Every day we personally trawl around a dozen websites and post details of vacancies deemed suitable for native English media professionals in Thailand. If you have a vacancy and want it filled, email your details to bkkandy AT myway.com.
Latest vacancies:
pricewaterhousecoopers is looking for an English editor for its Bangkok office.
DDProperty.com urgently needs a writer/editor with fluent written and spoken Thai and English skills.
AA Talent is seeking a native English Corporate Writer/Editor for one of its clients - an international PR and sponsorship agency.
Are you a journalist or writer looking for work in Thailand and South East Asia? Why not post your details and let publishers come to you? See HERE for more details.
In the world of publishing competition comes in many forms. In this picture, taken during a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, that competition comes from an unusual source. On the left is the imported U.K. edition of Stuff magazine, and on the right is the licensed Malaysia edition of the same magazine produced by Catcha Media. Both are in English, both contain much of the same content yet the Malaysian edition was about a third of the price. Which one would you buy? In Thailand, because English is a niche publishing language, there are no English licensed editions of global magazine so examples like this don't happen. But in places like Malaysia and Singapore I've regularly seen global and local editions competing against each other. The winner is Haymarket, the publisher of Stuff, because they'll get revenue from sales of either magazine.
Disclosure: I have previously worked for Haymarket Business Publishing in Llandarcy and Hammersmith in the U.K.
The Phuket Gazette has debuted its 'Nationwide' edition, promising to bring news from the island and elsewhere in the region to a wider readership. A statement from the publishers of the weekly newspaper, first published in 1993, said: "Focused entirely on Phuket and the Andaman Region, our new Nationwide Edition aims not only to serve Bangkok and other Thai communities with significant international populations, but also to help build the Phuket brand in the four- and five-star hotels and popular restaurants of the country’s tourist destinations." The newspaper is also promising widespread airline exposure, claiming copies will be distributed on all domestic and international flights of Thai Airways, as well as all Bangkok-bound flights of Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Delta and Vietnam Airlines. Copies of the Phuket Gazette have always been available in some shops in Bangkok, however since the launch of the Nationwide edition one month ago I've certainly seen more, especially at Suvarnabhumi airport where they are on sale at all bookshops. That said, I have taken seven flights so far this month and have not seen any copies on planes.
Singapore’s first interactive digital magazine is set to launch this weekend, a few weeks after Thailand boasted its first tablet magazine publication. Singapore publisher MediaCorp will make its Style: publication available at an introductory price of US$1.99. “We’d like to offer users a new experience, though the brand will be quintessentially Style: The digital magazine will be highly interactive, not just a PDF version of the hard copy, or a static format that you normally see online,” said Jessie Sng, Managing Director of MediaCorp’s Publishing division, in an interview with Channel News Asia. “With the popularity of media tablets like iPad, as well as how users have taken to digital magazines, we expect electronic sales of our publications to take up as much as 20 per cent of total sales within five years” added Shaun Seow, Deputy CEO of MediaCorp’s news, radio, print and interactive businesses. In Thailand, lifestyle publication Mars magazine was the first to appear as an iPad application several weeks ago. One person who has seen it told me it's a "really nice package, a good showcase app."
There are a couple of openings currently for experienced English language media professionals, editors and journalists. --- Bangkok-based Veritas Graphics is seeking a semi-full-time editor for one of Bangkok's best known English language business magazines. The Brief is the bi-monthly magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand and is mailed to 3,000 senior managers (60 per cent of the readers are outside the British chamber membership). Each issue includes 4-5 feature stories plus Chamber news and events. This position requires a strong entrepreneurial editor with both writing and editing experience. Knowledge of and experience working with layout and design artists a plus. Ideal position for a retired or semi-retired journalist/editor whose interests run toward business topics and whose local news sources are well developed. Send your CV and supporting materials to dean AT veritasgraphics.com --- An editor is also being sought by International News Editing, a company that performs editing on English news copy for news organizations in non-English speaking countries. This is a full-time online position, so the editor can work from his or her home. The person to fill this position will need to be able to work quickly and accurately, and will need considerable editing experience. For more details about this position contact rbessr AT gmail.com
Publisher Lagardère Active has launched Elle in Vietnam. Launched with the title Phai Dep, this local language edition of the global editionn is the first international upscale woman's title to be launched in the Vietnamese market. The magazine is published under a licence agreement with Ringier Vietnam and their local partner, the Hanoi Women Entrepreneurs' Association. Elle is one of the most successful in terms of licensed local editions. There are 43 around the world and 10 in Asia alone. And despite the apparent demise of print this is the 15th launch during the last ten years. Thomas Trub, General Manager of Ringier Pacific, said: "Vietnam is the fastest growing market in Asia, and its women consumers are leading the way. Elle will become a key partner in bringing the latest in international fashion trends to Vietnam, identifying and promoting the country's talented young designers, and contributing to the increasing sophistication of women magazines in Vietnam."
