Registration for new media identification armbands

Registration for new media identification armbands

The Media Center for Journalist Safety, founded by six media associations in Thailand on September 14, 2020, is issuing new media identification armbands to journalists, photographers and media personnel who wish to have them while covering street protests and demonstrations in Thailand.

The new armbands will replace the ones distributed by the Media Center for Journalist Safety in 2020.

The new design comes with higher quality material, better visibility and improved durability. Each armband has a unique serial number to prevent forgery or misuse.  

We are also introducing several new protocols for armband applicants.

Registrations fees

Due to the high production costs, the Media Center for Journalist Safety asks news organizations to help defray costs by following these guidelines:

·        Each news organization will be entitled to a free quota of up to five armbands.

·        Each additional armband requested will cost 70 baht.

·        In the event of loss through negligence, a replacement will cost 170 baht.

Coordinators

Each news organization is asked to appoint one individual as its armband coordinator. That person is responsible for collecting the number, names, positions and other information of applicants for submission to the Media Center for Journalist Safety.  

The coordinator is also responsible for keeping track of which employee is using which serial number at protest sites.

The Media Center for Journalist Safety may contact and verify details about the armbands currently in use with the coordinator if needed.

Coordinator registration

The individual appointed to take the role as the armband coordinator for each news organization is asked to send if possible all relevant details using this form before March 21, 2022:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FvfKCQWAcodGG3N0FNOLDS_CPRgTeWQC6gSbQhRfITI

The Media Center for Journalist Safety will hold an online meeting in early April with coordinators to inform them about registration procedures and answer any queries.  

Eligibility of the media armbands

·        The individual must work as a journalist, photographer or in any other media capacity and have been assigned to cover the protests.

·        The individual must produce a letter of employment from their news organization, that being an entity that regularly publishes, reports or broadcasts news; operates its own platform or publication for news reports, such as newspapers, TV channels, radio stations, or websites; possesses an editorial team or individuals who perform similar tasks; and has been in business for at least six months.

Documents that will be required for armband registration

Domestic media

·        Employee card, press card issued by the Public Relations Department or any document that clearly confirms the applicant to be a member of the press.  

·        Letter of employment from the news organization.

Foreign media

·        Employee card, press card issued by the Public Relations Department or any document that clearly confirms the applicant to be a member of the press.  

·        Letter of employment from the news organization.

·        Freelancers, stringers and fixers for overseas news organizations are asked to obtain a letter confirming that they have indeed been employed or hired to produce news content.

All documents must be in Thai or English.

For convenience and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, all documents will be submitted in digital form through an online channel.

The Media Center for Journalist Safety is headquartered at the Thai Journalist Association on Samsen Road, Bangkok. Any inquiries should be sent to tjareporter@gmail.com.