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The newspaper has weathered the storm and is poised to continue providing its readers with the breadth and depth of coverage in its existing sections.
The year 2000 was eventful for the newspaper and the Bangkok Post continued to live up to its reputation of providing fair, accurate and up-to-date reporting and analysis of local and international developments. Equipped with a new editorial system that passed the Y2K test with flying colours, the newspaper was able to respond efficiently to the needs of covering major events efficiently and swiftly.

Apart from daily coverage of the Board of Investment Fair, the Bangkok Post was charged with producing the English-language show daily, while at the same time providing extensive and in-depth coverage of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, held in Bangkok. The UNCTAD meeting was held soon after the disruption of the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle, where non-government organisations strongly questioned and protested current trends and the impact of globalisation.

The issue of globalisation – its pace and impact – was particularly pertinent to Thailand, still undergoing painful recovery as a result of the economic crisis that started in 1997. Globalisation and economic recovery – as well as the push for self-sufficiency and sustainable development – were fundamental issues that would be constantly debated in 2000.

But more importantly, the year 2000 would go down as a watershed year for Thailand because, for the first time in decades, there was debate over its future political and economic direction. It was also a historically significant year because it was to be a year of elections – the Senate, the Bangkok Governor and general elections. Although the general elections were eventually held in early 2001, the period marked the first test of the new constitution.

The Bangkok Post covered these crucial events in greater depth than in the past. Apart from covering the politics of politics, a conscious effort was made to focus on fundamental issues – the who, what, where, when, why and how of policies. Local news, Business and Outlook teams organised a series of roundtable discussions, where representatives of political parties attended to present – and be questioned about – not only their policies, but how they planned to implement them.

Attention centred not only on economic issues, but key civil social issues as well. Supplementing the roundtable discussions were in-depth interviews with leading political leaders and decision-makers that provided an added dimension to the daily news coverage of the election year, particularly in the lead up to the general elections in 2001.

A major highlight of the Bangkok Post’s coverage of the elections was the inaugural Annual Economic Review Forum, organised in August and held at the United Nations Conference Centre. This comprehensive one-day conference, under the theme “What Next”, aimed to provide clear views of the country’s political and economic future to the over 500 Thai and expatriate business leaders who attended.

Keynote speakers included then Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanhaeminda, Senator Mechai Viravaidya, Economist Manu Bhaskaran and then Prime Ministerial Contender Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra. Apart from the keynote addresses, five panel discussion groups were organised on the Agro-Food Industry, Information Technology and Telecommunications, Automobiles, Banking and Finance and Real Estate, in which leading businessmen in each field participated. The forum was a success and is expected to be held annually as a venue for government leaders to meet the Thai business community to discuss and debate future directions of the country.

Looking ahead, the year 2001 will be a challenging and promising year. The economic crisis is still smouldering, but the newspaper has weathered the storm and is poised to continue providing its readers with the breadth and depth of coverage in its existing sections. The year 2001 will go down as one where the newspaper will start to introduce new content that would clearly distinguish and enhance the Bangkok Post’s position as the leading English-language daily in the country and one of the most respected in the region.




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© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2001
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