Media In Thailand

[webfact]

Happy Birthday Citylife the best little mag in the north

Published by Andrew Drummond

If you live anywhere else but Chiang Mai you may not know but this month the magazine Citylife celebrates its 20th birthday. It would be totally remiss if I did not wish them well here.

Alongside the dogged Phuketwan online news site, Citylife is one of my favourite reads. It does not break stories, it does not take on the establishment, apart from boss Pim’s editorials, but nevertheless it’s regularly an interesting read and one never gets the feeling it is hiding anything.

There is some entertaining stuff between the adverts and it tackles some weird and wonderful stuff. In terms of advertising it seems to have cleaned up in Chiang Mai.

Of course I am biased because I like the guys up there, but at least Citylife is not like other English language newspapers, more often than not vehicles for meglomaniacs which are so common in Thailand.

Can’t some English language newspapers in Thailand be a depressing read, especially the ones in the provinces? Well, all newspapers can be. But I want to be depressed by news not piles of self promoting blurb.

Dubious foreigners

These newspapers are often owned by foreigners of dubious background, who crow on about the wonderful city in which they live. They follow the police, and local authority line on every story and expect us to believe it. Their insincerity knows no bounds as they profile one scoundrel after another to the level of canonisation.

The reinvention of themselves has become an art form of a juvenile nature.

In this respect Pattaya excels. Most Pattaya newspapers appear to be there for the glory of the owner/editor.

These people do little to improve the editorial of their products so even today the television outlets still do not know how to present television news. One, for instance, ten years [more...]

Full story: http://www.andrew-drummond.com/view-story.php?sid=429

-- andrew-drummond.com 2011-08-13

[drdoom6996]

Hell, the Pattaya mail is owned by Indians for goodness sake. He get his picture taken 2500 time a month they tell me. I know the original editor.

[Thakkar]

Another vote for the venerable Citylife. Not only is it a great Thailand magazine, I'd venture so far as to say it stands up well against any reputable magazine anywhere.

In these days of specialist mags, it's a magazine that's hard to pigeonhole and so every month is always a bit of a delightful surprise because one never knows what to expect.

Looking forward to reading it for the next twenty.

T

[Richard4849]

Hell, the Pattaya mail is owned by Indians for goodness sake. He get his picture taken 2500 time a month they tell me. I know the original editor.

Thais of Indian ethnicity, you mean? Or Indian passport holders?

[HeavyDrinker]

It's not often I'd agree with Drummond but he has a very good point about Pattaya and the rags there.

They continually attempt to legitimise some very iffy people by dressing them up as "rotarians" etc and having them photographed with the Mayor or the Chief of Police etc. then plastering the photos all over these rags/tv shows/web sites ad nauseum week in week out.

Edited August 13, 2011 by HeavyDrinker

[Jingthing]

Drummond hits it out of the ballpark about Pattaya newspapers.

For example, have they done even ONE story about how Pattaya fake meter taxis never use the meters? They did announce the meters when the taxi service started along with PR from the establishment about how they were real taxi meters that would operate like taxi meters. Then years gone by, never a story about how that was a big lie.

Edited August 13, 2011 by Jingthing

[sbk]

Posts have been deleted. Vicious rumor mongering and defamatory at that. Next one gets more than mere deletion.

[Tarric]

While I realise any media medium is going to be biased whether it is in Thailand or anywhere else in the world I do admit that its a bit of a stretch at time. However, on the other hand my favourite Thai columinst in the Bangkok Post Voranai Vanijaka has what would be considered some very unpopular opinions with people both sides of political fence and yet his columns continue to become more agressive in their tone and it doesnt seem like anyone is holding his leash. Perhaps he's allowed so much latitude because as an english language newspaper most Thai's are never going to read it so therefore his messages of political reform never get to the ears of those he intended it for.

