PHUKET'S NEWSPAPER WARS
Newspaper wars could be about to break out on the island of Phuket with the launch of a third weekly English language publication last week.
The Phuket News made its debut on March 4 and joins The Phuket Gazette and The Phuket Post. The newcomer claims to have more than 200 sales outlets across the island, and more than 150 complimentary distribution points.
Competition for readers and advertisers is already hotting up. The Bangkok Bugle has been told stories of several sales outlets that have been refused copies of the established Gazette if they sell copies the News.
News' Executive Editor Alasdair Forbes, a former Gazette editor, told me he was so far unaware of any incidents where outlets have been forced to choose.
What is clear is that Phuket, with its three English weekly newspapers, a myriad of magazines, half-decent radio stations and numerous websites such as the respected and award-winning Phuketwan, is a hot-bed for news junkies.
For journalists and editors the challenge is going to be finding the exclusives that haven't previously appeared ten times over. That's when good contacts will come into their own.
2 comments:
Is the Phuket Post weekly now?
It used to be every 2 weeks for a long time.
I heard it has had some overhauls over the past 2 years but not seen a copy recently as I am not in Phuket.
The Phuket Post is not a weekly -- it is a fortnightly paper, but lately the Post issues are appearing days, even weeks later than scheduled. Not sure how well it will fare with the addition of the News.
The Phuket News has a link listing its entire distribution vendor list. Handy for its competitors!
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