Journal of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University

Media Literacy in International News and Documentaries in the Era of Information Overload: “Social Practices” for Global Understanding

2025-01-21T13:59:43+07:00

In the era of globalization, where communication technology and digital media are rapidly advancing, audiences can access a wide range of information in real-time. However, the surge in the volume of information has given rise to the phenomenon of "information overload," which affects the audience's ability to discern, analyze, and make decisions effectively. This is particularly critical in the case of international news and documentaries, which play a vital role in navigating the complexities of the globalized world.

This article aims to analyze the significance of media literacy in the context of international news and documentaries within the globalization framework and to propose strategies for enhancing media literacy skills among audiences. The study employs the "Social Practice" framework and UNESCO's practical media literacy guidelines as foundational concepts for analysis. Through a review of literature and synthesis of academic documents, as well as relevant international news and documentaries, this research identifies key approaches for developing media literacy skills. The findings highlight five essential components for advancing media literacy: Access, Analyze, Evaluate, Create, and Act. Effective development of these processes can enhance media literacy and contribute to a deeper understanding of globalization in three critical aspects; 1) fostering survival skills in an increasingly complex world; 2) strengthening global competitiveness; and 3) promoting social and cultural understanding in a highly diverse and interconnected society. This study showcases the importance of integrating media literacy into educational and social practices to equip individuals with the critical skills needed to navigate the challenges of the information age and the complexities of globalization.

The Fundamental Understanding of Autoethnography

2025-04-17T09:11:56+07:00

This article presents the definition, development, and key characteristics of autoethnography, a qualitative research methodology that emphasizes the researcher’s self-reflection within cultural and social contexts. The article traces the historical evolution of autoethnography, from its initial use by Karl Heider (1975) to its conceptual refinement by David Hayano (1979) and later advancements by scholars such as Carolyn Ellis and Arthur Bochner (2000). The article highlights how autoethnography is a crucial tool for self-analysis, employing narrative inquiry and introspection to yield deep insights into the dynamic interplay between individual experience and broader social structures.

However, this approach remains contested within academic discourse, particularly in relation to concerns about validity, bias, and generalizability, due to its inherently subjective nature. This article critically examines both the strength and limitations of the method and proposes methodological refinements to enhance its academic rigor. The discussion emphasizes strategies for ensuring validity, incorporating theoretical frameworks, and broadening the application of autoethnography across multiple disciplines.

Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries: Integrating Economics and Geography to Foster Historical Consciousness in Local History and Global Citizenship

2025-05-06T10:56:29+07:00

This article presents an approach to integrating economics and geography into local history teaching, with the aim of fostering historical consciousness and an understanding of otherness. The authors analyze ongoing debates surrounding the objectives of history education and propose Jörn Rüsen's (2004) framework of historical consciousness as consciousness as a basis for designing learning that meaningfully connects past, present, and future. The article offers examples of curriculum design that integrate economics and geography with local history, both on students’ own locality and on diverse others. This approach aims, to promote awareness of the dynamic relationships between space, people, and economic systems over time. The proposed model carries significant implications for history education reform, shifting from rote learning and nationalist ideology cultivation to developing critical analytical skills, understanding, and preparing learners to become global citizens who understand their own roots and respect cultural diversity. Ultimately, this new paradigm not only seeks to build historical knowledge but also aspires to empower learners to apply this knowledge in pursuit of sustainable community and social development

Solidarity at the Side of the Road: Sources and Limitations of Food Delivery Platform Workers’ Collective Action

2024-12-25T14:08:32+07:00

As the phenomenon of collective organization and protests among food delivery platform workers (riders) has become widespread, this research article seeks to address the following three questions: How does solidarity among riders emerge? How is it related to collective action? And, what are the limitations of solidarity and collective action among riders? This article is based on qualitative research that employed multiple data collection techniques, including in-depth interviews, surveys, focus group discussions, and monitoring of rider groups’ Facebook pages. Additionally, it used the concept of solidarity developed within the Marxist tradition as a framework for data analysis. This article argues that working-class solidarity does not necessarily arise from ideological organization by a revolutionary party or labor union in a top-down manner. Instead, it can emerge organically amidst daily work activities, as riders' daily work on the streets leads to “solidarity on the side of the rode”. However, the solidarity of riders has its limitations, both at the individual and the structural levels. The article suggests that the field of Thai labor studies should place greater emphasis on the issue of solidarity in order to engage with this important topic in the international academic community and to better understand the Thai working-class movement as well.

