Khaosod English lifted
To great surprise, Khaosod English announced on Saturday that they are stopping. Parent company Matichon pulls the plug on one of the sharpest English-language Thai news sites. The four employees have been transferred to the Thai branch of Khaosod. However, the website will no longer receive updates.
The well-known duo Pravit Rojanaphruk and Tappanai Boonbandit will continue to do their live streams, but from now on in Thai and English together with other Khaosod colleagues. The duo had become very well known in recent months for often being in the right place at the right time, reporting live on many demonstrations and other gatherings.
This was the announcement of Khaosod, which disappeared a few hours later. However, Prawit confirms on social media that it is indeed more or less the end of the story for Khaosod English.
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Announcement: Khaosod English will be disbanded
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that the English division of Khaosod has been disbanded by Matichon Group, the parent company.
We were notified of the decision on Tuesday, March 2. We were told that the Khaosod English has failed to achieve desired profitability and that the company can no longer subsidize the operation amid the current financial situation. This has been exacerbated by the Corona pandemic.
The decision marked the end for Khaosod English (founded in April 2013), after nearly a decade of reporting on Thailand's strange, wonderful and chaotic events.
Nevertheless, some good news: none of our employees have been laid off. Following the dissolution, Khaosod's UK employees have been integrated into Khaosod Online's hugely successful video production division.
From there we will produce bilingual video coverage and live streams of key events. Some videos will be narrated in both Thai and English while others will be subtitled. And yes, acclaimed duo Pravit Rojanaphruk and Tappanai Boonbandit will still continue to host and narrate their video stories together.
Khaosod Online's move to video reporting has proven very profitable and popular over the past few years, and we look forward to working closely with the talented individuals in the [Thai] department. Subscribe to Khaosod's Facebook (here), YouTube (here) and Twitter (here) accounts to follow and support our work.
The Khaosod English website will still be available after the disbandment, although as of today, March 6, we will be discontinuing all news content production on the website.
Existing contracts with our sponsors are respected. Sponsored content and advertorials will be posted on Khaosod English as agreed with our partners.
Pravit's popular weekly column will also continue, but discussions are currently underway about its format and placement. We will update you with the information as it becomes available.
Finally, we would like to thank all our readers for your comments and feedback over the years. We hope to count on your support in our new endeavours.
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Source (taken offline): www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2021/03/06/announcement-khaosod-english-to-be-disbanded/
Finally:
And although this post was later taken offline, former editor-in-chief Pravit confirmed the cancellation today on his personal Facebook page (here). Personally, I consider him to be one of the best journalists who often goes further than many colleagues with his humour, guts and quick wit. Even if there is no room for such journalism at Khaosod in the future, I am sure he will find a new platform. He has previously left The Nation because he could no longer continue to write there freely, and his time in the 're-education camp' of the former Prayuth junta did not bring him to repent.
But all in all it's still very unfortunate, Khaosod English was my permanent home page for news from Thailand. Fortunately, there are still good alternatives. Some recommendations:
Thai Enquirer: https://www.thaienquirer.com/
Thisrupt: https://thisrupt.co/
Prachatai: https://prachatai.com/english/
ThaiPBS: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/
Isaan Record: https://theisaanrecord.co/eng/
If I had a hat, I took it off for the Khaosod English team consisting of Pravit Rojanaphruk, Tappanai Boonbandit, Asaree Thaitrakulpanich and Teeranai Charuvastra. Thanks!
Some hyperlinks were lost during posting. For Prawit's confirmation regarding the dissolution of Khaosod English and a word of thanks, see:
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More information ลอดครับ #ป #ข่าวสดอิงลิช
Time to Say Half Goodbye. Thank you for everything. #whatishappeninginthailand #Thailand #KE #KhaosodEnglish #pressfreedom
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- https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3034738690087295&id=100006535815147
Acknowledgment:
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A Thank You Note To Dear Readers & Viewers of Khaosod English
Image caption (ภาษาไทยอย ู่ด้านล่าง)
The flood of messages expressing sadness at the demise of Khaosod English online news over the weekend touched me deeply and I subsequently feel to write a thank you note here.
Thank you. Thank you for making us know that we have been a part of your life and how you understand what's going on in Thailand, particularly politics and people's politics. It is with a heavy heart for me to type these words to all of you.
Since the management abruptly asked us to help them earn incomes at the Thai-language Khaosod (Thai language) which is the breadwinner, I feel it's only right to less their burden by spending most of the time to help the Thai-language sister.
I and Tappanai (@tappanai_b) will continue to do FB Live coverage as usual, actually even more frequent, although it will be in two languages, Thai and English. That means I can rant less in English.
As I understand, the Twitter and Facebook account of @khaosodEnglish will remain and we will continue to offer some content, particularly FB Live, bilingual news and life-style related video clips and my weekly English-language column every Saturday – so please continue to follow. The English-language Thai-media is larger than Khaosod English and the four of us, myself, Teeranai Charuvastra, Asaree Thaitrakulpanich and Tappanai Boonbandit.
