Like many journalists, Bangkok Post Editor-in-Chief Pichai Chuensuksawadi took up the pen to make a difference to people’s lives.
During his reign, the Post has called on Prime Ministers to resign, revealed corruption and campaigned for a new constitution.
But it was a feature story The University of Queensland (UQ) journalism graduate wrote about a blind man’s vision to build a school for the visually impaired that brought him most satisfaction and pride.
After his story, the man received donations for land and built the school which now has 400 students in one of Thailand’s poorest regions.
At age 14, Mr Chuensuksawadi was sent to Brisbane for an education.
“I was wondering why Australia. . .The only thing I could summise was that he did a lot of bowling and the professional at the bowling centre was Australian,” Mr Chuensuksawadi told graduates at UQ’s first Bangkok graduation celebration in September.
“I didn’t realize at the time how lucky and fortunate we were to be given the golden opportunity which many Thais even today are unable to enjoy.”
After spending his father’s money, Mr Chuensuksawadi worked up and down the east coast of Australia in factories, ports, pubs and on building sites.
“What I did learn was how ordinary Australians lived, what their hopes were, what their aspirations were,” he said.
“These are lessons I’m sure which have helped me at certain times to deal with the work and the challenges which I faced since I returned home.”
After graduating from UQ, he became a proofreader, writing for Bangkok’s afternoon daily The Bangkok World and morning daily The Bangkok Post.
The Post, Thailand’s highest circulating English language newspaper, is unusual because 60 percent of its reporting is done in Thai before being translated into English.
In downtimes, Mr Chuensuksawadi rewrote stories and translated interviews for other reporters, often more senior.
After seven years, he went to the US for a year to work at The Baltimore Sun.
He made good friends, wrote lead stories and developed an American accent he hasn’t shaken since.
He returned to the Post to work as the foreign affairs correspondent, news editor then led its investigative reporting section.
Now as Editor-in-Chief, Mr Chuensuksawadi sets the Post’s content and policies.
He is also the Chairman of the international newspaper body IFRA Asia Pacific Regional Committee.
He said the standard of Thai journalism had improved but all newspaper editors in Thailand were still required to have a licence from the police chief.
“They check your underpants and see what colour you’re wearing,” the 49-year-old joked.
He said he had learned to trust his reporters and ask for their sourcing.
“You make mistakes. You always do. You try and learn from mistakes and you treat people as people.
“Your reporters are most important. They’re the lifeblood of any newspaper no matter how high you go.”
He said he planned to make some adjustments to some Post sections in a new redesign.
He was also exploring radio and TV possibilities and looking at launching another Thai mass circulation product after the success of Post Today, launched three years ago for young, educated Thais.
In September, as guest speaker at UQ’s inaugural Thailand graduation celebration in Bangkok, Mr Chuensuksawadi asked graduates to improve the welfare of the Thai people and serve society.
UQ based in Brisbane, Australia, is Queensland`s oldest and largest university which consistently ranks as one of Australia`s most outstanding research and teaching and learning universities.
Media: contact Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (+61 7 3365 2619, m.holland@uq.edu.au)
