Journalistic Role Performance of the Thai Press on the Issue of Transgender Rights

Abstract

This article investigates the journalistic role performance of Bangkok Post about the issue of transgender rights in Thailand. Methodologically, corpus-assisted discourse analysis is employed. It amalgamates quantitative computation (the identification of significant keywords) into qualitative analysis. Findings indicate that the role is performed in 6 dimensions: intervention, watchdog, loyal-facilitator, service, infotainment, and civic. Although transgender rights in certain aspects such as marriage, employment, and blood donation are touched upon, the rights of other seemingly subaltern transgender communities, including inmates and sex workers, are not fully articulated. Suggestions for asserting transgender rights on a more comprehensive basis are offered.