The Study of the History and Development of Civilization of Newspapers in Siam

Abstract

      The purpose of the research was to investigate the history and development of civilization of newspapers in Siam, which analyzed the events related to Thai newspapers from 1656 to present that endeavored to grasp the subdivisions before synthesizing the incidents. The newspapers naturally reflected on the incidents in each age that also reflected on the worldviews of the people based on the historical and political research. Doing research data presentation emphasized description. Data used in research comprised both primary and secondary sources. The findings of the research indicated that; 1) the news written by Dan Beach Bradley in the Bangkok Recorder reflected on the concept of the westerners in the Enlightenment and Imperialism, which was expected to change the Siam Society that was dark to the condition to be understood that it was called civilization. 2) The newspapers of the countries throughout the world were usually businesses carried out by private organizations. The government was not an owner or operator; consequently, the newspapers had an opportunity to be independent. In practice, the government tried to control a newspaper business either directly or indirectly. Directly, the government legislated to control a newspaper business; and indirectly, the government provided a newspaper business with the capital and technology.