress during the pandemic than during normal periods when pandemics do not occur, especially the production of vaccines to prevent and suppress the severity of this epidemic. The negative impact is that it focuses on emotional issues with an emphasis on drama rather than structural problems to create a selling point for selling news. The overall effect is that it does not have many effects on the value of the news.  Most of the news still puts an emphasis mainly on the value of being up-to-date. A possible effect is that more emphasis was placed on the value of the impact of the epidemic on people's health and life during the pandemic than during normal periods. It is additionally suggested that the media should be both “journalists” and “content creators” at the same time. It is also commented that news must have news quality and news value that emphasize practical application, not focusing on presenting ready-made knowledge that cannot be used by everyone.