Students studying for a career in magazine publishing are taught the importance of strong cover design. Whether it's a strong headline, dynamic picture, attractive use of colour .. all these factors contribute to the decision whether to buy. In a recent story in The Australian media veteran Ita Buttrose said: "As an editor, getting the cover right is one of the most important jobs, and the hardest." Ida has probably created more eye-catching covers in her career than an art director has font options. "You're aiming to grab a reader's attention, and the cover is the first thing they notice. So every cover has to have the 'Wow!' factor." In Thailand, the impact of covers is lost because of the sheer number of titles competing for limited shelf space. There are very few shops where an entire magazine cover can be seen; most shops have displays similar to the one pictured here. This is bad for the publisher because they can have the best cover and best cover story in the world, but no one can see it. It's bad for the shop too because they're missing out on additional sales and the associated revenue. As a Managing Editor and Publishing Director I am not adverse to paying for better merchandising in shops, either in the form of a modest sum or increased commission for the shop. I know I'm not the only editor who spends far too much time rearranging shop displays, putting my magazine in a better position and, in some cases, hiding the competition. A lot of magazines in Thailand appear to pay almost no attention to this side of their business. The reason? It's because most magazine make next to nothing from selling their magazine this way. Chickens and eggs, I think. If readers could actually see the covers then they at least stand a chance of being tempted to buy.
Thailand regularly appears high on lists of the best places to retire. The cost of living is good, the climate is agreeable and there are lots of things to do. The latest such report, published by the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph this week, includes Thailand in its 'Top 10 Places to Retire Overseas', but also has harsh words about Bangkok. It says: "Tropical temperatures, gorgeous beaches, low living costs, gentle people and food that is also incredibly healthy. What's not to like? Avoid Bangkok like the plague. It is so polluted it will take years off your life. But keep looking and you could well find the retirement home of your dreams."
Press freedom in Thailand has reached an all time low according to the 2010 Press Freedom Index published yesterday by the respected Reporters Without Borders organisation. The Kingdom is now ranked 153rd of the 178 survey countries - below the likes of Afghanistan, Singapore, Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Iraq. In just six years Thailand has dropped close to 100 places in this annual ranking report. The authors noted: "Political violence has produced some very troubling tumbles in the rankings. Thailand (153rd) – where two journalists were killed and some fifteen wounded while covering the army crackdown on the “red shirts” movement in Bangkok – lost 23 places."
