hacknew

The above is one of many stories going round the Post newsroom at the moment. It's a side issue. The story concerned the Bangkok Fashion City "extravaganza". In actual fact, senior editorial restructuring has been on the cards for at least a few months, if not a year or so.

No, the ex-senior editor was in charge of signing off pages; a position now held by the deputy editor. To my knowledge, which is quite extensive, the above is not possible given the production process and the pagination system used. Veera could not access the Post's pagination system himself, from home, "without telling anyone".

Who says? The guy has been in the job only...what...18 months. You're telling me that six months into his term his fate was already sealed?

Who can know what really went on in the board room? Suffice to say that the board must have thought he was no good at the job.

I wrote a lengthy reply to this and then decided to change it. Mrentoul clearly works at the Post and thus knows to a greater extent than I as to what's going on. I can only speak from rumour and hearsay from others similarly "in the know".

Let me tidy this up for you a little. True, the board tried a few months ago to get rid of Veera. But your portrayal of him as a fearless proponent of truth and freedom of speech is way off the mark.

Veera cut copy at the behest of the chairman of the board. Normally that would have kept the chairman happy, but last week Veera became overzealous and spiked a column by a woman who regards the chairman as a personal friend. She took offence.

To the extent he was critical of the government, it was only because some copy managed to slip through without him seeing it. I can't emphasise that point enough.

He was on the phone on a nightly basis to production staff, telling them what headline to change, what copy to cut. In some cases he would take it upon himself to make these changes, without telling anyone. Guess who wrote today's front page story in which he is portrayed as a fearless defender of free speech?

The Post's coverage of the King's speech, in which the headline accused Thaksin of arrogance, upset Thaksin. But as I say, some things managed to slip through without Veera changing them.

The chairman apparently has a son who works at the Post who has highest-level access to what goes through the system. He phones Veera, who in turn phones the night staff to tell them what changes to make. The guy was a stooge, and his successor looks no better.

If Kowit had any spine, would refuse to take the job until any ''doubt'' about the Post's independence was cleared up.

Let me tidy this up for you a little. True, the board tried a few months ago to get rid of Veera. But your portrayal of him as a fearless proponent of truth and freedom of speech is way off the mark.

No, let me tidy this up a little for you.

Veera cut copy at the behest of the chairman of the board. Normally that would have kept the chairman happy, but last week Veera became overzealous and spiked a column by a woman who regards the chairman as a personal friend. She took offence.

The above is one of many stories going round the Post newsroom at the moment. It's a side issue. The story concerned the Bangkok Fashion City "extravaganza". In actual fact, senior editorial restructuring has been on the cards for at least a few months, if not a year or so.

He was on the phone on a nightly basis to production staff, telling them what headline to change, what copy to cut. In some cases he would take it upon himself to make these changes, without telling anyone.

No, the ex-senior editor was in charge of signing off pages; a position now held by the deputy editor. To my knowledge, which is quite extensive, the above is not possible given the production process and the pagination system used. Veera could not access the Post's pagination system himself, from home, "without telling anyone".

The chairman apparently has a son who works at the Post who has highest-level access to what goes through the system. He phones Veera, who in turn phones the night staff to tell them what changes to make. The guy was a stooge, and his successor looks no better.

Aaah, so you don't know what you're talking about. No, the chairman doesn't have a son who works at the Post. The person to whom you are referring did not call Veera on a nightly basis.

If Kowit had any spine, would refuse to take the job until any ''doubt'' about the Post's independence was cleared up.

On that we agree.

Given all the 'experts' espousing opinions on this board and other web boards not so long ago WRT the Bangkok Post and sweeping cutbacks, I'm surprised there's been no comment here. Or maybe I missed it. Here's the crux. Late on Thursday a Board decision was made to shift the editor, Veera, to an "inactive post". In some Thai reports and according to some staff, the reason was the killing of a story about a fashion show. No. This has been on the cards for months if not a year. On Friday, executive editor Kowit, often derided by employees as a pen-pushing admin boss, is now editor. The decision by the board outraged employees as it's well-known that Veera, as editor of the Post and boss of the Thai Journalists Association, indirectly (and sometimes directly) criticised the government, especially towards the end of 2003. Also on Friday, 77 journalists signed a letter to the Board expressing their concern and entered a meeting with the Board. This had no effect. Read The Nation for more details and check out Bangkok Post Board of Directors for the Post's Board to find clues as to business interests and affiliations.

Was the poster at any of the heady heightsmentioned at the newspaper or not ?

No.

Of course the Post is a money-making machine; name me a business that aims not to be. There is also an important distinction between the organization and the staffing of the individual publications it produces WRT cuts.

If a business is making money - and the Post is, by the way - why then would it contemplate massive cuts?

Given that mrentoul can claim that the original poster isn't at the heady editorial heights mentioned I can only assume he knows the original poster and is fairly well-placed himself. As to the question of why an organization that is making a profit might make cuts, he should ask the original poster with whom he is seemingly familiar.