[zzaa09]

While I realise any media medium is going to be biased whether it is in Thailand or anywhere else in the world I do admit that its a bit of a stretch at time. However, on the other hand my favourite Thai columinst in the Bangkok Post Voranai Vanijaka has what would be considered some very unpopular opinions with people both sides of political fence and yet his columns continue to become more agressive in their tone and it doesnt seem like anyone is holding his leash. Perhaps he's allowed so much latitude because as an english language newspaper most Thai's are never going to read it so therefore his messages of political reform never get to the ears of those he intended it for.

Don't fool yourself [as others shouldn't] into thinking that objective or challenging punditry is reasonably accepted or even "allowed" throughout Thailand's media circus. Be it English, Thai, whatever.

[Sparkles]

Happy birthday City Life. A monthly must read

[elwood]

While I realise any media medium is going to be biased whether it is in Thailand or anywhere else in the world I do admit that its a bit of a stretch at time. However, on the other hand my favourite Thai columinst in the Bangkok Post Voranai Vanijaka has what would be considered some very unpopular opinions with people both sides of political fence and yet his columns continue to become more agressive in their tone and it doesnt seem like anyone is holding his leash. Perhaps he's allowed so much latitude because as an english language newspaper most Thai's are never going to read it so therefore his messages of political reform never get to the ears of those he intended it for.

I had some correspondence with khun Voranai a few months ago, and he surprised me by saying that 60% of BP readers are Thai. I had made a similar comment to yours really - namely that not enough Thais would be reading his insightful thoughts. However, he agreed that it was still not enough and he was going to be teaching at university to reach the younger minds.

Agree with you about his columns - the best of all political commentators in Thailand, including the expat know-alls who hog the letters and blogs..

[metisdead]

When replying to a quoted post, do not make your reply within the

tags of the quoted post, one post removed.

[who]

Hell, the Pattaya mail is owned by Indians for goodness sake. He get his picture taken 2500 time a month they tell me. I know the original editor. Thais of Indian ethnicity, you mean? Or Indian passport holders?

---- The later. The family has been in Thailand for well over a hundred years ----

.

[who]

When replying to a quoted post, do not make your reply within the tags of the quoted post, one post removed.

---- Why ? Is it for some technical reason ----

.

[Jingthing]

When replying to a quoted post, do not make your reply within the tags of the quoted post, one post removed.

---- Why ? Is it for some technical reason ----

.

Because it looks like the quoted poster said it.

[Tywais]

When replying to a quoted post, do not make your reply within the tags of the quoted post, one post removed.

---- Why ? Is it for some technical reason ----

.

Because you can't tell who's who in the response and it makes it look like it is only one person's comment making it both confusing and potentially modifying the meaning of the reply. So, back on topic please.

[Richard4849]

Hell, the Pattaya mail is owned by Indians for goodness sake. He get his picture taken 2500 time a month they tell me. I know the original editor. Thais of Indian ethnicity, you mean? Or Indian passport holders? ---- The later. The family has been in Thailand for well over a hundred years ----

.

I think you mean "the former".

[TheWalkingMan]

Nice article by Drummond.

The media in Pattaya is a bit of a joke... There is the guy who seems to love to be in front of the camera with the voice over never forgetting to add his job title and then there is the guy with his life story on his website. When reading it, I fully expected to see, "Once saved 50 kids from a buring orphanage."

TheWalkingMan

[sbk]

I was under the impression that media is a restricted occupation and it must be owned 100% by Thai nationals.

[Digger]

When reading it, I fully expected to see, "Once saved 50 kids from a buring orphanage."

TheWalkingMan

That event is being planned for next month, once all the camera crews are in place......

[geriatrickid]

I rather enjoy the Pattaya Daily News. it provides an excellent crime section that is quite entertaining. Where else can I learn about the exciting lives of Pattaya's visitors and residents as they find innovative ways to kill themselves, or get mugged by hookers they take home or the lives of the kathoey killers. If it wasn't for the PDN, I would not have such a good understanding of foreigners living in Pattaya.

Go on, admit it. The PDN crime section is the 1st section everyone reads.

