EDIT: I mean, people know who I am. Talking dirty will only come back to bite me.
Edited by vanalli, 2009-02-04 13:48:41.
Phuket Gazette
Started by pagallim, 2009-01-30 22:57
#51
vanalli
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-04 13:46:37
To be honest, there is such a thing as diplomacy and not slinging mud for the sake of it. Sometimes it's better to bite your tongue.
EDIT: I mean, people know who I am. Talking dirty will only come back to bite me. #52
DrDave
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-04 14:46:23
With all the discussion and criticism of the Phuket Gazette I've seen over the past few years, I find it curious that nobody ever mentions the other local English language "newspaper" - the Phuket Post.
I don't buy or read either one, but looking at both websites, the Phuket Post looks like more of the same (and perhaps even weaker on the news front). Just curious as to why the Gazette is always singled out, while nobody ever mentions the Post. #53
ItsPhuketTownNotCity
Member Posted 2009-02-04 14:51:00
With all the discussion and criticism of the Phuket Gazette I've seen over the past few years, I find it curious that nobody ever mentions the other local English language "newspaper" - the Phuket Post. I don't buy or read either one, but looking at both websites, the Phuket Post looks like more of the same (and perhaps even weaker on the news front). Just curious as to why the Gazette is always singled out, while nobody ever mentions the Post. Well, I've never met any disgruntled/p*ssed off ex-Post employees as opposed to the Gazette; witness Chris Husted's going away party - by and large there was one common denominator of the attendees. #54
ItsPhuketTownNotCity
Member Posted 2009-02-04 14:59:14
To be honest, there is such a thing as diplomacy and not slinging mud for the sake of it. Sometimes it's better to bite your tongue. EDIT: I mean, people know who I am. Talking dirty will only come back to bite me. ""There is no reason why readers can't send letters to the editor and make suggestions. If you don't like something in the paper, tell them -- they will listen." There's a small chance they will listen, a smaller chance that they will think about it, and an almost nil chance that they will act on it. Only when ad revenues drop will any action be taken. "...I understand that those guys have been pulling some long hours in recent months". Phuket Gazette employees have been putting in long hours since the dawn of time. Nothing new there. You are trying to defend the indefensible and put lipstick on a pig. I have no clue who you are but I resent the false situation that you are attempting to portray about the Gazette. Bite my tongue? Have we reached the point that truth is verbotten? #55
phuketjames
Member Posted 2009-02-04 15:58:32
I don't think the Gazette is actually owned by Nation. The two have an agreement, but Nation doesn't own PG. I also don't think it's true that PG is told what it can and cannot print. The decision to focus more on softer stories is purely editorial and can be attributed, at least to an extent, to a change in managing editor. I don't know if you are all aware of this, but the PG experienced a huge turnover in staff not so long ago. A lot changed at PG, so I think you have to cut them some slack while they are finding their feet, so to speak. There is no reason why readers can't send letters to the editor and make suggestions. If you don't like something in the paper, tell them -- they will listen. I have my own thoughts about the direction the PG has gone. I tend to be more picky about style, such as the lack of unfamiliarity in the datelines, use of grammar, spellings and so on, but I understand that those guys have been pulling some long hours in recent months and they are doing the best they can. Not all decisions are good, but they do work hard to produce the end copy. Staffing has always been an issue at the Gazette, but it looks as if they now have a team who should be able to work towards better things. Well, you or your life partner must be one of the 3 remaining Gazette staff that existed some months ago (most quit or were fired). The cause of the continuous turnover in staff is that the owner, Mr. Magoo, sucks the life out of the employees until they quit (or are fired on unreasonably and on unlawful grounds) and never gives his employees the tools to do their job properly. He is only interested in keeping costs down as low as possible while sucking money from advertisers. The new Managing Editor has no newspaper experience, no experience living in Phuket, no knowledge of Thai or Thai culture, and is basically clueless but he is a great butt-licker. They do no more local crime news solely because they have no on-the-ground reporters any longer. They have more outside-Phuket news than local news because their only means to get news is to borrow/steal from other publications. Oh, yeah, they do have freelancers that contribute, but most of them don't even live in Thailand and the articles are generic pablum. There is a huge demand and hole for local news. To be honest, I get mine from ThaiVisa and Phuket-info forums which, at present, are the best news sources. Phuketwan needs more daily content and it could easily surpass PG, but as long as advertisers keep paying lots of cash for advertisements, nothing at PG will change. Too bad. Mr. Magoo invested lots of cash in PGTV, which nobody watches, and a new office opening soon that will become an echo chamber because of lack of employees to fill it. That money could have been put into ground reporters, cars for ground reporters, camera equipment, police scanners, and other stuff that would have made it top-notch and second to none. 