FLICKR SNAPPER GETS COMPENSATION

Today Online in Singapore reports today about a photographer who has successfully obtained compensation from a publisher who 'took' an image from his Flickr account and published it in a magazine.

An image created by William Cho was used in the May edition of Jetstar Magazine, and after a tip-off he appears to have been successful in getting S$750 in compensation from publishers Ink Publishing.

Speaking to Today Online he said: ""It is the way that they try to sneak around that makes me angry. I could have given my photographs for free but at least people should ask".

The fact is that a number of magazine publishers use Flickr as a useful source of free images. Flickr uses Creative Commons licensing, and depending upon the level chosen by the user in some cases there's actually no need for a publisher to make payment or even contact the photographer for approval prior to re-publishing an image. The only thing required to use more any of more than 27 million images currently available under the 'Attribution' license is a credit or by-line.

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MODEL CAMPAIGN WINS GOLD IN CANNES

One Thailand winner at this week's 58th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity was the Bangkok-based Creative Juice TBWA advertising agency.
The team, led by Chief Creative Officer Thirasak Tanapatanakul, collected a prestigious Gold Lion for its Assembled Calendar project for model brand Tamiya.
Other Golds for Thailand went to Euro RSCG and Sound Art Bangkok.
Thailand often touts its ambition to be a creative hub for the South East Asia region. For sure there are some extremely creative people in the Kingdom, however these talents are rarely reflected in wins in world-class awards events.

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NEW LAUNCH: WOMEN'S HEALTH THAILAND

The May edition of Women's Health Thailand

Women's Health Thailand magazine became the latest Thai language licensed edition of an overseas magazine when it launched here last month.

Published from the U.S. by Rodale, the local language edition is published by Media Transasia who, in October 2006, launched the Thai language edition of companion title Men's Health.

The publisher, in its press release, said the magazine would benefit from an initial print run of 120,000 copies. In an interview with The Nation it also expressed its aim to attract 20,000 subscribers in the first year.

Despite my personal skepticism that the magazine will achieve this lofty goal, it does benefit from one of the most attractive subscription offers I've seen from a Thai magazine. A one-year subscription is available for 600 baht with a free branded gym bag worth 350 baht. Kudos to the publishers for creating an attractive subscription offer, although achieving 20,000 inside a year will be next to impossible. That would mean attracting more subscribers than the Bangkok Post and likely the second-best subscribed magazine in Thailand behind Reader's Digest Thailand.

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THE CURSE OF PUBLISHERS AND BOOKSHOPS

A typical display of magazines in a Thai bookshop

The increasing number of bi-monthly, quarterly and even half-yearly magazines on the shelves in Thailand is bad news for newsagents and other publishers alike. And I can't imagine readers are particularly happy either.

The cost of having one title occupying valuable and increasingly scarce real estate on the jam-packed bookshelves is a considerable one for retailers. It's also a bad thing for publishers of weekly, bi-weekly and monthly titles who have to battle for space with these long term residents.

Perhaps retailers in Thailand should impose a 'one month maximum' limit on magazines with a shelf life of more than 30 days? After all, a significant number of publishers don't care how many copies they sell - they'd rather have the exposure on the shelves for marketing purposes.

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HOW MANY COPIES IN THE SHOPS?

Depending on where you look it's relatively easy to find the number of copies of newspapers and magazines being supplied to individual shops.

This image, albeit a grainy one taken on my iPhone, was snapped recently at a leading bookshop in Bangkok. It clearly shows the number of copies of some newspapers and magazine being supplied. This delivery note was pinned to the top of a pile of newspapers and magazines, and clearly available for anyone to read. It also shows the price, and the level of commission payable per sale.

Here you can see that 30 copies of number one Thai language daily newspaper Thai Rath were supplied, along with two copies of business monthly magazine Leader Time and five copies of the bi-weekly English language newspaper Pattaya Mail.

I'm guessing that publishers will be in two minds about this level of data being on display. Those claiming vastly exaggerated sales will be appalled whereas those with decent levels of distribution will not be too bothered.

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THAILAND'S BEST iPAD MAG SO FAR

Serenade magazine is probably the best iPad magazine produced from Thailand I've seen so far - and I've seen a lot.

What's interesting is that this Thai language magazine is produced by phone company AIS and not a traditional or experienced publisher. It's also free. Publishers in Thailand - take note.

Earlier the week the Bangkok Post reported how the quarterly magazine is aiming to ".. showcase the development of the digital magazine industry ..". It's doing exactly that, making the most of video, images, 'drag-able' text and other interactive features. AIS is hoping 20,000 users will download the magazine.

 Anyone interested in digital publishing should really download Serenade and see what is possible. It's availabe from the App Store by searching 'serenade'.