Dan Rivers, CNN's former Bangkok Bureau chief, moved to London at the end of last month to take up a senior international correspondent role in the UK capital. Rivers and other members of the foreign media have been subject to criticism for their reporting of the events of May 2010, and so the move is "well timed" according to Nirmal Ghosh, past president of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and reporter for The Straits Times in Thailand. In his blog for the Singapore-based newspaper Ghosh wrote: "Seldom have foreign journalists working in Thailand come under the kind of pressure that Dan has. The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, soon after taking office, took a dim view of Dan's reporting on the Rohingya boat people issue in early 2009. Dan got his story the classic way – visiting the areas where the Rohingya had fetched up and painstakingly recording various locals' version of events. CNN's reports also showed images provided by a whistle blower, of the Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, being towed out to sea by Thai security forces – and cast adrift. "The government immediately denied the accusations, saying the images had been faked and were misleading. But CNN stood by the story. Last year, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva admitted there had been "some instances" when boats had been pushed out to sea, and pledged an investigation. The Department of Special Investigation was put in charge, but so far no results have been announced. Dan collected an Amnesty International award for his reportage. "More recently, this year, there has been a widespread campaign to vilify Rivers. An open letter to CNN in May by the young lawyer Napas na Pombejra, contended that CNN in its coverage of the clashes between troops and "red shirt" protesters in Bangkok in April and May, had been "reporting single-sided or unverified facts and distorted truths drawn from superficial research, or display/distribute biased images which capture only one side of the actual event". "The letter spread through the Internet like the proverbial wildfire. At the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT), at least two phone calls were received from unknown people, asking for Dan Rivers' home address. A CNN producer reportedly had a stone thrown through a window in her home. The influential blogger Bangkok Pundit’s analysis of the issues raised in the letter drew 310 comments and 222 Tweets – probably a record for the blog. "I believe it has been impossible since the storm over CNN was triggered this year, for Dan to get interviews with government officials. Even Thais in the private sector have been wary. This despite analyses of CNN's coverage showing the network did indeed feature interviews with government figures during the clashes. The BBC has also stood by its coverage. "Ms Napas na Pombejra received support from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who in a letter to her dated July 24, 2010 wrote, "I read your letter to CNN. I feel proud of you that you stood up as a Thai person to respond to the foreign journalists in a forthright way, politely and clearly, which made the world community reconsider the reliability of CNN."
One property developer appears undecided about what to do with a plot of land close to where I live. Until recently the company was marketing an 8-storey, 100-unit development under their 'Chateau in Town' brand. It was a project I looked at about a year ago but thankfully I decided not to take my interest any further. Now those modest plans have disappeared to be replaced by a monster 34-storey, 710-unit development under its 'Bangkok Horizon' mass market concept. Pricing has also changed - from a starting price of 1.35 million baht for a unit under the 'Chateau' brand to 1.7 million baht for a box in the 'Horizon' development. I speak to many people outside Thailand as part of my work and all are surprised when I say that both property prices and demand in Bangkok is strong, and increasing by the day. This particular example shows how one developer has been able to adapt its concept to take advantage of that demand, although I don't know how anyone who purchased off-plan in the 'Chateau' concept might feel?
Popular website ThaiVisa.Com has announced the signing of a content agreement with Associated Press. In a statement is said: "Thaivisa.com have reached an agreement with AP (Associated Press) to deliver full-text Thailand and Asia related News content, mobile news and photos for Thaivisa.com The agreement is in effect from today, October 18, 2010." ThaiVisa already has similar agreements with the AFP agency, The Nation, the Phuket Gazette and other local news websites and content providers. I cannot imagine there are many similar web forums that have content agreements with leading global news agencies. Many just cut-and-paste content and hope for the best. By making things official it shows a massive degree of professionalism, in my view. In my own experience (which includes negotiations for a deal from a global news provider just two months ago) these kinds of deals to not come cheap. Even some of the major Thai publishers do not have agreements like this. I wonder how long it might be before ThaiVisa thinks about expanding its brand to print?
Regular readers will know how I have covered issues relating to the non-appearance of issues of The Economist magazine in Thailand. On several occasions I have been first with the news that specific editions would not be making it to subscribers and retailers in the Kingdom. Last month The Economist published an online story with the sub-headline 'Where The Economist is censored'. It listed Thailand as the fifth worst offender. The story claimed that eight issues of the magazine between January 2009 and August 2010 were either banned or confiscated. This is simply not true. On seven of these eight occasions, the publishers of The Economist took the decision to suspend delivery to Thailand. And, in each of those seven cases the controversial content remains freely accessible online in Thailand, so who's to say those issues would have been banned anyway? Only one time did issues which arrived in Thailand not make it to readers, and that was down to the distributor of the magazine declining to handle the magazine - again not an official ban or confiscation. I'm not suggesting that these issues would have escaped an official ban had the publishers attempted to distribute them but the data and findings, as they stand in this story, are plainly wrong. Only one issue of The Economist in the last three years has, to the best of my knowledge, been the subject of any official government ban.
