English Language Weekly Tabloid In Chiangmai

[john b good]

I refer to Chiangmai Mail. This started out as a reasonable addition to the news stands in Chiangmai.

It provided us with a welcome opportunity of an additional source of news on the city.

Is it going down the gurgler ?? I think that it is on the right track if that is the intention of the management.

Why ?

Well for one it has gone from 24 pages a little over a month ago to 20 pages (initially) and now for the past 2-3 weeks it has been just 16 pages. And yes, you're right the price remains the same albeit the fact that we now get just 66% (in terms of pages) than we previously did.

The content has also fallen off in terms of quality (IMHO that is)

It is a very rare edition that doesn't have at least one photograph of the honourable GM featuring.

We saw what happened to "Good Morning Chiangmai" didn't we. It had a lot of good content. It was printed on good quality paper AND it was FREE. But unfortunately it went the way that Chiangmai Mail seems to be heading.

I will purchase one more copy (perhaps the next edition will only be 10 pages)

And then I will vote with my feet.

It will be a pity if it does fold because the expat community in Chiangmai does need a quality rag.

[Ajarn]

I refer to Chiangmai Mail. This started out as a reasonable addition to the news stands in Chiangmai.

It provided us with a welcome opportunity of an additional source of news on the city.

Is it going down the gurgler ?? I think that it is on the right track if that is the intention of the management.

Why ?

Well for one it has gone from 24 pages a little over a month ago to 20 pages (initially) and now for the past 2-3 weeks it has been just 16 pages. And yes, you're right the price remains the same albeit the fact that we now get just 66% (in terms of pages) than we previously did.

The content has also fallen off in terms of quality (IMHO that is)

It is a very rare edition that doesn't have at least one photograph of the honourable GM featuring.

We saw what happened to "Good Morning Chiangmai" didn't we. It had a lot of good content. It was printed on good quality paper AND it was FREE. But unfortunately it went the way that Chiangmai Mail seems to be heading.

I will purchase one more copy (perhaps the next edition will only be 10 pages)

And then I will vote with my feet.

It will be a pity if it does fold because the expat community in Chiangmai does need a quality rag.

I have tried twice to get the paper through their 'online setup'. Still waiting for a phone call, letter, many weeks later..

[Remo]

The mail has ended up pointless, and out of the 16 pages it now prints on a weekly basis you can be garanteed that at least 3-4 or pages along the lines of "14Billion ya ba pills seized, man arrested for the 2000th time says its not him this time"

If they really believe that one weeks news in CM is 16 pages and they provide good well written news on a weekly basis, the editor should be shot

[Rinrada]

Always get the impression that apart from a couple of pictures and maybe a write up of a local boozer/restaurant it just a copy of the Pattaya M......or should say Peter M.........

.....and whos the agony aunt.?......petal.....

[Ulysses G.]

We saw what happened to "Good Morning Chiangmai" didn't we. It had a lot of good content. It was printed on good quality paper AND it was FREE. But unfortunately it went the way that Chiangmai Mail seems to be heading.

David seems to have lost direction between wanting to be a Chiang Mai magazine, a real estate magazine and a Laos magazine.

I wish that he would go back to concentrating on Chiang Mai.

[earlofwindermere]

I agree that there has been a decrease in quality (including content, spelling and grammar) but it is still the best in Chiang Mai.

The only other option is the Citylife magazine which comes out monthly and has become quite trashy. (good or bad... depending on your point of view).

[adjan jb]

David seems to have lost direction between wanting to be a Chiang Mai magazine, a real estate magazine and a Laos magazine.

David seems to have lost directions between wanting to be an editor in chief, a journalist, a photographer, a publisher, a censor, a sales agent and an English peer in CM.

[jomama]

I agree that there has been a decrease in quality (including content, spelling and grammar) but it is still the best in Chiang Mai.

Citylife at least has some life to it...

The CM Mail is owned by the Pattaya Mail. They exported a German husband and wife team up from Pattaya to start the paper. From personal experience I know they thought news coverage was something like: Buy an ad, then write a story about your business, and we'll run it as news. That worked somewhat -- though I would guess the paper has never been profitable -- but even the "advertiser/reporters" seemed to tire of the scheme. Oh, and by the way, about that ad for next week... and this went on every week.

That couple appears to be gone now, replaced by an English fellow whom we've been privileged to witness eating at several locales, no doubt for free, as the photo and restaurant name is printed as if were news. I also love the titles of some expat "professionals" -- Managing Director, General Manager, etc. Watch out General Motors, here comes G. Freddie Farnsworth, Managing Director, CEO and CFO, fresh from his stint at The Chiang Mai Tageblatt, via Pattaya. Judging from the photos it does appear to help to keep one fed and in plenty of drink.

By any measure of journalistic standards, even here, this "newspaper" is wide of the mark indeed.

