On 17 December 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Thailand jointly organised a panel discussion titled “Developing Stories to Highlight Positive Narratives on Migration” at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) to commemorate International Migrants Day 2024. The event also included an ethical migration journalism grant award ceremony on migration reporting for grantees of the training programme. The panel discussion was aimed at exchanging best practices on migration and promoting positive narratives, enhancing the capacity of media professionals and students in fostering accurate and evidence-based stories about migration.

During the opening remarks, Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, welcomed the participants and emphasised the contribution of migrants to Thailand’s economy and social fabric, as well as the crucial role that the media plays in shaping public perceptions on migrants in Thailand. He also congratulated the grantees and hoped this training programme would benefit their reporting skills in the future. Then, Ms. Michiko Ito, Deputy Head of Operations, IOM Thailand, highlighted the importance of evidence-based reporting amid misinformation and incidents of discrimination, as well as reiterated the need for media efforts and collective collaboration to reshape public perceptions surrounding migration.

The panel discussion included senior journalists, namely Mr. Panu Wongcha-um from Reuters (Thailand) and Ms. Gwen Robinson from Nikkei Asia (Thailand), who shared professional insights and constructive feedback to grantees in order to strengthen their skills in reporting on migrant stories. Additionally, Mr. Worawit Pattaranit, Counsellor, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented the Certificate of Award and tokens of recognition to 4 grantees for their successful participation in the said Grant Programme.

The event is part of a joint 2-year project between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IOM to foster evidence-based migration discourse and media reporting.