A reader has just sent me the link to ‘Media in Thailand’ – a summary of the Fourth Estate here by Wikipedia. This review had me chuckling not least because of its entry about the Pattaya Times – slogan ‘News you can use!’.
In its initial blurb about newspapers it mentioned the Nation and Thai Post, but no mention at all of the Bangkok Post.
Top of the list of English language online newspapers is the Pattaya Times of which it says: ‘The news is unbiased and focuses on entertainment, business, headlines and sports. The Pattaya Times is the only foreign-owned Thailand newspaper. It is the flagship publication of the Pattaya Times Media Corporation’
Then again at the top of the list of Thai language online newspapers up pops the Pattaya Times again!
This time it says: ‘Although American owned and managed the Pattaya Times has more than 30 Thai staff educated oversees (sic) who post Pattaya times articles on the website in Thai.’
Whoa. Has some internet freaky been working overtime or what?
The Thai language website for the Pattaya Times has not been updated for the last month, and I cannot find 28 of those 30 staff. Indeed they will have trouble sitting on the four chairs provided in the room above owner Drew Noyes’ ‘PAPPA’ legal office.
Last month its real editor,a Chinese American, walked out along with two Filipinas recruited on www.tagged.com, and in this issue I cannot find anything by Jason ‘G’Day’ Griffiths, so I am guessing he left too.
Wikipedia claims the circulation of the Pattaya Times is 40,000. Somehow I do not think that is audited. Noyes would be lucky if he sold 400. His claim of 500,000 is up there alongside “I am the most credible and reassuring person to have made Thailand my home.”
Actually posters who have already read my last story ‘Exposed: How an American businessman sold government homes for the poor in Thailand’ will know that its registered editor, Wanrapa Boonsu, does not really write anything in English at all and what appears under her name was merely lifted from other newspapers and websites.
Then I after receiving the email, I thought, well it’s a quiet news day, lets carry on with this. So I started checking other bylines.
Wow! In a place, where ‘you just can’t make it up’, they just have.
It appears that Drew Noyes has produced a totally fake newspaper by click and paste, merely so he can show his face as a newspaper proprietor at social events, and use his personal clout against his enemies, or alternatively try to ingratiate himself with Thai ‘influential friends’ in his one story of the week.
The only stories of any argueable news value in the newspaper, though dated, are, with the exception of two, lifted from other news organisations websites, including the BBC, CNN, and MCOT. His book and film reviews are lifted, as are the IT and Health Columns., and his Food Writer…well, read on. No surprise then that the Pattaya Times virtually no staff….but of course Noyes says he was invited to Thailand ‘by royal decree’
Here’s a run down:
Page One: Splash by Drew Noyes (with his picture byline) who claims to have a degree in journalism from Knoxville University, Tennessee. This is based on one of endless interviews with the city mayor Ittipol Khunplume and announces ‘Booming Pattaya becomes ASEAN’s international hub” when, it adds later, “Thailand joins the community in 2015″. Pattaya will of course not become ASEAN’s hub
“Local long time foreign businessmen are quite aware of the major changes taking place in Pattaya and are aligning Pattaya with sister cities to increase investments into Pattaya,” writes Drew Noyes. Who says?
“We are linking Pattaya with Angeles City and hopefully Las Vegas as trilateral sister cities,” says Pattaya People Media Group managing director and entrepreneur Neils Colov, following his recent visit to help promote relationships.
Well that says it all, and also explains why Colov is touting the ‘Knights of Rizal’ and planning to move to Angeles City. But lets look closer at this. This is one Pattaya ‘newspaper proprieter’ of dubious background having already been exposed by an American newspaper talking to another Pattaya ‘newspaper properietor’ of dubious background in Copenhagen’s red light area, and they are announcing plans for three of the world’s biggest sex, drugs and rock’n roll destinations to be linked as trilateral sisters! Can Mayor Ittiphol, who says he is trying to bring the city upmarket, actually take these clowns seriously?
Good heavens, what are they teaching at Knoxville University?
The story runs all over Page 2.
Page One News?: Byline Visith Pinawong: A new Tukcom IT centre is being built in Pattaya
Comment: 4 paragraphs PR blurb. Probably actually written becauseVisith is a real person
Page 2 Society?: This is all picture captions for photos dished out free to the local press, or taken at freebies each week from various functions including of course the obligatory birthday party shots of people of influence.
Page 3 News: Department of Business Development Opens Branch in Pattaya (half page) and Mercy’s new Baan Khong Por opens to provide protection and love for children at risk (half page).