'Nuff said. The new managing editor has lived in Phuket for years and speaks and reads Thai, you obviously have some sort of a grudge against him. The Gazette reports all the crime that it finds out about. All the other Thai language newspapers have police scanners and so are able to get a lot of information this way. The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. If you know of a crime then telephone the Gazette and tell us about it and we will write about it. I mainly do sports writing but if something is interesting I will write about it. If any of you have any ideas for stories please contact me. My name is James Goyder and i will make sure I check my messages on this forum regularly. The Gazette is limited by teh fact that it has a small staff and is on a small budget but we do the best we can with teh resources we have. I agree that there is currently too much 'general' news and not enough which is specific to Phuket but this is something we are trying to redress. The Gazette makes its money from advertising, not from sales, so it is inevitable that there are going to be a lot of adverts. It seems to me that some of the criticism here is valid, but a lot of it seems to come from people who are personally disgruntled with the gazette for whatever reason. The people that are there now are doing the best they can with the resources they have. #56
ItsPhuketTownNotCity
Member Posted 2009-02-04 17:03:43
The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. If you know of a crime then telephone the Gazette and tell us about it and we will write about it. The people that are there now are doing the best they can with the resources they have. Quite funny. I thought police scanners would be used in cars ready to go to the crime scene; oh, but wait, you have no reporters, and if you did have reporters, they would not have Gazette-supplied cars. Hmmm, the OP was about the Gazette not reporting crime stories any longer. So, you are taking your own initiative? And you take phone-in stories? Maybe you should get together with the ME and owner and check this out first. Listen, this is nothing personal. I am sure you are all working yourselves to the bone and I'm not taking anything away from that. Good luck. I'll ping you in 6 months and see if you are still there. 
#57
phuketjames
Member Posted 2009-02-04 19:53:50
The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. If you know of a crime then telephone the Gazette and tell us about it and we will write about it. The people that are there now are doing the best they can with the resources they have. Quite funny. I thought police scanners would be used in cars ready to go to the crime scene; oh, but wait, you have no reporters, and if you did have reporters, they would not have Gazette-supplied cars. Hmmm, the OP was about the Gazette not reporting crime stories any longer. So, you are taking your own initiative? And you take phone-in stories? Maybe you should get together with the ME and owner and check this out first. Listen, this is nothing personal. I am sure you are all working yourselves to the bone and I'm not taking anything away from that. Good luck. I'll ping you in 6 months and see if you are still there. Cheers. I don't get too involved with the politics of the paper, mainly i just write. I don't know where the story has come from about the gazette only reporting a certain number of crime stories but this is the first I have heard of it. I know that the Phuket Post has a more magazine style editorial policy because I have spoken to the editor about this. Of the two newspapers the Phuket Gazette is far more willing to publish 'hard' news, such as crime reporting. There are certain stories that are easy to go out and find. I interviewed someone at the public health office about HIV in phuket yesterday and this will be published soon. I have also interviewed Thailand manager Peter Reid and Australian boxer Michael Katsidis and both these articles will appear soon. We are doing everything we can to find stories like this. I was the only journalist who interviewed Peter Reid while he was in Phuket. In terms of crime, short of putting a reporter on every street corner at night, what can we do? If i see something happen I will write about it but otherwise we are dependent upon what the police choose to tell us and what members of the public phone in. And like i said before, if anyone has an interesting story, let me know and i will write about it. I think all local newspapers are dependent to some extent on receiving information from the general public and the Gazette is no different. Like I said, I only write I am not involved editorially but feel free to send me any feedback and i will pass it on to the relevant people. I'd like to think I will be at the Gazette for 6 years, let alone 6 months, because I really like my job, but I guess only time will tell! #58
