MORE than 300 people attended the annual media party at Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City last night.

The island's media industry seems to be booming - there were so many guests that space could not be found at tables for everyone.

The Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, a former deputy editor, said in his speech to the gathering that journalists should stick to the facts and not allow their own opinions to color news reports.

He said Thailand needed an unfettered media so the facts could be presented in a balanced fashion.

''The media is like a bird,'' he said. ''It needs to be able to fly everywhere.''

The media mirror reflecting society needed to be kept clean so people could see reality, he added.

All the leading lights from Phuket's key administrative organisations were there last night.

In a message in the Phuket Reporter Club handbook for 2009, the Chief Justice of the Phuket Courts, Simorod Youngkettikan, said that the media was important because everyone needed accurate information.

The media actually had considerable importance because it could convey the right facts or the wrong facts.

With many sources of information, people are able to strike comparisons and think for themselves.

The previous day, male and female football teams from the media and government authorities met in a fun sports day clash that was attended by noted Australian journalist, Michael Shmith.