Cuts may occur in any organization and are basically deadwood chopping. Whether the Post as a company needs such action remains an arguable point. (As opposed to the cutting of the staff on the Bangkok Post's local newsroom as suggested by another "expert".)

Personally, I haven't seen the P&L balances for the company for the Post Publishing Plc for the whole year or its future forecasts - there was a mention of the company's financial state in the Business supplement some time ago, but that was a Q3 report.

I'm not in the business of crystal-ball gazing, which is why I'm also not in the business of stating what I think the year-end results of the Post will be. I can only go on what information is in the public domain. However, if a public company like the Post reported a year-end loss, including losses incurred by launching and promoting the Thai-language Post Today, then I would be surprised.

Of course, I may not be privvy to the inside information of other posters who clearly have moles in the offices that overlook the arguably tasteful yet understated front entrance of the company's HQ.

Read into that what you will.

Mind you, with the sweeping cuts that are apparently going to happen, maybe none of them has time - too busy writing up their resumes?

I am looking forward to hearing about these sweeping cuts you keep talking about.

They sound quite dramatic and should give the staff something to talk about...as they contemplate the Post's latest results, including whopper earnings from advertising.

The Post is a money-making machine...but as you clearly know more than the staff working there, maybe you'd like to fill us in.

Actually, if you had been following this thread or bothered to read earlier posts, you will know/see that the "sweeping cuts" were mentioned by "The_Moog" on December 3 in this thread. My reply was that unless the original poster was at board, director or editor level, then this "fact" is mere supposition and news to the staff.

Of course the Post is a money-making machine; name me a business that aims not to be. There is also an important distinction between the organization and the staffing of the individual publications it produces WRT cuts. Re-read the first few posts on this thread and you'll get the general gist of what I do and don't know about all of this.

Read into that what you will.

Although I'm just a stupid American, I *do* have two degrees in the language and have taught in universities on two continents for many years, so I suppose I do know at least *little* bit about the language. [You can seek references at The University of North Texas, Tianjin University, Beijing Normal Univeristy, Lamar University [again, in Texas], The University of Macau, Bangkok University, Kingswoood Language School [in Bangkok], several other Bangkok-based language schools, and the Adult Municipal Education Program in Shunde, China. Plus I jave been an editor and a writer.

So, where are you coming from? If you don't like Trink -- fine; I really don't care for him, either. But if I attack him, I will attack him in his arena. What are YOU doing?

Your username is "Newbie"; does that tell us something?

Actually, my handle is hacknew. Clearly your expert editorial eye didn't spot this. And I really don't know where you're coming from with your little diatribe about your own qualifications - insecurity maybe?

It's actually kind of hard to know if you are being critical of Trink, his movie-reveiwing replacement, or both of them.

Read the posts; it's quite clear.

In any case, what does Trink's PHYSICAL condition -- bar an inability to do his job -- have to do with his COLUMN?

Erm, if his physical condition renders him unable to do his job, which is to churn out ill-informed movie "reviews" as well as recycle out-of-date material and copy and paste other people's emails (i.e. his column), then I would say it's fair comment.

If you don't like it -- fine; don't read it, and write to the Editors at the newspaper to approve of their decision to cut him out

Never read it now and wrote to the editor way, way back about incorrect factual assertions and blatant racism among other things.

I really cannot help but feel a little curious over the deafening silence from the Bangkok Post on this issue. I wonder if they have something to hide? Just a thought!

What, do you think someone from the Post will actually put their name on this board? Mind you, with the sweeping cuts that are apparently going to happen, maybe none of them has time - too busy writing up their resumes?

Call it paranoia but could the government be behind this?  After all, Trink talks about things that most people would rather not hear concerning the Land of Smiles.  It is sad that for a paper that has been around as long as the Post, that they don't know anything about press freedom.  Trink may not be liked by all but he does speak out on things that concern us as tourists and expats.  Like him or not, he is an institution.  I hope he stays if only to give those who don't like him something to complain about.

I very much doubt the government had any hand in this. AFAIK the Post is actually independent although rumours abound among various parties that someone highly placed in the govt tried to buy the paper some years ago. As to press freedom, the editor is - I think - president of the Thai Press Association. However, when it comes to absolute press freedom, I am sure Veera P. would be the first to tell you that in the current political climate, if needs be, the government could feasibly put pressure on certain parties about certain matters. After all, the board of directors is comprised mostly of businessmen with interests in Thailand. I'm pretty sure the decision to axe Trink was based on the fact that his column is/was a waste of money, space, ink and paper rather than anything else.

Speaking of press freedom, presumably all the experts in here have been keeping up to date with the buying up of shares in The Nation Group by a certain family close to the govt. The Nation was also the official APEC newspaper; odd when only a few years ago, the senior mgmt was investigated by the AMLO after the paper was openly critical of policy.

Read into all of that what you will.

After all, the man can barely move unaided.