Syl
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-04 21:08:30
The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. If you know of a crime then telephone the Gazette and tell us about it and we will write about it. The people that are there now are doing the best they can with the resources they have. Quite funny. I thought police scanners would be used in cars ready to go to the crime scene; oh, but wait, you have no reporters, and if you did have reporters, they would not have Gazette-supplied cars. Hmmm, the OP was about the Gazette not reporting crime stories any longer. So, you are taking your own initiative? And you take phone-in stories? Maybe you should get together with the ME and owner and check this out first. Listen, this is nothing personal. I am sure you are all working yourselves to the bone and I'm not taking anything away from that. Good luck. I'll ping you in 6 months and see if you are still there. Not very good advertising your papers name on vehicles, if the drivers drive like complete idiots with no respect for other road users!!! Maybe one day your be doing your own story about one of your cars involved in an accident!!! Makes me want to buy a paper straight away.  Syl. #59
NBT TV Phuket
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-04 22:01:40
" I was the only journalist who interviewed Peter Reid while he was in Phuket." Not true. See our Andaman News interviews of Peter: http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=921 or http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=932 or http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=841 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--ztTYG9gY plus of course there were several Thai reporters interviewing him too during his recent visits. As for crime, we also rely on our Thai reporters and Thai police for most information, but we also welcome any suggestions from viewers. However we do not show some of the gory/bloody images seen in some Thai newspapers and even on some Thai TV channels. #60
phuketjames
Member Posted 2009-02-05 01:31:28
" I was the only journalist who interviewed Peter Reid while he was in Phuket." Not true. See our Andaman News interviews of Peter: http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=921 or http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=932 or http://thainews.prd....php?news_id=841 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--ztTYG9gY plus of course there were several Thai reporters interviewing him too during his recent visits. As for crime, we also rely on our Thai reporters and Thai police for most information, but we also welcome any suggestions from viewers. However we do not show some of the gory/bloody images seen in some Thai newspapers and even on some Thai TV channels. I stand corrected. I was the only person asking questions in english during the press conferences... #61
ItsPhuketTownNotCity
Member Posted 2009-02-05 02:22:27
Talking about Phuket Gazettes little cars!!! Could you please ask your drivers to slow down a bit when driving around Phuket. And stop your drivers jumping to the front of the queues at traffic lights? Not very good advertising your papers name on vehicles, if the drivers drive like complete idiots with no respect for other road users!!! Maybe one day your be doing your own story about one of your cars involved in an accident!!! Makes me want to buy a paper straight away. Syl. Syl, Those are the Phuket Gazette TV (PGTV) cars you are talking about. PGTV is a completely separate elite entity and anybody at the newspaper is way too much of a commoner to be afforded the pleasure of driving those little spanking new white sh*tboxes. The only way a Gazette newspaper reporter could use a car would be to use their own, at far below the standard corporate price for reimbursement for petrol and maintenance; plus, that mythical reporter would have to take full responsibility for any accident whether it was their fault or not. And that's using their own vehicle. Sounds like a place that I want to work :-) #62
Syl
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-05 02:40:31
Talking about Phuket Gazettes little cars!!! Could you please ask your drivers to slow down a bit when driving around Phuket. And stop your drivers jumping to the front of the queues at traffic lights? Not very good advertising your papers name on vehicles, if the drivers drive like complete idiots with no respect for other road users!!! Maybe one day your be doing your own story about one of your cars involved in an accident!!! Makes me want to buy a paper straight away. Syl. Syl, Those are the Phuket Gazette TV (PGTV) cars you are talking about. PGTV is a completely separate elite entity and anybody at the newspaper is way too much of a commoner to be afforded the pleasure of driving those little spanking new white sh*tboxes. The only way a Gazette newspaper reporter could use a car would be to use their own, at far below the standard corporate price for reimbursement for petrol and maintenance; plus, that mythical reporter would have to take full responsibility for any accident whether it was their fault or not. And that's using their own vehicle. Sounds like a place that I want to work :-) Maybe if they slow down a bit, I could read the sign better! Syl #63