[john b good]

I agree that there has been a decrease in quality (including content, spelling and grammar) but it is still the best in Chiang Mai.

The only other option is the Citylife magazine which comes out monthly and has become quite trashy. (good or bad... depending on your point of view).

but it is still the best in Chiang Mai. This could be the case but, it makes the others complete shyt doesn't it.

As far as The Rt Honourable David Hardcastle (AKA Hardy) is concerned I don't have anything remotely useful to add.

Edited September 29, 2006 by john b good

[scottie dog]

I agree that there has been a decrease in quality (including content, spelling and grammar) but it is still the best in Chiang Mai.

The only other option is the Citylife magazine which comes out monthly and has become quite trashy. (good or bad... depending on your point of view).

but it is still the best in Chiang Mai. This could be the case but, it makes the others complete shyt doesn't it.

As far as The Rt Honourable David Hardcastle (AKA Hardy) is concerned I don't have anything remotely useful to add.

David H has confirmed in writing that Good Morning Chiang Mai willnolongerbe published

[Ajarn]

I agree that there has been a decrease in quality (including content, spelling and grammar) but it is still the best in Chiang Mai.

The only other option is the Citylife magazine which comes out monthly and has become quite trashy. (good or bad... depending on your point of view).

but it is still the best in Chiang Mai. This could be the case but, it makes the others complete shyt doesn't it.

As far as The Rt Honourable David Hardcastle (AKA Hardy) is concerned I don't have anything remotely useful to add.

David H has confirmed in writing that Good Morning Chiang Mai willnolongerbe published

I'm so surprised

[Ulysses G.]

Personally, this news makes me sad.

Earlier in the thread, I was whinging a little about the magazine not being at top form at the moment, but I really just wanted to get my 2 cents in on the direction where I would like to see the magazine heading in the future. I've always enjoyed Good Morning Chiang Mai and it is a FREE publication, so what is there to complain about?

We are left with one so-so paid weekly magazine and one pretty good free monthly for expats and a whole lot of boring tourist-oriented crap that is mostly a waste of money for advertisers because there are too many publications all doing exactly the same thing.

I will miss Good Morning Chiang Mai magazine.

Edited September 29, 2006 by Ulysses G.

[Gonzo the Face]

Help me out a little guys.... some of this and these magagines ??? have gotten lost in muddled brain...

As I see it , we still have the following:

[add any please, that I don't list

City Life

Chiang Mai News

Chiang Mai Mail

Good Morning Chiang Mai ??

Welcome Chiang Mai

there ued to be something 'Guide' I think

any others???

gonzo

[earlofwindermere]

Gonzo.... I'm a bit confused as well. As far as I knew, there were only two newspapers/magazines that catered to expats living here...

1. Chiang Mai Mail is a weekly newspaper.

2. Chiang Mai Citylife is a monthly magazine.

I dind't know about the others. Any info on how to get them?

[lamphun]

David H has confirmed in writing that Good Morning Chiang Mai willnolongerbe published

I'm sure Mr Karsten Blocken will be happy.

[Gonzo the Face]

David H has confirmed in writing that Good Morning Chiang Mai willnolongerbe published

I'm sure Mr Karsten Blocken will be happy.

My lips are sealed...... almost

as they say

"What goes around, comes around"

and just as a guess....... Karsten probably has scores of others for company......

[Ulysses G.]

Help me out a little guys.... some of this and these magagines ??? have gotten lost in muddled brain...

As I see it , we still have the following:

[add any please, that I don't list

City Life

Chiang Mai News

Chiang Mai Mail

Good Morning Chiang Mai ??

Welcome Chiang Mai

there ued to be something 'Guide' I think

any others???

gonzo

I think that Chiang Mai News and Chiang Mai Newsletter are old names for Chiang Mai Citylife.

Good Morning Chiang Mai is apparently going out of business.

Welcome Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is really just for tourists as is Guidelines and there are a ton of other magazines out there just like these.

[ThaiPauly]

The last edition of the CM Mail had 10 adverts in it, three on the front page, which made it look terrible.

There is no way that it can survive on that sort of venue even if they are charging a cover price.

If you look at the "Eating Out" section there is noow only one or two ads there. there used to be a dozen. The Grillstation, opposite the porn ping used to take a big one nearly every week (I dont know if its still open no though), but they are not replacing spent out, or gone away, customers with new ones.

Citylife, I like (when I can get hold of one) but copies are like gold dust.

I really DO hope the CMM gets its act together, its at a critical stage in its development now, they need some good staff to sell the adverts, they can boost the size of the paper up if they do that

[adjan jb]

Though a little bit different, there's also CM Traders News run by Tama (from NZ)

[Ulysses G.]

Though a little bit different, there's also CM Traders News run by Tama (from NZ)

I believe that the Trader went the way of the dinosaurs some time ago.

