ENGLISH MAGS ARE BREAKING THE LAW

A significant number of English language magazines being published in Thailand are breaking the law.
An amendment to the kingdom's Publishing Act introduced after the September 2006 coup stated that all publications produced in Thailand must have a Thai national listed as an editor. Publications, in this sense, include newspapers and magazines, and that act remains in force today. There is no difference whether you're a paid-for or free copy publication, the law still applies.
Like most things in Thailand there are ways around this. You can have a Thai as an editor but there's nothing stopping you having a foreign Editor in Chief or Managing Editor.
I can think of at least ten English magazines that are technically breaking this law right now - and it's criminal law so possible penalties include jail, although I am not aware of any incidents where cases have been brought against publishers for a breach of this law.

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THAI SAYS SAWASDEE TO MEDIA FACTORY

Thai Airways has suspended its contract with Dubai-based publisher The Media Factory (TMF) for its inflight magazine Sawasdee.
According to reports TMF failed to deliver copies of the June issue, citing the recent political turmoil in Bangkok. The Bangkok Post adds that TMF failed to "secure enough advertisements" for the June issue, and failed to impress the airline's management with recent editorial changes. A breach of contract was served as a result of the failure to deliver the June issue which "gave Thai Airways a good excuse to find a new publisher for its monthly magazine." Media Transasia has stepped in to produce a combined June/July edition.
The contract to produce the inflight magazine for Thai Airways requires the publisher to pay a fee to the airline for the publishing rights, along with a percentage of all advertising revenues. The fact that rate card prices for Sawasdee under TMF were amongst the highest in the kingdom give you an idea of the kind of money that Thai Airways expects to generate from granting the rights. The print bill for producing hundreds of thousands of copies each month is also likely to be a huge burden for the successful publisher.
I am familiar with the workings of Sawasdee under TMF because my previous company assisted with the design and Thai translations during the first six months of the TMF contract, so I can say with authority that Thai Airways were not the easiest client to deal with. Changes requested by one person were then amended and changed by someone further up the authority ladder. It seemed everyone wanted to make their mark on the magazine, and that resulted in many, many late nights running up to deadlines.
Publishing the inflight magazine for Thai Airways may seem like an attractive prospect for some publishers, but personally I'd steer well clear of it right now.

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THREE-YEARS-OLD AND STILL ON SALE

Is it right that one of Bangkok's top bookstores is selling a three-year-old edition of Tropical magazine in one of its prime positions?
On the plus side, this particular edition of Tropical contains 'timeless' content that is still relatively attractive today, and at 50 baht it's a 50 per cent discount from the original cover price.
But when space for new titles is understandably limited surely it would be better to have a more timely title in this slot?
Several copies of this magazine have been on sale in these slots for more than three weeks now. That says all you need to know, in my opinion. It didn't sell three years ago and it's not selling now.

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