PATA takes Bangkok Post to task
Pacific Asia Travel Association has sharply criticised the Bangkok Post for not disclosing the background of one of its columnists – an ex-PATA paid staff – who had written several articles that said its inaugural event was to flop.
PATA President and CEO Peter de Jong said despite the writer’s – Imtiaz Muqbil – predictions of failure, the inaugural CEO Challenge event was a success.
De Jong said according to a survey, most delegates had rated the event “good, very good or excellent”, with the “excellent” category getting the most votes.
“Now, my issue is not with Mr Muqbil: he cannot help himself. My issue is with the Bangkok Post: it failed to disclose that Mr Muqbil is a former paid writer for PATA, whom PATA had to dismiss after a conflict about his performance,” de Jong said in his letter.
“When a reputable newspaper repeatedly provides a public platform for a columnist to criticise the internal affairs or events of a company or organisation, it needs to “come clean” and state that the columnist previously enjoyed a remunerated relationship with the organisation he writes about.”
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