THE MEN BEHIND THE NEWS
Editing a newspaper in politically turbulent Thailand is no job for the faint-hearted. Here five former Bangkok Post editors recall the challenges and rewards of their time at the helm
Iwas appointed editor of the Bangkok Post by the board of directors in May 1989 after 26 years of working for the newspaper.
I started working at the newspaper on Nov 7, 1963, before Lord Thomson, the newspaper mogul, bought 90% of its shares.
I was the youngest reporter and the whole editorial department, including copy boy, editor, subeditors, proofreaders and photographers, totalled only 18 people.
Harry Frederick was the managing editor. The eight-page afternoon newspaper had a daily print run of 3,000 copies and the deadline for reporters was 1pm. The paper cost 1.50 baht on the newsstands.
Lord Thomson paid 500 baht a share at 100 baht par. He posted on the blackboard at our office on Ratchadamnoen Road that he would sell his shares to staff at 500 baht with no limit on purchase.
The best thing about the deal was that staff would not have to pay cash right away because the company would deduct a maximum of 10% of their salary each month to pay for their purchase.
But surprisingly no staff bought a single share. That’s because they did not understand stock investment and their salaries were very low in 1964. I had a salary of 1,200 baht, which was just enough to live on in those days, while colleagues at other Thai and Chinese-language newspapers were paid just 700 baht.
One thing I was proud of in my 34-year career with the Bangkok Post is the part that I played in getting the paper to change from an afternoon to a morning paper.
I can’t remember what year it was but one afternoon I proposed this to city editor Theh Chongkhadikij, who was my boss and mentor. I told him that Thai people don’t like to read in the afternoon. All the afternoon papers — Siam Rath, Chao Thai,
Siam Nikorn — did not sell as well as morning papers that included Pim Thai, Sarnseri and Sieng Ang
Thong (later to become Thai Rath). Khun Theh proposed the change to Trevor Latchford, the managing editor, but he did not agree with it. Khun Theh later told him that he was willing to gamble with his position if the paper did not sell well as a morning newspaper. Latchford yielded and on the first day that the Bangkok Post became a morning newspaper 27 foreigners called in to subscribe.
When Khun Theh resigned in 1989, I was asked to step in as editor, which I had not expected. I asked them for a night to think it over. The next morning Samrit Chirathivat, then chairman of the board, called and said to me: “Khun Bandhit, you have to take the post.” I accepted without conditions.
The next day I called a meeting with all the senior staff at the paper, including Pichai Chuensuksawadi, Veera Prateepchaikul and Sonchai Nokeplub, and told them to carry out their duties as before.
I was happy because these people were highly responsible and two of them, Khun Pichai and Khun Veera, were later to become Bangkok Post editors. Khun Sonchai had health issues and retired from the paper as deputy editor a couple of years ago.
Being appointed editor was the proudest moment in my professional life as a journalist.