Thai Rath

Thai Rath ( _th. ไทยรัฐ, lit. "Thai State") is a Thai-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok and distributed nationwide. The paper is a broadsheet published with two sections. The first section is devoted to news. Although the news section is best known for its sensationalist coverage of crime and accidents, it also includes stories on Thai politics, economy and society. The second section features coverage of sport and entertainment. "Thai Rath" is the oldest and best-selling newspaper in Thailand, claiming a circulation in excess of 1 million copies daily. [Company website, [http://www.thairath.co.th/about/data_thairath/data.htm About Thai Rath] ]

History

"Thai Rath" was founded on 25 December 1962 by Kampol Watcharapol. Kampol had started two other newspapers, "Khaophap Raiwan" (ข่าวภาพรายวัน), which were shut down by the Thai government in 1958. He then ran "Siang Ang Thong" (เสียงอ่างทอง) from 1 May 1959 to 25 December 1962.

=Political stance= The newspaper's political page had supported Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the policies of his Thai Rak Thai Party since he came to power in 2001. Towards the end of 2005, however, the page shifted its editorial stance and started to air views more skeptical of the government. [Krongkaew, Medhi (February 10, 2006), [http://www.anu.edu.au/thaionline/Political%20Crisis%20in%20Thailand.pdf "Political Crisis in Thailand"] , transcript of seminar presentation, National Institute forDevelopment Administration, for the National Thai Studies Centre, Australian NationalUniversity.] In the aftermath of the General Election of April 2, 2006, "Thai Rath" welcomed Thaksin's resignation announcement, arguing in an editorial that Thaksin should acknowledge that "The election result showed that the anti-Thaksin feeling had actually spread out among city residents who had a democratic mind and opposed all types of (alleged) corruption". [Channel NewsAsia, [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/201633/1/.html "Thai media welcome Thaksin resignation, urge end to rallies"] , April 5, 2006.]

References

External links

*http://www.thairath.co.th