To say the Trink is barely able to walk is naught more than a personal attack that has no reference to the issue at hand.

OK, so I guess he used to get all the movies he "reviewed" sent to him by the distributors. Mind you, the new reviewer seems to have graduated from the school of journalism that teaches that review articles need to have as many complex, run-on sentences as possible.

I lived in Bang Na for 2.5 years and it's pretty bleak. If you're after something completely Western, you'll probably be let down. There are a few restaurants/watering holes at the back of Central Bang Na on the second floor. Also if you take the road to the left of the highway is a restaurant called 'Kratorn' or 'Gai Loi Fa' where they have an amusing show involving a man, a catapault, a flying roast chicken, and a unicycle. Failing that, head down Soi 103 (Udomsuk) but there's nothing particularly Western there. Or head towards and beyond Seacon Square; there are a few pubs there. Nothing Western though. Surely you can spare the taxt/BTS money and head into town? That's what I did - or head to some of the mixed bars.

Does the Bangkok Post actually pay the man for writing this drivel.

I for one will glad to see the back of him and the sooner the better at least I won't have to put up with plugs for his friends bars every Friday "Go on mosey on over" and just what is Burma shave?

The Post does (did) indeed pay the man for this drivel. I was outraged when his stance on the Nigerian email stance ended with him proclaiming that no Nigerian should be trusted - what next, Jews?

His movie reviews are, as I said, dull, boring, and often show that he has either not seen the movie or has completely missed the point. Case in point: the review of Kill Bill. Apparently, Angelina Joie would have been a better choice as The Bride even though anybody who read the syndicated article on the movie (featured in the Post, I think) or who takes an interest in movies in general will know the whole idea for the movie came from a brainstorm between Uma Thurman and Tarantino.

To Trink fans: wake up and smell the coffee. The man can't write, is misinformed, and is a legacy of a bygone era. Burma Shave signs, by the way, used to be posted on US highways in the 1950s (I think) and were posted in series of five to promote the shaving cream. Their relevance to Bangkok Post readers is as questionable as the talents of the man recycling them.

Wasn't it Trink who also highlighted what was clearly a spoof chain-letter email from the ubiquitous kid on dialysis and the next week had to basically retreat after a deluge of emails telling him what a gullible moron he is?

Truly this is the man with his finger on the pulse. Save Trink indeed.

It will lead to more syndicated articles but the newspaper will have more of a British feel as the articles will be lifted straight out of The Independant and The Guardian.

There will be less serious investigative journalism covering local topics.

So, the received wisdom is that there will be cuts at the Post and these will be in the newsroom, especially on the local newsdesk. Well, that's news to many as far as I know. I must be missing something or my crystal ball is a little unpolished on all this new information from factual sources. Same same for the fact that the paper will take more stories from UK sources. I should also point out that The Nation already takes The Guardian's/Observer's syndicated content.

As to the perceived UK bias of the Post, the balance of expats who work there is, as far as I know, pretty even. Certainly a glance at the website reveals a board that is made up of various nationalities (not a Brit among them) and the "Senior Management" contains only one contender who might be British. One can only assume that any such bias is due to other reasons. Of course, all the self-styled experts in here will know the Post was started by an American 56-odd years ago.

Your conclusions are bull. I have seen the old git hobble into the cineplex on more than one occasion this yr. Confess his reviews are questionable though. The new reviewer Kong seems to have more life.

I said "rarely" not "never." Not sure about the new reviewer, though. "Wordy" springs to mind.

But, I do know for a fact that there are slated to be heavy cutbacks at the Post's Bangkok HQ in 2004.

I take it you are highly placed, then. Presumably at board level, director level or at least editor level as none of the staff has been told this hearsay anecdote. Rumours, rumours, rumours. Maybe they're true, but I don't think you can say it's a "fact" unless you are highly placed.

As to Trink, he is an anachronism. His column was an embarrassment and his movie reviews were generally synopses of press releases. I remember reading his review of The Ring in which he completely got the whole point of what "The Ring" was wrong. Thus I conclude that he rarely bothers to watch the movies. After all, the man can barely move unaided.

i think they should try to organise a merger with "the nation", and pool their resources in order to produce one english language daily paper of some substance rather than two very mediocre papers that in many respects are copies of each other.

failing that perhaps they should swallow their pride and go the tabloid route,with a big sports section. i dont think they would be short of readers, and leave the high ground to "the nation".

The Nation merge with the Post? Never the twain shall meet. The reason both papers are near-copies of each other are that they cover the same Thai local news and the world news is all newswire material, often duplicated word for word save for the odd creative (or otherwise) subbing changes.

As for a tabloid style, the Bangkok Post used to have a tabloid supplement in the 1970s called Bangkok World. It was pulled as it wasn't successful, I believe. Tabloid size might work, but tabloid coverage will not. Despite impressions, the majority of readers of both are Thai - if they want tabloid-style stories, they would buy Thai Rath, Daily News, etc.