Health and Wellbeing from the Perspective of ‘Ponae’ in Pattani

2024-11-25T15:51:22+07:00

This study aimed to explore the health and well-being of Ponae individuals whose gender identity differs from their assigned gender at birth in Pattani Province. It focused on the dimensions of health and living conditions, as well as issues affecting the equality of gender-diverse populations. The central argument of this research is that Ponae face rejection of their gender identity by their families and the Muslim community in Pattani due to rigid interpretations of religious roles. This rejection contributes to chronic stress and mental health issues, reflecting the health disparities and human rights violations seen among vulnerable groups. The objective of the study was to examine the health and living conditions of Ponae in Pattani Province through qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The participants consisted of 22 individuals: 15 Ponae, 6 healthcare providers, and 1 local politician. The findings indicate that Ponae encounter identity rejection from their families and the Muslim community in Pattani, where fixed interpretations of gender roles are based on religious perspectives. This results in mental health problems such as chronic stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Moreover, Ponae faces challenges in accessing healthcare services due to mismatches between their physical appearance and the information on their identification documents, highlighting systemic health inequities. The discussion identifies three key factors affecting the health and well-being of Ponae: physical and mental health, social and economic factors, and religious interpretations of gender roles. The study recommends developing health policies that address these specific needs, creating safe spaces within communities, and promoting understanding of gender diversity. The aim of these strategies is to reduce inequalities, enhance equity, and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster societal sustainability.

The Vulnerability of Stateless and Undocumented Person in the Thai-Lao Border of Ubon Ratchathani Province

2025-05-26T13:56:06+07:00

This research examines how statelessness among Thai-Lao border populations stems from historical migration processes and Thailand's past limitations in managing civil registration. It perpetuates intergenerational citizenship inequality and creates vulnerability among stateless individuals. The study employs qualitative research methods, including document analysis and a case study approach to data collection through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.

The findings reveal that statelessness results from Cold War-era conditions that drove Indochinese migration to Thailand. During this time, Thailand had not yet joined the Refugee Convention and lacked adequate legal frameworks to accommodate migrants. These limitations led to the blanket categorization of migrants as illegal immigrants, trapping them and their descendants in statelessness that persists today. Stateless people in Ubon Ratchathani Province face multidimensional vulnerabilities affecting their mobility, employment, and property rights. This vulnerability is exacerbated by ambiguous interpretations of relevant of relevant laws regarding status determination, leading many officials to exercise discretionary avoidance, which perpetuates statelessness. The research proposes that vulnerability from statelessness can be mitigated, particularly regarding living conditions, by accelerating status determination processes to reflect factual circumstances and improve efficiency. It recommends developing decentralized mechanisms for personal status operations that encourage community participation and enable local government organizations and civil society to collaborate with the main responsible agencies through mobile registration teams.

Guidelines for Sustainable Water Resources Management by Communities in the Mun River Basin, Thailand

2025-04-17T09:22:24+07:00

This article investigates guidelines for sustainable water resource management by communities in the Mun River Basin (Surin and Roi-Et, Thailand), near the Rasi-Salai Dam, where access to water remains problematic despite the dam’s intended storage function. This qualitative research, based on interviews and observations with 43 residents, officials, and scholars, employed data analysis tools including SWOT, the TOWS Matrix, and civil society frameworks. The findings support collaborative water management and strengthen civil society's negotiating power between people and government. Welfare systems were also found to promote group solidarity and empower local communities. The study proposes five strategic recommendations: (1) equal representation of civil society and government on river basin committees; (2) impartial conflict mediation by community leaders; (3) clear budgetary agreements between national and local governments; (4) equitable enforcement of laws; and (5) prioritized resource allocation for vulnerable groups to reduce inequality and prevent internal conflicts.