Personally, I will continue to offer whatever I can in terms of brief up date and analysis and my strong opinion on what's happening in Thailand and beyond on my Facebook page: Pravit Rojanaphruk and Twitter @PravitR . Till death or prison do us part, which ever comes first. This I have been doing ever since the Thai junta, led by Gen Prayut Chan-ocha, detained me in an informal facilities for “attitude adjustment” in 2014 and 2015.
My attitude cannot be adjusted and you can expect me to continue to communicate with you on my personal Facebook account Pravit Rojanaphruk and on Twitter @PravitR.
What's more, the English-language Thai media landscape continues to exist beyond Khaosod English or The Bangkok Post. For those still wanting to know about what's going on in Thailand, please check out and follow Thai Enquirer (@ThaiEnquirer), Thisrupt (@Thisruptdotco), Prachatai English (@prachatai_en), The Isaan Record (@isaanrecord), BK Magazine (@ bkmagazine), Thai PBS and Coconuts (@coconuts), where two former Khaosod left earlier and joined the tropical-sounding media outfit.
Again, no words could describe how touched we are by the tributes and this is a reminder that what we did isn't futile, inconsequential or redundant.
With fortitude, I will carry on and make sure that with one door now more than half closed, a new door is to be pushed open and explored with public service in mind. When the then The Nation newspaper asked me to withdraw after over two decades of working there because the Thai military junta, led by Gen Prayut, detained me without charge for the second time in the latter half of 2015, I did not stop. Eventually I was invited by the late Tagoon Boonpan, then deputy chair of Matichon Group, to join Khaosod English on that year.
Journalism is not just a job for me. It's a calling. It's a calling and contract to serve and make the public well-informed, to make society freer, more equal, just and democratic. I am no one's public relations. And I shall find ways to continue to serve.
With that note, merci, thank you, takk, arigatou, danke, spaseeba, komab sumnida, xiexie, shukrana, salamat, terimah kasih and khob khun Maak Krub.
Always have faith in serendipity. This is not a farewell but au revoir!
Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
March 8, 2021
Bangkok
photo ht James of The Enquirer
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ข่าวสดอิงลิช (Khasod English)
March 8, 2564
From James แห่ง The Enquirer
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See: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3036070779954086&id=100006535815147
Today a message from Khaosod on their webpage regarding international women's day. The door is not yet completely closed 100%, but it does not seem that the old situation will return. Shame.
Extremely sorry! I will assume that the parent company is not lying about the reason and that there is no political pressure behind it, because Pravit in particular was the thorn in the side of the junta. Will have to read elsewhere now.
That rumor that 'high above' Khaosod would rather be lost than rich is doing the rounds. Although it was regularly stated under pieces that details had been omitted for 'legal reasons'. Sometimes paragraphs or sentences that were deemed too sensitive were removed shortly after posting. Sometimes a message has completely disappeared. Sharp but with the oppressive Thai legislation hardly ever over the edge… So whether the fanfare has a point here or whether it is just wild rumours? Wait and see.
Very unfortunate, indeed, Rob V. Nice summary also from other English-language news sources about Taailand and other Southeast Asian countries. But luckily we also have the Bangkok Post! Why don't you name it?
The Bangkok Post, isn't that that quality magazine that a number of good sponsors pay a lot of money to cover the high costs?* The opinion & columns section is often well worth it. The rest.. not really in my eyes. But everyone's taste. A conservative or 'good writing over what the government has to say' media also has its value in seeing what is going on in parts of Thai society. Watch out for a one-sided picture, so for me it is not a recommended primary source for social and political news items.
If someone asked me to advise only 1 single English-language news source with regard to Thailand, it was Khaosod English with punctual number 1. That now seems to be largely the end of the story, even if one continues in another form under the Khaosod Thai/online wing. A loss!
*annual figures: https://www.bangkokpost.co.th/corporate_info/financial-statement
It's a pity.
It was an interesting source of news, with the right democratic slant.
Pravit Rojanaphruk had become a benchmark for committed and reliable journalism.
This is Thailand, unfortunately.
Too bad, very unfortunate… Another piece of reliable information that can be retrieved with one simple mouse click, that disappears….
Too bad they don't continue. I took them seriously and had confidence in the reporting.
It is a great pity that this newspaper is disappearing in the English form. In my opinion they gave a good representation of the events in Thailand. It was daily business for me to read their stories. Now switch to one of the other English-language magazines mentioned by Rob V.
Today, Prawit said in a live video* that "technically speaking" Khaosod English has not been disbanded, but that most of the staff must work for Khaosod Thai: 80% Thai, 20% English. How exactly one still has to figure out.
The first result is already visible: today and yesterday there were 2 pieces. Of which 1 is taken from a press agency (AP) and the other a short piece of my own. So the time for written pieces is very limited. Facebook live reports can be bilingual Thai and English so that can stay a bit more active. “I can't let loose in English as much” (I can't rant as much) Pravit said yesterday.
Khaosod English may not be officially dead yet, but it continues on a pretty low profile. DIn practice, that is the end of what made them so unique: daily extensive reports on various subjects that play with hardly a mincemeat.
* see: https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/videos/762390824415619
Thaivisa.com, which often took over messages from Khaosod, has also been offline for a few days. I don't know if there is a connection...
A FB message from ThaiVisa says the following
Sorry for the inconvenience but Thaivisa is currently undergoing a server upgrade.