Siam Rath, one of Thailand’s oldest newspapers and weeklies, has announced that it will end its print era and transform into an online media outlet, to stay abreast of the rapidly changing media landscape.
The last print edition of the daily will be on August 29, while the final issue of the weekly will be published the following day, the Editorial Team announced today.
Siam Rath was founded by the late former Prime Minister M.R. Kukrit Pramoj and Sala Likikul in 1950, originally priced at 50 satang.
One of its best known columns was ‘Soi Suanplu’, written by Kukrit himself. ‘Soi Suanplu’ was the name of the Soi where Kukrit’s residence was located.
Siam Rath has been known for its critical stance toward the military and various governments.
In the announcement, titled "Siam Rath: A New Chapter of Commitment and Adaptation," the editorial team claimed that Siam Rath, a newspaper born of the unwavering determination of Major General M.R. Kukrit Pramoj, has remained in the hearts of Thai society for over 75 years.
Throughout its history, it has been a quality media outlet, committed to truth, accuracy and responsibility to the public. Over the decades, it has served society by delivering comprehensive news coverage, reflecting the political landscape, the economy and the lives of the people, while consistently standing by democracy through every era, they postulated.
The statement noted, however, that the media landscape today is changing rapidly and news consumption has fully entered the digital age. The editorial team say that they recognised the need for a major transformation.
Starting September 1, the paper will fully transition from print to digital media, to reach modern readers anywhere, anytime through its website, social media and various multimedia platforms.
The editorial team pledged to remain committed to the paper’s founding principles, namely delivering quality journalism with diligence and social responsibility.
They say that this transformation is not a change in identity, but an evolution of Kukrit’s vision. It is moving with the times and forging even closer connections with readers.
Siam Rath is the latest print media outlet to migrate wholly to digital, following The Nation, ‘Kom Chad Luek’ and Post Today.