An Analysis of “Kontuenthum” Phenomenon Based on the Concepts of Paulo Freire’s Conscientization Enhancement and Alan Rogers’s Route to Change

2025-02-27T11:46:33+07:00

The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to analyze the Kontuenthum (The Awakened Ones) phenomenon in relation to fostering conscientization and providing a route to change, and (2) to assess the impact of this phenomenon on the Thai people. The findings revealed that the Kontuenthum phenomenon effectively facilitates conscientization among Thai individuals through a six-step desirable change process. Regarding its impact on Thai society, the phenomenon has been well-received, as evidenced by the popularity of video clips on social media platforms, such as TikTok. Despite the teaching style being bold, intense, blunt, and unapologetic, the messages focus on truth and are delivered in simple, accessible language. Furthermore, the teachings have provided comfort to listeners and encouraged the development of consciousness about various issues, sparking a societal trend aimed at challenging and eradicating superstitious beliefs on a broader scale. However, the Kontuenthum approach has its limitations. Most of the target audience experiences only an initial awakening or awareness from watching short video clips. They have not yet received adequate education or training to develop the skills, knowledge, or understanding required to address real-life challenges aligned with their specific needs.

A Construction of Nationalist Discourse in the Siamese Chinese-language Newspapers in the 1910s and 1920s

2024-10-07T10:28:57+07:00

This article aims to examine the role of newspapers in shaping Siamese-Chinese individuals’ nationalism by analyzing the rhetorical strategies used across various Chinese publications in Siam. The study focuses on Chinese-language newspapers published between the 1910s and 1920s and explores how these media outlets contributed to the creation and dissemination of nationalist ideologies. Through a detailed content analysis of three newspapers, i.e., Tianhan Gongbao, Huaxian Xinbao, and Zhonghua Minbao, the research identifies key rhetorical devices, such as Sun Yat-sen’ Sanmin Zhuyi [nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood] and anti-traditionalism proposed in the May Fourth Movement which started in 1919 that were commonly employed to promote national identity and unity.

The findings reveal that newspapers not only served as a platform for political actors but also played a crucial role in constructing narratives that aligned with the objectives of nationalist movements. Furthermore, the study highlights the specific formats and journalistic techniques used, including news reports, commentaries, and advertisements for national products. These findings provide insight into the complex interplay between media and politics in the building process of the Siamese-Chinese’s national consciousness.

Perspectives on the Role of Community Empowerment by Lay judges in Juvenile and Family Courts that Affect the Effectiveness of Juvenile Offender Rehabilitation: A Case Study of Phang Nga Province

2025-04-22T08:22:34+07:00

The objectives of this quantitative research are two-fold. Firstly, it aims to study the opinion rating of community roles and empowerment for the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders at the Phang Nga Juvenile and Family Court. Secondly, it examines the effects of community roles and empowerment on the effectiveness of juvenile offender rehabilitation at the Phang Nga Juvenile and Family Court. This study collected data from 33 respondents including 18 lay judges, and 15 staff. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.

Research findings revealed that: 1) the respondents' opinions regarding the roles of lay judges, community empowerment, and the effectiveness of juvenile rehabilitation were all at the highest level across all three dimensions, with mean scores of 4.30, 4.28, and 4.35 respectively. 2) community empowerment was significantly correlated with the effectiveness of juvenile rehabilitation at the .05 level (r = 0.572), showing a moderate relationship. Community empowerment accounted for 33.7% of the variance in juvenile rehabilitation effectiveness. The key factor promoting community empowerment by lay judges was the establishment of collaborative networks with various organizations, while the main obstacle to community empowerment efforts was the lack of budget and resources to support program implementation.