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WANTED! ELEPHANT REPORTER

Are you a talented reporter aged between seven and 15-years-old?

Anantara Resort in Hua Hin has launched a search for a young journalist to report on the Elephant Polo which will be happening in Hua Hin, Thailand, in September.

The winner of the hunt for a roving elephant reporter will become a star of the elephant polo circuit, delivering international coverage of the games from a VIP pitch-side seat. Exclusive interviews with Cherry the Elephant Vet and Director of Elephants John Roberts will allow the winner to investigate behind the scenes with Anantara’s most experienced elephant gurus.
To enter this elephantastic competition you need to submit/upload a short video lasting between one and two minutes to www.facebook.com/anantara. Press “Like”; Go to ‘Share’ on the main wall; Click ‘Video’, where you have a choice of recording a video with your webcam or uploading a pre-prepared video and explain why you should be chosen as Anantara’s roving elephant reporter. Alternatively you can mail a CD to I Want To Be An Elephant Reporter, Anantara Hotels, 18th Floor Berli Jucker House, 99 Soi Rubia, Sukhumvit Soi 42, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.

The contestant with the best video entry as voted by Anantara's elephant experts will be invited to spend seven fun filled nights on a full board basis with an accompanying adult at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, including return flights, accommodation, daily activities and transport.

Contestants must be aged between seven and 15 years-old and videos need to be between one and two minutes long. Contestants can be of any nationality but need to present their video in English. Entries must be submitted by August 1st and the winner will be announced on August 4th. The winner needs to be available between September 4 and 11.

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SCIENCE ILLUSTRATED SET TO DEBUT

Post International Media is set to launch Science Illustrated Thailand magazine this week.

As exclusively revealed by this website in April, the Thai language edition will be the latest licensed magazine to appear on the shelves in Thailand when it makes its debut on Friday. A print-run of 25,000 copies and a cover price of 110 baht has been announced by Bonnier, the overseas publishers who originally launched the title in 1984.

Post International Media, a division of Post Publishing - the publishers of The Bangkok Post - currently has local language licensed editions of Elle, Elle Decoration, Cleo, Marie Claire and Martha Stewart Living magazines in its portfolio.

This will be Thailand's first licensed local language science magazine, and arguably the most niche publication to appear so far. It will be interesting to see the level of advertising it is able to attract.

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NEW MAGAZINE, BARGAIN SUBS OFFER

Alpha Southeast Asia is the latest publication to join the ranks of Thai language business magazines.

The Hong Kong-based title was launched in January 2007 and is now expanding its reach by way of local language editions of the publication which, according to its website, is the first and only institutional investment magazine.

The June 15 - July 15 Thai language edition runs to 52 pages and sells for 100 baht. Advertising, as you would expect from a niche title, is light.

What's interesting is the subscription business model this publisher employs. Ten issues (1-year) are available for 2,000 baht directly from the publisher - that's double the price you'd pay buying each issue from Asia Books!

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THAI SUPPLIES MARKET MAGS

Magazines which appear on sale at Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market are mostly supplied to the stallholders by Thai Airways, The Bangkok Bugle understands.

Copies of current editions of global magazines appear on sale for a fraction of their cover price, but until now it was believed that cleaners and airport staff were responsible for taking copies off incoming aircraft and selling them on to market stallholders. Whilst this does happen, the vast majority of magazines are 'officially' supplied by Thailand's national flag carrier.

The Bangkok Bugle now understands there is an official contract offered by Thai Airways which provides the highest bidder with twice-weekly supplies of magazines from incoming aircraft and other sources. Copies include magazines destined for airport lounges, copies supplied for in-flight reading and copies left on board by passengers.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Thai Airways right to sell copies of magazines this way? As a publisher, what's your view that 'free copy' magazines aimed at passengers may end up for sale in this way? Leave your comment and join the debate.

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MEDIA WORK ?

Are you a journalist or writer looking for full-time or freelance writing opportunities in Thailand?

In response to increasing demand, The Bangkok Bugle will shortly be introducing a new page where writers and journalists can list 80 words about themselves and their skills with a view to attracting work from publishers. The service is free and anonymous as The Bangkok Bugle will handle initial inquiries and forward them accordingly.

The Bangkok Bugle is the only English language news website focusing on publishing and media issues in Thailand, and often further afield. Since May 2006 it has been attracting visitors from around the world. Now, more than five years on, the website is attracting an average of 650 unique visitors per day - most of whom have an interest in media.

If you are a journalist or writer seeking full-time or freelance opportunities primarily in Thailand, please send no more than 80 words to sell yourself to potential publishers to bkkandy AT myway.com. Please include your real name in your email, although this does not have to be included in your 80 words.

