Todd Ruiz, a veteran reporter and Coconuts Media alum, has rejoined the team to lead editorial operations in Bangkok.
Ruiz, who departed four years ago to build Khaosod English, brings journalistic rigor and a track record of winning content to deliver the goods to followers of Coconuts Bangkok.
“It was very exciting once we knew we’d be getting Todd back on the Coconuts team,” Coconuts Media Editor in Chief Chad Williams said today. “Having someone with that kind of track record and deep roots in the Thai news scene is a huge boon for both us and our audience. And in just a few short weeks, we’re already seeing the impact of having him back at the helm.”
Since Ruiz rejoined Coconuts, he’s hit the ground running, with stories looking at the future of Patpong and its flesh trade, allegations of staggering vote-buying in parliament, elderly expats forced out by new rules, swanky new joints, and real talk about Bangkok’s unique frustrations.
Ruiz said he’s excited by the challenge of raising the bar at Coconuts Bangkok while getting to work alongside like-minded people and channel his own passions about the city.
“My pathological need to tell stories about this city I love, and provide people things they can’t get anywhere else are perfectly aligned with Coconuts,” Ruiz said. “It’s a real treat getting to work again with all these enthusiastic and talented people throughout Southeast Asia to make that happen.”
Ruiz, 44, was managing editor of Coconuts Bangkok from 2013 to 2015 before being recruited by Thailand’s Matichon Group. He began journalism in Afghanistan in late 2001 to report on the early days of war there. He graduated with honors in journalism from the University of La Verne and worked through most of the noughties at newspapers in Los Angeles. He’s lived in Bangkok since 2009 and has two cats.
To get a sense of what’s coming, we asked him a few questions about the editorial future of Coconuts Bangkok, the site that started it all for Coconuts.
Where do you want to take Coconuts Bangkok?
Bangkok is one of the world’s most interesting cities, and no one is doing a good job telling its story. Every one of its millions of residents has a story that touches on the bigger themes of migration, economics, culture, politics, identity. I want to find more of those stories rather than chase the bouncing beach balls of daily media fixation. We also need to strengthen the fundamentals, so our first goal is to be the first source of hard news. Finally, our lodestar is serving readers by being an indispensable and entertaining source of information for everyone, no matter how long they’ve called Bangkok home.
Coconuts has moved to a reader-supported model since you were here last. Straight talk: How do you feel about that?
It only makes sense, and I fully support it. Habits are changing and behaviors emerging for people to directly support what they consume, whether its streaming television services, listener-supported podcasts or Patreon-backed video games. This company is filled with talented people who derive joy from creating good things to share with people. They deserve to earn a living. I don’t know anyone who works all day for something then gives away for free. So I think it’s happening everywhere, though Coconuts may be ahead of the curve in this media market. But there is one major caveat to all that: It demands giving people stuff they can’t get elsewhere. Coconuts Bangkok has had an uneven history delivering on that. I’d encourage those who’ve stopped following to take a fresh look.
What’s coming up that readers can look forward to?
Photos of my cats every day. That and practical information to make the most out of living in this city, whether you’ve been here two years, 20 or the whole of your existence. Also, we’re about to announce a fun new project to aurally pleasure our audience. Finally, I want to thank our readers for their support and appeal to them to let us know what’s going on in their neighborhood and soi.
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