Khaosod

Khaosod
TypeDaily Newspaper
FormatPrint, online
Owner(s)Matichon Publishing Group
Founded9 April 1991
Political alignmentCenter-left, Liberalism[1]
LanguageThai
Websitehttps://www.khaosod.co.th/

Khaosod (Thai: ข่าวสด, RTGS: Khao Sot, pronounced [kʰàːw sòt]; literally meaning 'fresh news' or 'live news') is a Thai daily newspaper with national circulation. Its online version is Khaosod Online. Khaosod is the youngest paper of the Matichon Publishing Group which also operates two other daily news publications, Matichon and Prachachat.[2]

Description

Khaosod is more mass-oriented and upcountry-focused in style than its sister newspapers in the Matichon Group. Its circulation records show 950,000 copies sold per day.[3] Despite heavy features on crimes, local affairs, and entertainment like other major national newspapers (such as Thai Rath and Daily News), the newspaper also remains keen on political and social issues similar to its sister newspapers Matichon and Prachachat. Khaosod is managed by Kanchai Boonparn, who also oversees the Matichon Group as a whole.

Khaosod is currently[as of?] the third-bestselling newspaper in Thailand. Additionally, the online edition of the newspaper experienced a 98 percent rise in number of visits in 2010.

Khaosod first came to prominence in 1994 for its extensive coverage of the cover up murders of a Thai gem dealer's wife and her son. Details later emerged, partially due to Khaosod's reporting, that Lieutenant-General Chalor Kerdthes of the Royal Thai Police ordered the pair abducted and subsequently murdered after failing to extract information concerning the fate of the Saudi Blue Diamond from the pair. Initially reported by many newspapers as a roadside accident, Khaosod insisted otherwise from early on. Lieutenant-General Chalor and several other police officers were arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to death (the sentences were later reduced to 50 years of imprisonment). Khaosod was awarded Best News Feature from the Isra Amanantakul Foundation in that year for its coverage of the incident.

Khaosod English

Khaosod English is a news website operating as Khaosod's English-language arm. It was launched on 9 April 2013, and is known for its liberal standpoint and its criticism of the 2014 military government;[4][5][6] the Union of Catholic Asian News has described it as "a beacon of independent journalism in Thailand".[7] Its staff include senior staff writer Pravit Rojanaphruk and de facto editor Teeranai Charuvastra. Khaosod English has a more focused target group than its parent, and has a monthly readership of about 200,000.[1] The site republishes reports from the Associated Press and Kyodo News.[8][9]

In August 2019, the site was criticized in Foreign Policy for a deal (made together with its parent) to republish content from the Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Roney, Tyler (28 August 2019). "Chinese Propaganda Finds a Thai Audience". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. ^ "เกี่ยวกับข่าวสดออนไลน์" [About Khaosod Online]. Khaosod Online. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ^ Thongtep, Watchiranont; Pratruangkrai, Petchanet (2016-10-19). "Newspapers covering HM's death become collector's items". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2017-01-10. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ^ "About Khaosod English". Khaosod English. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. ^ "A Conversation with Pravit Rojanaphruk about the Right to Converse – the NCPO is 'camouflaging' their repression". Freedom of Expression Documentation Center. iLaw. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Pravit Rojanaphruk, Thailand - International Press Freedom Awards". cpj.org. Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Thai reporters, editors axed as press freedom declines". UCA News. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Associated Press, Author at Khaosod English". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. ^ "Kyodo News, Author at Khaosod English". Khaosod English. Retrieved 2020-11-03.