Two CNN journalists have apologized for their coverage of last week’s attack on a childcare center in Thailand, which resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including 23 children.
They entered the structure where the attack took place and was videotaped there.
They were accused of trespassing and illegally photographing a crime scene.
Both were exonerated of the allegations but punished for operating as journalists on tourist visas.
Anna Coren, a reporter, and Daniel Hodge, a cameraman, have consented to leave the country. They have also apologized in a video that appears to have been filmed inside a police station and has been extensively distributed by local news sites.
Ms. Coren, who together with Mr. Hodge was fined 5,000 baht ($133; £120), expressed her deepest regrets to the families of the victims of this tragedy: “We are so sorry to have caused you further grief and sorrow.
“We are aware that your country is experiencing a difficult moment, and we never intended to add to the suffering.”
The Thai police examined the incident after concerns were made by other journalists. Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand and the Thai Journalists’ Association released remarks criticizing CNN for ” a significant breach of journalistic standards in crime reporting.”
The statement wondered, “Would one of their teams have behaved similarly at a severe crime scene in the United States?”
A widely shared image from the weekend on social media showed a CNN crew worker climbing over a short barrier to leave the facility.
Ms. Coren and Mr. Hodge were escorted to the police station in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, where the attack occurred, for questioning.
Two Thai ministers asserted that the CNN team did not have official authority to enter the premises, but the police accepted their claim that they did and opted not to punish them.
CNN made two separate statements. In the initial reaction, it was stated that three public health authorities informed the crew that they may film inside. They reported that the premises had been sealed off while they were inside and that they had to scale the fence to exit.
According to a local news source, police later discovered that village health volunteers had permitted the team admission despite lacking permission to do so.
Mike McCarthy, executive vice-president and general manager of CNN International, stated in a second statement that the team entered the building “in good faith, to acquire a better understanding of what unfolded inside and to humanize the gravity of the tragedy for their audience.”
He said that they “truly regret any discomfort or offense” the report may have caused and that CNN has since ceased airing the report and removed the footage from its website.
Thailand is still in a state of shock over the attack by a former police officer who attacked a daycare center and murdered sleeping infants as young as two.
Police said the 34-year-old assailant, a local man called Panya Kamrab, murdered his wife and stepson before committing suicide during a manhunt. Unknown at this time is the attack’s motivation.