Edited August 14, 2011 by geriatrickid

[kerryk]

I rather enjoy the Pattaya Daily News. it provides an excellent crime section that is quite entertaining. Where else can I learn about the exciting lives of Pattaya's visitors and residents as they find innovative ways to kill themselves, or get mugged by hookers they take home or the lives of the kathoey killers. If it wasn't for the PDN, I would not have such a good understanding of foreigners living in Pattaya.

Go on, admit it. The PDN crime section is the 1st section everyone reads.

I always read it to make sure my date got home OK.

[zzaa09]

I was under the impression that media is a restricted occupation and it must be owned 100% by Thai nationals.

I believe not. Perhaps there are mandates that [in theory] require majority Thai ownership. But quite a number of news/info outlets, be they hardcopy or electronic, are clearly operated under foreign control.

Edited August 14, 2011 by zzaa09

[millwall_fan]

I always enjoy reading city Life when I can get hold of it-which is rarely, as the print run isn't nearly large enough to satisfy demand.

[sbk]

I was under the impression that media is a restricted occupation and it must be owned 100% by Thai nationals.

I believe not. Perhaps there are mandates that [in theory] require majority Thai ownership. But quite a number of news/info outlets, be they hardcopy or electronic, are clearly operated under foreign control.

I believe you are wrong, unless the Foreign Business Act has been amended recently:

Foreign Business Act

A fine of 100,000-1,000,000 baht and imprisonment of no more than three years

List of business activities

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Business Handbook

Section 5: Starting a business in Thailand

Page 17

List 1

Business that aliens are not permitted to do for special reasons:

(1) Newspaper undertakings and radio and television station undertakings

(2) Lowland farming/upland farming, or horticulture

(3) Raising animals

(4) Forestry and timber conversions from natural forests

(5) Fishing for aquatic animals in Thai waters and Thailand’s exclusive economic zones

(6) Extraction of Thai medical herbs

(7) Trade in and auctioneering of Thai ancient objects or ancient objects of national historical value

(8) Making or casting Buddha images and making monk’s bowls

(9) Dealing in land.

[Sao Jiang Mai]

Wow, thanks for all your kind words! We are also sorry not to be able to print to demand...cost of paper and all that. But we will try to get come more copies printed a month later this year when the economy gets better. Cheers! Please do get in touch if you have any critisisms or suggestions for our wee mag. Pim

[dean999]

I rather enjoy the Pattaya Daily News. it provides an excellent crime section that is quite entertaining. Where else can I learn about the exciting lives of Pattaya's visitors and residents as they find innovative ways to kill themselves, or get mugged by hookers they take home or the lives of the kathoey killers. If it wasn't for the PDN, I would not have such a good understanding of foreigners living in Pattaya.

Go on, admit it. The PDN crime section is the 1st section everyone reads.

I always read it to make sure my date got home OK.

:cheesy:

[zzaa09]

I was under the impression that media is a restricted occupation and it must be owned 100% by Thai nationals.

I believe not. Perhaps there are mandates that [in theory] require majority Thai ownership. But quite a number of news/info outlets, be they hardcopy or electronic, are clearly operated under foreign control.

I believe you are wrong, unless the Foreign Business Act has been amended recently:

Foreign Business Act

A fine of 100,000-1,000,000 baht and imprisonment of no more than three years

List of business activities

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Business Handbook

Section 5: Starting a business in Thailand

Page 17

List 1

Business that aliens are not permitted to do for special reasons:

(1) Newspaper undertakings and radio and television station undertakings

(2) Lowland farming/upland farming, or horticulture

(3) Raising animals

(4) Forestry and timber conversions from natural forests

(5) Fishing for aquatic animals in Thai waters and Thailand's exclusive economic zones

(6) Extraction of Thai medical herbs

(7) Trade in and auctioneering of Thai ancient objects or ancient objects of national historical value

(8) Making or casting Buddha images and making monk's bowls

(9) Dealing in land.

I stand corrected. Thanks.