Pichai Chuensuksawadi
The media man of multiple facets
There are always interesting stories about the life and profession of those who have been making waves in the world of news media.
Pichai Chuensuksawadi, editor, Bangkok Post is the one here who shared his motivating story in a tete-a-tete with SK Khurana, editor, All About Newspapers immediately after the
Publish Asia 2014 at Hong Kong.
Pichai Chuensuksawadi worked as a newsman and journalist for over 30 years, starting off as a proofreader with Bangkok Post. Since then he has held various editorial positions ranging from copy and layout editor to feature writer, foreign affairs reporter, editor of op-ed pages, editor of perspectives before finally becoming news editor in 1992. In 1984, he spent a year as a reporter with Baltimore Sun in Maryland, USA under the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship.
After he briefly left journalism to work as special assistant to ASEAN secretary-general Dato’ Ajit Singh at Jakarta in 1993-1994, he then decided to return to journalism as editor of Bangkok Post (1994-2002). Thereafter he was promoted to editor-in-chief in 2001 to launch the group’s Thai-language business daily Post Today in 2002. In 2010, he assumed another position of managing director of Post News – a Post affiliate company which co-produces eight hours of Thai-language television news each day on the government-owned National Broadcasting Services of Thailand or Channel 11. At the same time, Pichai co-anchored on Bangkok Post Morning Focus – a daily commentary television programme on news analysis in English on Channel 11 since May 2010. However, the programme discontinued on February 10, 2012.
In October last year, Post launched its third newspaper called M2F (Monday to Friday) – a tabloid distributed free to 200 offices in inner Bangkok, on BTS and subways, with an audited circulation of 4,10,000 copies a day. Then in January this year, the board asked Pichai to re-assume the position of editor of Bangkok Post and be responsible for its day-to-day editorial operations. Currently, he is holding two positions – editor-in-chief of Post Publishing, which publishes Bangkok Post, M2F and Student Weekly, and editor of Bangkok Post, a position he re-assumed on January 01, 2014. His first term as editor of Bangkok Post was 1994-2002.
Other positions Pichai has been in so far include: board member and executive committee member of WAN-IFRA; chairman of WAN-IFRA Asia-Pacific Regional Committee; chairman of Bangkok Post Foundation; chairman Phud Hong Leper Foundation; chairman of Bangkok Post Provident Fund; and former board member of the Press Council of Thailand (1998-2002).
Here is an excerpt on what he revealed about The Post Publishing which he has been successfully responsible in the capacity of editor-in-chief so far and other issues related to news media industry today.
AAN: From how many printing locations your esteemed publications including Bangkok Post are produced?
Pichai: We have only one printing plant located in Bang Na on the outskirts of Bangkok. This printing plant prints all three of our newspapers – Bangkok Post, Post Today and M2F.
The magazines are not printed at this plant but by our commercial printing plant and outsourced.
AAN: What is the total staff strength dedicated to editing, production and marketing at The Post Publishing?
Pichai: For reporting and editing our staff can break into Bangkok Post (173), Post Today (155), M2F (31), editorial administration for the three newspapers (18), Student Weekly (8), The Magazine (9), Post International (200 for Elle, Elle Men, Elle Decoration, Fast Bikes, Science Illustrated, Cycling and Forbes – all monthly magazines in Thai) and Post ACP (24 for Cleo – monthly magazine in Thai), Post News (260 for television programming). For production, we have a total staff of 90 and 60 in marketing. So, the total staff at The Post Publishing is 1,472.
AAN: What are the challenges currently faced by newspaper establishments in Thailand?
Pichai: Increasingly, newspapers in Thailand are being challenged by the rise of the internet and now social media. Circulation is affected although advertising revenues remain stable. The rise in use of social media is aided by the penetration of mobile phone technology, including smart phones and tablets, particularly in Bangkok and urban regional centers. However, in rural Thailand, television, radio and newspapers are the main sources of news and information. Newspapers in Thailand need to expand and find additional sources of revenue and for this reason all main newspaper groups have charged head on into television and television programming. All were involved in the bidding for 24 new television channels up for auction at the end of 2013 and currently testing programmes which will go full on air in May 2014.
AAN: What have been the activities of The Post Publishing on multimedia platforms?
Pichai: Bangkok Post and Post Today have been involved in multimedia platforms for years. Efforts continue to improve our websites which include text news, photos and videos. Both newspapers have daily SMS services and news accessible via mobile and tablet applications. Both newspapers continue to develop Facebook pages as well. But M2F does not have a website as it is a free newspaper but relies heavily on Facebook to spread its brand and message. Discussions are under way for some of the content of the three newspapers to be developed and adjusted for television programmes.
AAN: What do you opine about the significance of printed newspapers in the current online era?
Pichai: Newspapers cannot afford to rely purely on print. It is essential and crucial that newspapers think about its readers and viewers and ways and means in which they consume news and information. There is no set formula for success. Examples in the west may not necessarily apply in Asia. Even in Asia there are marked differences on the impact of social media and right responses by newspapers. How newspapers in the region respond depends on many factors including the local environment and market in which the respective newspapers operate.
AAN: Please update us on neighbourhood newspapers in Thailand, if they are becoming significant?
Pichai: No, they are not! There are local newspapers published in urban regional cities but once every two weeks.
AAN: How do you see the future of WAN-IFRA activities in Asia?
Pichai: I do believe that WAN-IFRA activities will continue to try and serve the needs of newspapers and news media in the region. Our issues and needs differ from those in the west and other regions of the globe. There are also differences within each of our respective markets. WAN-IFRA will try to find common concerns and issues and try to support its members’ needs like training programmes, etc.
