The spacious grounds at the Khum Khantoke Lanna Cultural
Center in Chiang Mai were filled to capacity as the well-wishers for our new
newspaper, the Chiangmai Mail, were added to the normal throng of
patrons at the Lanna dining salas.
Whilst most of the people present were the residents of
Chiang Mai, there were also many people who had traveled up from Bangkok and
Pattaya and other parts of Thailand to help the Chiangmai Mail Publishing
group “wet the baby’s head” while they proudly displayed the new
newspaper.
Chiang
Mai Governor Pisit Ketephasuk welcomed the new Chiangmai Mail to the
northern community.
Wannapa
Wannasri (2nd right) representing Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Advisor to the
Minister of Tourism and Sports, offers a bouquet of flowers for good luck to
the Chiangmai Mail team.
Chiang
Mai Governor Pisit Ketephasuk cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially launch
the new publication, as the Chiangmai Mail team proudly looks on.
Thailand
writer extraordinaire Peter Cummins (left) explains something in detail to
good friend, and the first Pattaya Mail editor, Chuck Pringle who now lives
in the North, as Pattaya luminary Ib Ottesen listens in.
Chiangmai
Mail CEO Xanxai Visitkul (right), Managing Director Michael Vogt (center
right), Executive Manager of Marketing and Communications, Marion Vogt
(left), and Daisy Vogt (2nd
right) welcome in the new Chiangmai Mail.
(from
left) Pattaya Mail MD and now Chiangmai Mail GM Peter Malhotra met up with
his long-lost cousin Pichit Bharatbhumikul and friend Dr. Jaspal at the
party.
(From
left) Pat Vajrasevee, general manager of Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort, Dr
Iain Corness, executive editor of Chiangmai Mail, Wachara Tantranont,
president of Thai Lanna Food and Cultural Centre Co., Ltd, and Surapol
Thabthong, the Gap’s house.
Now a proud Chiang Mai resident and managing director of
the Chiangmai Mail, Michael Vogt introduced the executive committee
to the people of Chiang Mai, starting with the chief executive officer,
Xanxai Visitkul and the chairman of the board, Norachai Prasertmanukitch.
The lanky American and very well experienced media person, Dan Dorothy, who
is president and editor-in-chief was presented next, followed by general
manager, Pratheep (Peter) Malhotra, an experienced newspaper publisher.
Noted international columnist, Dr. Iain Corness and the executive manager of
marketing and communications, Marion Vogt, were presented next followed by
the local ‘man on the ground’ and editor, Phitsanu Thepthong.
The enthusiastic young team of Thai journalists,
newshounds, office and sales staff were not forgotten either, coming up on
stage, showing that the Chiangmai Mail is a real newspaper, employing
very real and experienced personnel.
Here
they are – the new Chiangmai Mail team.
(L to
R) The public relations officer of the Maeping Police Station attended the
party and gave his best wishes to the new Chiangmai Mail team, here
represented by Michael Vogt, managing director and Marion Vogt, executive
manager of marketing and communications.
CEO
Xanxai Visitkul, Chairman of the Board Norachai Prasertmanukitch,
President/Editor-in-Chief Dan Dorothy, and Executive Editor Dr. Iain Corness
proudly introduce the new publication.
(From
left) Phitsanu Thepthong, Pongphan Chongyosying, general manager, Amnart
Chongyosying, editor and Junploy Srikonte, marketing manager of Northern
Daily Time, Pratheep “Peter” Malhotra and Norachai Prasertmanukitch.
(From
left) Silke Keil, manager of Linda Guesthouse, a journalist from Offenburg,
Germany, and Michael Vogt.
Surapol
Thabthong, Pat Vajrasevee, Chartchai Nivatsayavanitch, and Lek Sarakam of
the Empress Hotel.
From
left: Norachai Prasertmanukitch, Naruemol Prasertmanukitch, Sarawut Sea Teow,
Mr Thaworn Kietchaiyakorn, senator, vice-chairman of the Committee on
Budget, Mr Chatwararat, Mr Monchai Tesapaet, editor of Thai News daily and
Thani Suwattana, editor of Chiangmai News daily.
(From
left) Xanxai Visitkul, Norachai Prasertmukitch, Sasikarn Chantana of Bangkok
Post’s Chiang Mai bureau and Wachara Tantranont.
Governor Pisit Ketephasuk, in his address, welcomed the Chiangmai
Mail to the province, saying that the mass media had always had a very
significant part to play in getting important messages through to the
community and as a gauge of the thoughts and needs of the populace. By now
including the English speaking expat population, this showed good progress
in the society and he gave his blessing to the new venture and hoped that it
would be able to serve the community well for many years to come.
The following is a translation of Pisit Katephasuk’s
speech, the Governor of Chiang Mai:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to report that
Chiang Mai City now has one more newspaper for the locality. It is evident
that the print media in Chiang Mai has long been accepted by the general
public as the way to inform and educate our residents.
“While Chiang Mai has several local newspapers to serve
the public, and act as an indicator of public opinion, on this occasion, it
makes me very proud that the Chiangmai Mail is not only a newspaper
of local origin, but is also one backed by experienced professionals in the
mass media.
“They have jointly established the Chiangmai Mail,
a newspaper which looks quite different from the other local publications,
as it is published in English.
“Therefore, this newspaper is very significant as it
will have an increasingly active role to play in the locality as Chiang Mai
and neighboring provinces strive to promote tourism in this region to the
English speaking tourists.
(from
left) Suvimol Sukantha, Thani Suwattana, Chusak Namhansawong, deputy general
manager of the Imperial Maeping Hotel, and Lek Sarakam of the Empress Hotel.
(Sitting from left) Chusak Namhansawong, Ms U, Pat Vajrasevee, Pimolphan
Singhara na Ayuthaya, Naruemol Prasertmanukitch and Suchada Senasuthiphan.
Columnist
Christina Dodd (left) and Chiangmai Mail President/Editor-in-Chief Dan
Dorothy are all smiles that the second edition made it to print.
(From
left) Chiangmai Hills Hotel staff and Natthatira Boonpaepol, public
relations officer, with a local Northern Daily Time newspaper reporter and
Thani Suwattana of Chiangmai news.
Arkom
Suwankantha (left), editor of Chiang Mai Review weekly, Phitsanu Thepthong
(center) and a representative form Chiang Mai chamber of Commerce.
Pravit
Arkarachinores (left), the Honorary consul of Austria, wishes the new
Chiangmai Mail “Viel Glück” (good luck) as he visits with Chiang
Mai governor Pisit Katephasuk.
May,
Tat, Meow and Gay pour over the 2nd
edition of the Chiangmai Mail.
“Moreover, there is a large number of English speaking
expats living in this region, carrying out business operations and other
government services, with Chiang Mai City especially being the location of
several foreign consulates. This new newspaper will be of great benefit to
these people.
“Chiangmai Mail will also provide benefits to
Thais as well as foreigners, providing news and information on the local
scene, and will inform the tourists of the traditions, and culture of Lanna
people.
“This newspaper has information, from both government
and private sectors, including an analysis of the news, articles and
opinions, in depth reports, as well as several interesting magazine style
columns and features.
“Finally, I congratulate the Chiangmai Mail team
that has launched this new local newspaper and I encourage this youngest
newspaper to serve the North as well as it possibly can in the English
language. I ask for your blessings for the Chiangmai Mail staff, that
they will create a newspaper that will be successful and serve this
community for many years to come.”
Following his address, Governor Pisit cut the symbolic
ribbon, to the acclamation of the new news- paper and the party of
well-wishers.
