Known in short as PRD, the Public Relations Department of Thailand is the major agency in public relations of the Royal Thai Government, which celebrates its 81st anniversary in 2014.

PRD was established on 3 May 1933, following the change of Thailand’s administrative system from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy in 1932. Its main duty was to promote better understanding of democratic administration among the general public.

The PRD was formerly called the Publicity Division, which was later upgraded to the Publicity Office and then the Publicity Department. The name was changed to the Public Relations Department in 1952. The Department is now under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister.

Over the past 81 years, PRD has evolved into a lead agency for public relations work in Thailand and the state news and information center. Its organizational structure consists of a central administration and a regional administration. The central administration consists of division-level agencies, office-level agencies, and Public Relations Offices, Regions 1-8. The regional administration comprises provincial public relations offices in 76 provinces.

As a media organization, the PRD utilizes its radio and television networks and internet links, as well as interpersonal media in cooperation with other media channels to disseminate news and information, so that diverse target groups will have alternative sources of information. It also operates the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, or Channel 11, and Radio Thailand.

Following the enforcement of the 2010 Frequency Allocation Act and Telecommunications Business Act and the establishment of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the PRD no longer serves as a broadcasting regulator but retains its status as a broadcasting operator. It is presently switching from analog to digital television broadcasting and, at the same time, adjusting its role as a public broadcasting service provider; in addition to conducting public relations campaigns for government policies and strategies.

The PRD has a mission to formulate media production policies and plans as well as organizing various activities in order to promote better understanding of the Thai government’s major policies and strategies in the world community.

The PRD Foreign Office is responsible for press card services for members of the international media and other media-related activities, such as those concerning press tours and press centers. It also produces publications in English and publicizes information on Thailand and government policies, also in English, through the Internet, accessible at http://thailand.prd.go.th. With the co