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THE MONKEY MAGAZINE MYSTERY

Whatever happened to Thailand's Monkey magazine?

Just two years ago I wrote about how, with more than 11,000 active subscribers, the page-flipping licensed local language edition of the U.K. lads mag, could be the way forward for traditional publishers. Editor Dom Chotivanich told me how Monkey would be the start of bigger things.

Now it's nowhere to be found. The former URL has been inactive for several months or more and my inquiries to Dennis Publishing, owner of the Monkey brand, have remained unanswered.

If Monkey has disappeared in Thailand it's a sad waste of 11,000 fans of the brand. Monkey was the first entirely page-flipping magazine to appear and likely the last.

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MACWORLD: SO VERY DISAPPOINTING

I don't think I have ever been so disappointed with a magazine.

I picked up a (bagged) copy of Macworld while I was in Hong Kong last week. I was tempted by the cover and the promise of reading "How the iPad is transforming the media". I don't have a Mac but I have an iPad and iPhone and, of course, am passionate about all things media.  I thought it would be a good read.

But how utterly disappointing. I was expecting some kind of analysis and reports based on the cover headline. What I got was simply pathetic. There's a two-page look about 'Twelve ways to publish to the iPad", a one-page list and short reviews of "The top 10 magazines on the iPad" and three pages of promotion about how and why you should read Macworld on your iPad. There was nothing that I didn't already know.

Obviously I was expecting too much. I wonder if I should write to the publisher to demand a refund of my HK$102 based on their misleading cover?

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BABY SAYS 'UP YOURS' TO THAI ELECTION

I've got to share this with you. This is the latest poster to appear close to my home in Bangkok, promoting a candidate in the Thai general election which is set for July 3rd.

I did a double take when I saw this for the first time yesterday evening, and yes - this is the 'up yours' V-sign as opposed to the V-for-Victory gesture.

The number of posters on the streets has increased significantly during the past week, and are also constantly changing to bring new messages. In some places the posters also include dogs and monkeys.

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TIME OPTS TO RESELL UNSOLD MAGS

TIME magazine is the latest publisher to offer offer copies of previously unsold issues as a bagged 'Combo Pack'.

Last week I wrote about Newsweek's bargain offer where copies of weeks-old issues were repackaged with the current issue. TIME's initiative in Hong Kong is slightly different in that two old copies - from March 28 and May 2 - are packaged and sold for HK$75 as part of a 'Combo Pack' offer. The current issue - dated June 13 - is being sold individually for the normal news stand rate of HK$55.

 My personal feeling is that newsagents should refuse to take copies of anything other than current editions of magazines. What's the point of trying to selling copies which didn't sell the first time around? There's little enough space on the shelves anyway without giving these issues a second chance.

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POST, NATION GET MYANMAR DISTRIBUTION

The Bangkok Post and The Nation, Thailand's two English language daily newspapers, have begun official distributed in Myanmar.

A report in the Myanmar Times details how a local distribution company will be importing 20 copies of each newspaper, targeting embassies, hotels, businesses and newspaper publishers in Yangon. The number of copies will be increase in response to demand, the report says, and copies will be delivered no later than 4pm each day once they have been censored by government authorities.

“We have to struggle to compete against agents in [the market for] international newspapers. Cleaners take copies of the Bangkok Post as they sweep the plane after Thai Airways’ flights land in Yangon International Airport,” said U Myo Aung, the Managing Director of the Success International distribution company. News vendors buy up these copies, fix them up and then resell them around Bogyoke Market.

There's something familiar about that. Swap Myanmar for Thailand and Bogyoke for Chatuchak and that's exactly what happens with magazines here.

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FREELANCE WRITERS WANTED

The Chiang Rai Times is looking for freelance writers. Payment will be per word. Presently the publication is online although there are plans to produce a print edition once a sufficient online following has been developed. 

Contact info AT chiangraitimes.com with your resume for more details.

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IMPORTED MAGS: THAILAND VS. SINGAPORE

Imported magazines are expensive no matter where in the world you are. Shipping costs and import taxes all play a part in adding to the retail price of magazines from Europe and the United States being sold in Thailand, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia.

I've looked at a number of magazines in recent weeks, and cover prices are marginally more expensive in Singapore compared to Thailand.

One example is Tap!, a magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing. The cover price in the UK is £5. In Singapore the magazine sells for S$15.90 which equals £7.83. In Thailand the same magazine sells for 375 baht - or £7.51.

Exchange rates also play a part in this comparison, although in general imported magazines cost more in Singapore. And in general imported magazines cost roughly three times more in both countries than the locally-produced equivalents.

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