The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Thailand, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Thailand and Social Lab – Migration in Media, officially launched a new migration journalism e-learning curriculum aimed at strengthening ethical and evidence-based reporting on migration across the country. The launch event, held in Bangkok on 20 February 2026, brought together over 20 journalists, academics, government representatives, and civil society actors, and was presided over by Mrs. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, MFA, and Ms. Michiko Ito, Chief of Mission ad interim at IOM Thailand.
Migration remains a defining global phenomenon, influencing economies, labour markets, and societies worldwide. In Thailand, a key migration hub in Southeast Asia, millions of migrants contribute significantly to the country’s economy. Public discourse, however, often struggles to capture the complexity and scale of migration, highlighting the need for more informed and ethical reporting.
The new curriculum is the result of over two years of collaboration between MFA, IOM Thailand, and Social Lab – Migration in Media. Since 2023, this partnership has trained more than 300 journalists, students, civil society representatives, and government officials, leading to the publication of over 30 stories in national media that provide a more nuanced and human-centred perspective on migration in Thailand.
The e-learning program translates these lessons into structured, accessible modules that cover migration fundamentals, protection considerations for vulnerable groups, and ethical reporting frameworks tailored to Thailand’s media landscape. The course, offered free of charge on the Global Migration Media Academy website starting March 2026, is self-paced, available in Thai and English, and provides a certificate of completion for participants who successfully finish the modules.
The initiative aligns with Thailand’s role as a Champion Country of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and demonstrates the country’s commitment to fostering balanced and inclusive narratives about migration. The launch also supports evidence-based reporting and prepares the media landscape for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF). The project is part of the joint “Promoting Evidence-based Migration Discourse and Media Reporting” initiative funded by the IOM Development Fund.
