The document discusses resilience and entrepreneurship in Thai digital media organizations operating under increasingly autocratic conditions. It summarizes findings from a survey of 201 digital media organizations in 12 countries on how they respond to government monitoring and censorship. Key factors for the financial success of Thai organizations include having higher start-up capital, dedicated sales staff, and diversified revenue streams from advertising and content creation. Recommendations include expanding technical and business training for journalists, increasing access to pro-bono services, and targeting grants to support entrepreneurship and resilience.

1. Resilience and entrepreneurship
in times of autocracy
Dr Aim Sinpeng
Department of Government and International Relations
University of Sydney
@aimsinpeng

2. “The government is watching us everyday”
- Media organisations in Thailand

3. Government social media monitoring
+ arrests for political content
Source: Digital Society Project

4. Resilience and entrepreneurship
How do Thai digital media organisations respond to
increasingly autocratic media environment?
What factors drive a thriving media organisation?
What impacts has the pandemic had on the sustainability
of digital media organisations?

5. Inflection International
• 201 digital media
organisations from 12
countries
• 500 survey questions +
in-depth interviews

6. Reporting on ‘hot button issues’
• Human rights
• Politics
• Gender/women’s issues
• Health
• Environment

7. Crackdowns on social media
• 100% Thai media organisations
reported being monitored
• None lost revenue as a result of
politically sensitive content
• Fighting back with defensive
software: Cloudfare, Project
Shield, Deflect

8. Media freedom and journalist safety
• Photojournalists most at risk
• DDos attacks the most
common form of attack
• Fighting back with defensive
software: Cloudfare, Project
Shield, Deflect

10. Secrets to financial success
• Higher start-up capital
• Dedicated sales staff:
increase revenue 6x
• Main revenue sources: ads +
content creation for non-
clients
• Heavy investment in talent

11. 3 Cs: Content + Collaboration + Courage

12. Data is the new king
Big data analytics skills crucial for
content marketing
- Leveraging free tools
- Self-taught
- In-house research

13. Increasing openness and safety
• Creativity + courage = reduce self-censorship
• Key contacts when in potential trouble regarding content
• Access to pro-bono legal assistance
• Collaboration and partnership
• Gain knowledge on content policy of social media platforms

14. Increasing financial sustainability
• Access pro-bono technical assistance (Southeast Asia Technical
Assistance Initiative)
• Track metrics and performance + regular evaluations of impacts
• Build a team with talent in sales and data analytics
• Apply for grants

15. Recommendations to funders
• Expand tech and business training for journalists
• Make it easier for journalists to find and qualify for pro-bono services
• Grants should be targeted to increase entrepreneurship and resilience

16. ขอบคุณค่ะ
ดร.เอม สินเพ็ง
มหาวิทยาลัยซิดนีย์