[Gonzo the Face]

Though a little bit different, there's also CM Traders News run by Tama (from NZ)

I believe that the Trader went the way of the dinosaurs some time ago.

The forever expanding Tama also had something of the same ilk for Pattaya and Bkk. did he not?

Haven't seen Tama and Purple Sally in a very long time. Are they still living in this area?

[Ulysses G.]

I think that the Pattaya and Bangkok Trader were owned and run by someone else, but they got the original idea from Tama.

I run into Tama in Bangkok in the lobby of the Nana Hotel almost everytime I go there and Purple Sally is still in Chiang Mai working at the big school near Thai Airways with Tony Moon of America restaurant (2nd owner) fame.

Edited October 2, 2006 by Ulysses G.

[adjan jb]

I think that the Pattaya and Bangkok Trader were owned and run by someone else, but they got the original idea from Tama.

I run into Tama in Bangkok in the lobby of the Nana Hotel almost everytime I go there and Purple Sally is still in Chiang Mai working at the big school near Thai Airways with Tony Moon of America restaurant (2nd owner) fame.

Right, Tama often goes to BKK where he rents a flat (Soi Nana). Sally is teaching at Yupparat school.

[adjan jb]

And she's one of the posters, I guess.

Sally, are you there ?

[adjan jb]

And she's one of the posters, I guess.

Sally, are you there ?

If yes, remember that our door is always open.

[Gonzo the Face]

And she's one of the posters, I guess.

Sally, are you there ?

If yes, remember that our door is always open.

Funny how things run together sometime...... If Purple Sally is out there, as I remember she and Mr. David Hardy-castle are not the best of mates either..... as someone indicated to me re an incident at Domino's some years back over the proper use of the King's English....com'on Sally speak up.....

[adjan jb]

And she's one of the posters, I guess.

Sally, are you there ?

If yes, remember that our door is always open.

Funny how things run together sometime...... If Purple Sally is out there, as I remember she and Mr. David Hardy-castle are not the best of mates either..... as someone indicated to me re an incident at Domino's some years back over the proper use of the King's English....com'on Sally speak up.....

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

They won't tell your secret

No the roses won't tell your secret

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see my baby love another girl

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round those roses (go go)

The roses they can't hurt you

I know the roses they can't hurt you

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally please don't go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see my baby love another girl

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see your baby love another girl

Sally don't you go now Sally...

Look out Sally

Look out Sally

Sally go round the roses

Sally go up go down go round go round now

Sally go round the roses

Yeah Sally....

You bad girl

Watch out now Sally

[Sao Jiang Mai]

This is great to have such feedback! People never say things to your face, so it is very important. I take your comment about the trash and will rework our direction. We got some slack for some articles recently, and will pull back a bit. Basically I started the mag 8 years ago after never having a job in my life, so I will continue to make mistakes, please bear with me. We will keep some of the vulgarities out in future editions, it is not easy to keep the balance though, as our readers are from all walks of life, some complain when we are too staid and academic, some when we are not opinionated enough, while others do not like us to be opinionated. We will continue to improve, so thank you for your feedback. As to Citylife being hard to find....I don't know what to do about that, I simply can't print to demand. But we are free online, and all of our articles are online even before the publication hits the street. I also have our distributino list of over 300 locations we deliver at, so please feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will mail you the list, it may help you find somewhere closer to home. I am very sad to hear about David, I am sure that GMCM will be missed, he always had such interesting news. As to Tama, I saw him recently in BKK and he seemd to be in fine fetter. I have never met the new GM of CMMail, but hope to some day soon. Please keep comments coming -good or bad, they all help.

Have a lovely day,

Pim Kemasingki (Citylife)

[adjan jb]

As far as I'm concerned, I think CityLife is the best magazine in town but as I can't find it on a regular basis, I probably read it only once every 4 or 5 months.

[Gonzo the Face]

And she's one of the posters, I guess.

Sally, are you there ?

If yes, remember that our door is always open.

Funny how things run together sometime...... If Purple Sally is out there, as I remember she and Mr. David Hardy-castle are not the best of mates either..... as someone indicated to me re an incident at Domino's some years back over the proper use of the King's English....com'on Sally speak up.....

I think that she'd be more of the " Mustang Sally " Type if you could find a purple one..

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

They won't tell your secret

No the roses won't tell your secret

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see my baby love another girl

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round those roses (go go)

The roses they can't hurt you

I know the roses they can't hurt you

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally please don't go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see my baby love another girl

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally go round the roses

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

Sally don't you go, don't you go downtown

(The) saddest thing in this whole world

Is to see your baby love another girl

Sally don't you go now Sally...

Look out Sally

Look out Sally

Sally go round the roses

Sally go up go down go round go round now

Sally go round the roses

Yeah Sally....

You bad girl

Watch out now Sally