Prachatai (Thai: ประชาไท, lit. Free People) is a non-profit online newspaper in Thailand. Focusing on news from and commentary on NGOs, social movements, and human rights issues, the website became an alternative source for social and political news. Its current editor-in-chief is Chuwat Rerksirisuk, with Chiranuch Premchaiporn serving as general manager. The site publishes mainly in Thai language, with selected articles in English.
The newspaper was established in June 2004 by a group of concerned Thais who included a senior member of the Press Council of Thailand, a well-known lecturer in journalism, two members of the Thai Senate, a number of senior journalists, and a number of Thai NGO leaders. On September 6, 2004, Prachatai began daily online publication. In January 2006, it registered as a non-profit foundation, named The Foundation for Community Educational Media.[1]
Prachatai, together with other selected Thai independent media (Budpage, Fah Diew Kan, Midnight University, Open, and Questionmark), was collectively curated as "Thai Bookazine" to participate in "the Magazines" project of Documenta 12 exhibition.[2]
In 2011, its director, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, won the "Courage in Journalism" award from International Women's Media Foundation.[3] Chiranuch, a well-known free speech advocate, has been subject to arrest and detention based on lese majeste accusations for not removing what authorities deem offensive material quickly enough[4] from the website. In this matter, she has received international acclaim and support.