Will080
Newbie Posted 2009-02-06 01:44:58
Sorry to go over old ground, but I've been reading the Gazette for a fair few years now and I'm shocked at how quickly it has gone downhill over the last few months. It was never perfect but I always thought it did a reasonable job for a small local paper. Now it's full of mistakes, the style seems to change every week and the news is no longer deserving of that name. It's not worth the 25 baht anymore, I've stopped buying the paper version. Much as admire your loyalty James, I guess you've not been in Phuket that long. The Gazette did use to cover news pretty well. Now it just seems to be all adverts dressed as news or no-interest stories that would never have been in a couple of years ago. What happened? I hear they have a new editor. Who is he? Did they drag in the first bored English teacher they could find? In the last month or so it seems to have got even worse. I guess other people must have noticed the pathetic attempts to link national stories to Phuket. The paedophile one, the Rohingyas the university sex - did any of them have a genuine link to Phuket? The link of the arrest of the ukranian in Phuket with the Thai in the US was most laughable. Hopefully things will be put right soon. If the Gazette had any real competition, I reckon they'd really be in trouble now.
Sort it out before it's too late! #64
vanalli
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-07 07:36:53
I don't mean to pick this apart, but the ME has been there for about a year and a half, no? What you are saying is valid, but the Gazette announced on its own website a policy of reporting less crime. Who made that call and why the backtrack now? Personal disputes work both ways, too. I've noticed at least two cheap shots taken at Phuket Wan in Gazette stories.
You seem to have your head screwed on. I hope you'll impose some journalistic values on the current product.
The new managing editor has lived in Phuket for years and speaks and reads Thai, you obviously have some sort of a grudge against him. The Gazette reports all the crime that it finds out about. All the other Thai language newspapers have police scanners and so are able to get a lot of information this way. The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. If you know of a crime then telephone the Gazette and tell us about it and we will write about it. I mainly do sports writing but if something is interesting I will write about it. If any of you have any ideas for stories please contact me. My name is James Goyder and i will make sure I check my messages on this forum regularly. The Gazette is limited by teh fact that it has a small staff and is on a small budget but we do the best we can with teh resources we have. I agree that there is currently too much 'general' news and not enough which is specific to Phuket but this is something we are trying to redress. The Gazette makes its money from advertising, not from sales, so it is inevitable that there are going to be a lot of adverts. It seems to me that some of the criticism here is valid, but a lot of it seems to come from people who are personally disgruntled with the gazette for whatever reason. The people that are there now are doing the best they can with the resources they have. #65
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2009-02-07 07:51:59
Could you highlight the 'cheap shots' at PW ?
I am neither a booster or a knocker of PG.. I dislike elements of it (property spam, the terrible investment advice page, etc) but its the best we have. If you want to make it better keep them in the loop with local gossip and stories, I have found them pretty receptive to article ideas and news stories. Yes I think they need more feet on the ground smart reporters, but show me a better one. But if there is sniping of competition that would lower my impression to be honest. #66
ItsPhuketTownNotCity
Member Posted 2009-02-07 14:39:48
I don't mean to pick this apart, but the ME has been there for about a year and a half, no? I am not familiar with the hierarchy and titles, but Chris Husted used to be the top editor (I believe) and he used to manage people and I believe he answered to the owner, so I assume he was the ME. He left PG a month or so ago to take a job in Brunei. Looks like the Upper Crust of PG is reading this thread - it has put up lots of articles on their web site the past couple of days. #67
vanalli
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-07 14:54:05
