Chatwan Mongkok Digs Into Bangkok with His 'Soiciety' Newsletter [S8.E12]

Greg and Ed interview Chatwan Mongkol about his relatively new website called 'Soiciety.' Chatwan begins by explaining that he was born and raised in Thailand but then went to the U.S. for a year of high school and stayed on for university. He majored in journalism and (shock!) subsequently worked for several news outlets in the Northeast. During his time there he saw a type of news that Thailand lacks: truly LOCAL news that focuses on important practical matters that primarily affect people living in a particular city or region. Hence, 'Soiciety' was born!

The website is in English, but is primarily based on Thai sources of information. Chatwan has chosen to focus on matters directly relevant to people living in Bangkok - not international news, not national Thai news, not abstract political stuff. Does it affect the daily life of people living in Bangkok? If no, it's out, if yes, it's in. Further, currently his audience is made up of foreign English speakers, but he's hoping to expand into international Thais, and in the future could even provide Thai language content if the market is there.

Greg and Ed moderately bash the current quality of English language news sites in Thailand, and heartily support the idea of focusing on stuff of immediate practical value. Is a skytrain station being planned for my neighborhood? I want to know that. Are alcohol sales hours being changed in the city? I'd like the answer. Is the city doing anything about the air pollution? Please tell me. You get the idea, and if you live in Bangkok, you could probably use some 'Soiciety' in your life too.

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