The role of mass media in the digital age and political transparency in Thailand.

Abstract

This academic article aims to critically examine the role of digital-era journalism in promoting political transparency in the context of Thailand. While digital technologies have enabled broader dissemination of information and expanded the media's capacity to monitor state power, structural constraints—including political authority, economic interests, and cultural norms—continue to delimit the boundaries of communicative freedom. The article begins by exploring key theoretical frameworks, such as media as a watchdog, democratic transparency, and the dynamics of digital communication power. It then analyzes the landscape of digital media in Thailand through case studies such as the coverage of parliamentary no-confidence debates and human rights issues in the Bang Kloy indigenous community. Special attention is given to the roles of independent media, citizen journalists, and online platforms that have significantly altered the modalities of political communication. However, this article also highlights critical limitations of digital media, including the proliferation of disinformation, platform monopolization, state-led content control, and the absence of professional standards among some media producers. Comparative cases from Taiwan and South Korea are presented to extract policy lessons that emphasize the importance of institutional safeguards, civic education, and participatory governance. Ultimately, the article argues that realizing the democratic potential of digital media in Thailand requires systemic reform—particularly legal protection for press freedom, comprehensive media literacy programs, and mechanisms that ensure government disclosure translates into meaningful civic engagement. Without these foundational supports, digital transparency risks becoming a performative gesture rather than a transformative force within Thailand’s semi-democratic regime.