I don't mean to pick this apart, but the ME has been there for about a year and a half, no? I am not familiar with the hierarchy and titles, but Chris Husted used to be the top editor (I believe) and he used to manage people and I believe he answered to the owner, so I assume he was the ME. He left PG a month or so ago to take a job in Brunei. Looks like the Upper Crust of PG is reading this thread - it has put up lots of articles on their web site the past couple of days. Husted was with PG for about seven years I think. The guy who replaced him arrived in Phuket about a year and a half, maybe two years ago. #68
phuketjames
Member Posted 2009-02-07 18:37:39
Could you highlight the 'cheap shots' at PW ? If you want to make it better keep them in the loop with local gossip and stories, I have found them pretty receptive to article ideas and news stories. Absolutely bang on. #69
jimbob
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-07 21:09:56
Could you highlight the 'cheap shots' at PW ? I think they dismissively referred to it as a "local blog" while using it as a key source for a story a few weeks ago. While it is a "local blog" I find that the news reports are often a much higher standard than the PG. #70
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2009-02-08 07:27:21
Well I think PW in its effort to be prompt has been sloppy with details a few times, tho its not like the PG has ever got facts wrong
!! PW seems happy to try for 'hard news' I just wonder if that will continue when he upsets someone.. The gazette has a tough row to hoe in that regard. Too many entrenched power bases etc. Personally the happy happy fluffy pro property news isnt good for the paper to me. #71
Ping
Cynical Member Posted 2009-02-08 09:06:48
The Gazette reports all the crime that it finds out about. All the other Thai language newspapers have police scanners and so are able to get a lot of information this way. The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. Really? I'm curious as to why the offices of PG attract so much police interest... #72
HorseDoctor
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-08 14:52:28
Could you highlight the 'cheap shots' at PW ? I am neither a booster or a knocker of PG.. I dislike elements of it (property spam, the terrible investment advice page, etc) but its the best we have. If you want to make it better keep them in the loop with local gossip and stories, I have found them pretty receptive to article ideas and news stories. Yes I think they need more feet on the ground smart reporters, but show me a better one. But if there is sniping of competition that would lower my impression to be honest. Yes, when Richard Watson mentioned the USA housing crises as a" mere blip" about a year and a half ago, I knew he was misinformed. When he went on to push buying property in Malaysia, without mentioning he owns property on Panang , I knew he was not to be trusted. I was glad to see Momma Duck " Farang " advice get axed, that was ridiculous, but the new " love advice" column is actually nauseating in its banality. Lately the police really seem to be saying some ridiculous and entertaining stuff in the Issues and answers - Unfortunately it never gets to the online edition Why not have a phone in comment section, Citizenvoice we called it at my home town paper, It was very lively and interesting . And please get rid of the sexist cartoonist. NO every western male is in Thailand to get laid, right? Right? #73
LivinLOS
Shaved Member Posted 2009-02-08 17:24:42
Yes, when Richard Watson mentioned the USA housing crises as a" mere blip" about a year and a half ago, I knew he was misinformed. When he went on to push buying property in Malaysia, without mentioning he owns property on Panang , I knew he was not to be trusted. Back when gold was under 400 USD an ounce I was talking to him and he told me what a bad bet that would be and didnt want to write any kind of article on gold.. so 900 plus USD and all time highs in EUR GBP AUD CAD etc  Also the Brandeaux property fund he was pimping, with its 10% per annum returns, has closed all redemptions and wont let investors cash out to 'protect equity values' !!! Of course he wont print that in his column even after giving them repeated free press for 5 years. Edited by LivinLOS, 2009-02-08 17:25:25. #74
phuketjames
Member Posted 2009-02-08 18:42:11
The Gazette reports all the crime that it finds out about. All the other Thai language newspapers have police scanners and so are able to get a lot of information this way. The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. Really? I'm curious as to why the offices of PG attract so much police interest... I assume its because the gazette is ocassionaly critical of 'powers that be' in phuket. Ill check and get back to you on that. #75
vanalli
Senior Member Posted 2009-02-09 09:38:39
Since when have PG's offices been regularly raided?
The Gazette reports all the crime that it finds out about. All the other Thai language newspapers have police scanners and so are able to get a lot of information this way. The Phuket Gazette cannot have them on the premises because the offices are regularly raided and they are illegal. Really? I'm curious as to why the offices of PG attract so much police interest... I assume its because the gazette is ocassionaly critical of 'powers that be' in phuket. Ill check and get back to you on that. |
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