The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is honored to cooperate with the College of Local Administration (COLA) at Khon Kaen University (KKU) - aiming to provide knowledge and understanding of how to use the media appropriately, effectively, and democratically to contribute to the decision-making process in the country.
Public participation and civic engagement in the policy process are important elements of a democracy. The digital disruption has enabled people to access news and information more efficiently. It has also made social interactions easier and faster. Media personnel and civil society can thus harness the benefits of using the media, especially the social media, in providing stages and chances for the citizens to discuss social issues in order to raise democratic awareness and promote a peaceful conciliation of social interests.
However, there are still obstacles regarding effective opinion exchanges as well as shortcomings in media platform accessibility, especially among underprivileged citizens. In this matter, media and civil society hold a very important responsibility in diminishing these difficulties and guiding people towards a more democratic environment.
To do so, media personnel and civil society have to learn how to use the media more effectively. For a constructive participation in the policy process, it is also essential to enhance people’s capability to navigate news and information, to select objective and academic sources, and to learn from online platforms.
Media personnel, civil society organization staffs, and university students, as well as the interested public can enroll for free in the e-learning course entitled “Media Usage and Contribution of Civil Society for Democracy”.
This publication is designed as course material for the students of this class as well as all persons interested in the topic. As for the e-learning course, it is the result of a successful cooperation between the COLA and the KAS.
The KAS hopes that this publication will become a useful academic reference in media studies and contribute to strengthen public participation in Thailand’s democratic decision-making process.
