If their presses aren’t underwater, paper supplies or delivery routes are – Bangkok’s daily newspapers are doing it tough in the ongoing flood crisis.
The ‘Nation’ website, www.nationmultimedia.com reports that transportation problems are leading to slimmer or cancelled editions with some publishers in the city forced to move trucks to higher ground.
GXpress understands that while the ‘Daily News’ print site is operational, supplies of press consumables have become a problem. Others, like ‘Thairath Daily’ – which has a large circulation in the north of Thailand – is having difficulty getting trucks out.
Nation says the crisis in Bangkok is forcing publishers to cut down editions and move vehicles to higher ground. The newspaper itself has slimmed down editions and made a free PDF version available for subscribers. The Bangkok Post has also announced more reduced-size editions, while the daily ‘Naew Na’, based on Vibhavadi Road, is reported to have suspended some printed editions in favour of an online.
While ‘Daily News’ has moved vehicles to higher ground, it is reported to be making sure every subscriber gets a printed copy every day, according to a source quoted by Nation.
Both it and ‘Matichon’ – which has offices in the Chatuchak district – are said to be exploring alternative printing facilities.
A variety of initiatives are in place to help staff affected by the flooding: Daily News was reported to have been using its trucks to give lifts to employees “until it became impossible”, while some publishers are providing shelter, food and cash aid.
Nation says it is providing shelter at its headquarters on Bang NaTrat and Bt10,000 in assistance to staff members whose homes are flooded, while Matichon is also providing shelter to its evacuees and planning cash aid.
Quoting an editorial source, it says about 200 staff members and their families have moved into the Daily News office and are provided with four meals every day.
“If you visit, you will see an active atmosphere day and night. It has become our home, and everybody is doing their best," the source said.
• GXpress regional manager Stephan Peters is renting a house to the south of the city after floods swept through his Bangkok home, rising to a reported 2.5 metres.