New magazines have continued to appear in significant numbers on the shelves in Thailand, however 2010 to date has seen only a few local language licensed editions of global magazines make it to print. Last month, Inside United: The Official Manchester United Magazine launched a Thai edition published under licence from Manchester United Football Club and Haymarket Media Group by Bangkok-based Plus One Media. The first issue was launched in time for the start of the new English Premier League Season and, according to the press release, "gives fans of the club in the Kingdom unrivalled access to their favourite team and its star players old and new". The 100-page magazine will be published monthly and is priced 120 Baht (US$3.92). The club already has close links with Thailand. Not only is there a loyal local fan base but ex-Manchester United star player Bryan Robson is the national team coach, the club has a number of branded restaurants and stores in the country and now a major Thai sponsor. Plus One Media already publishes a Thai edition of Haymarket’s football bible FourFourTwo as well as their own men’s magazine Rush.
There has been no noticeable decline in the number of new launches hitting the shelves in Thailand over the past three or four months. The most recent English language title to appear is Business Report Thailand - a monthly 56-page magazine from Ensign Media. The concept behind this magazine which is edited by Oliver Fall is to provide something new and hard-hitting along the lines of The Economist and global business magazines such as Forbes and Bloomberg Businessweek. Indeed the magazine has contracted with Bloomberg for pictures and a comprehensive data page.PR fluff is something you will not find in this publication. The first issue takes an in-depth look at Thailand's 3G debate (or debacle) and includes an interview with Smith Jingkaojai about Thailand's economy. Prolific blogger Bangkok Pundit has also been recruited to write a monthly round-up of politics in the kingdom. The magazine retails for 120 baht and is offering a free trial subscription to readers in Thailand. Email your details to BRT AT ensign-media.com
Disclosure: I am Publishing Director for Ensign Media.
Over the coming days and weeks, and with my renewed motivation to blog, I'll be writing about some of my experiences during the past three months, not only from Thailand but also from trips to Malaysia and Singapore. In terms of print publishing, things are happening which, in my view, should be adopted in Thailand. The kingdom and its publishers, seem light years behind in some respects when you look at what's happening regionally. Technology has a bit to do with this apparent lack of innovation, but imagination is possibly also missing from the minds of many Thailand-based publishers. If you look at magazines 10 years ago and magazines today there's very little difference, but do a comparison now between magazines in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, and the differences are dramatic.
Stockwave, the Thai language stock news and securities information website, has been purchased by Japanese company Yakimayo Co. Limited. The publication began life in 2001 as a daily (Monday to Friday) newspaper, but previous owners Bangkokstation Network took it entirely online in early 2008 when print publication costs became unsustainable. It subsequently became a stock news provider for the popular Thai portal Sanook.com, and claims 18,000 influential subscribers to its service. Stockwave also provides business news and stock information in Japanese to current and potential Japanese investors. The sale is believed to have happened earlier in October.
Disclosure: Until Nov 2009 I was Executive Director for Bangkokstation Network.
Picture the scene, the foyer of a hotel in Phuket. The event - a conference on aspects of alternative property ownership where yours truly was speaking. And then out of the blue: "Hey, you're The Bangkok Bugle." Not the fact that I'm Managing Editor of Property Report South East Asia, but it's all the motivation I need to re-start blogging. Thank you, Sir. It's been far too long since the last entry, but rest assured that it's not been down to a lack of things to write about. Moreover it's been a lack of time. When I tell you that I have spent just two nights in Bangkok so far this month - and have trips to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City still to happen in the next 15 days, then I hope you'll understand why the Bugle has been a little quiet of late. Thanks to those who have emailed or left messages inquiring about my well being. I'm fine, but have just been incredibly busy with my day job. So, the Bugle is back. Watch out for some minor design changes and, as always, news and information about my life in Bangkok (and the rest of South East Asia), as well as an insight into the media and publishing world.
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.. about the media and publishing industry in Thailand, and I will do my best to assist you. You can email your question to bkkandy AT myway.com.
In the world of publishing competition comes in many forms. In this picture, taken during a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, that competition comes from an unusual source.