Comment: Probably the only genuine local stories in the paper but its also a blurb for Drew Noyes (pictured). The Mercy Centre story features Britain’s Hon Consul Howard M. But they certainly were not written by Wittaya Yensabai whose English is not up to the mark.
Page 4 News: Byline: Wanrapa Boonsu: Asian U agrees Programs with De Montford and BBC Academy:
Comment: This is a complete lift from this site http://www.asianust.ac.th/news/
Page 4 News?: Byline: Visith Pinpawong: ‘On Friday 29th of July a halo appeared around the sun. This is the first time I have seen this in the five years I have lived here and yet I have never seen it in the UK.’
Comment: I am not surprised Visith has not seen this in the UK. Is anybody else? But its not a story as its 3 months old. But actually its not written by Visith at all but by a chap called Les Edmonds – read on.
Page 5 News: Byline Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘Saudi Social Media Joy at Reform Promise’
Comment: This is a complete lift from the BBC Middle East news website
Page 5 News: Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘Forest Run Off Sweeps into Chiang Mai’
Comment: This is MCOT copy which has been unaltered and lifted straight from the website.
Page 5 News: Byline Visith Pinpawong: ‘Two sentenced in Deadly Bangkok Nightclub Fire’. Comment: This is a word for word lift from the BBC Asia-Pacific website
Page 5 News: Byline: Visith Pinpawong: ‘Cambodia a Place for Pioneer Visitors’
Comment: This is a complete lift from CNN originally written by Paulin Chiou.
Page 5News : Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘AoT says it will beat the cheats’Comment: Complete lift from Travel Trade Report written by Wangwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Page 6 Features: Health Column on angina: Dr.Weil your trusted health advisor
Comment: Lifted from ‘Dr Weil’ our trusted health advisor’s webpage
Page 6 Features: IT Column ‘Lifehacker’. ‘Facebook is tracking your every move’
Comment: Was copied from ‘Lifehacker’ website http://lifehacker.com/5843969/facebook-is-tracking-your-every-move-on-the-web-heres-how-to-stop-it.
Page 7: Sports stuff. Three stories by Wanrapa Boonsu and definitely not written by Wanrapa Boonsu. Foreign story about Barcelona lifted from AFP.
Page 8: Property ads
Page 9 Reviews: Byline: Wanrapa Boonsu: Book Review: ‘Thai Street Food’ by David Thompson.
Comment: This was also lifted completely from the net. Actually written by a guy called ‘Rich’ here : http://www.them-apples.co.uk/2010/11/thai-street-food-by-david-thompson/
Page 9 Revues: Byline Wanrapa Boonsu: Movie Revue 50/50
Comment: This review which runs across two columns from the top to the bottom of the broadsheet page was actually really written by Marshall Fine of ‘www.hollywoodandfine.com’, Star Magazine and the Huffington Post.
Page 10: Society? Getting bored now: Five stories here: ‘Sheraton to hold wine dinner’ – comment: pr plug. ‘Swan Lake to be staged at Tiffany’s’ (PR plug), Austin Robinson appointed GM for Nova Hotel (PR Plug), Havana Bar offers chance to gain a stay at Holiday Inn (PR plug). Finally Indonesia wins supermodel contest (who cares?)
Page 11: Food & Wine and hotel plugs by a chap called Les Edmonds. In one grovelling review of ‘Louis Restaurant’ in Naklua he writes: “One lady at the other end of the table followed with the pan-fried John Dory and all I could hear was drooling noises as to how good it was.” – Sounds like a British transport cafe. Anyway Les Edmonds is your man. He is the paper’s culinary expert and being a Brit pensioner he actually does it for free and the fame. Does not even take free meals, I am told, and he even has a cooking column called “Tom’s Cooking Corner – by Les Edmonds’. Don’t know where Tom came from. This all getting so confusing. Why change his name to Tom?
But hang on. This guide on how to make Spring Rolls looks familiar to us amateur masterchefs who get our recipes from the net. Yes its a complete lift this time a recipe written by Darlene Schmidt on……
http://thaifood.about.com/od/vegetarianthairecipes/r/springrolls.htm
Come on Les get a grip! And ‘Fair Pay for Pensioners’ – Drew
Page 12 is the Business page of the newspaper but presumably the Pattaya Times does not have a Business Editor or Reporters. Do I really need to check? Ok I’ll go on,
 |
| Wanrapa Boonsu |
Page 12 Business Page: Byline:Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘Far East Fashionistas Propel Prada Profits.
Comment: Yes. This is copied too. Its actually written by CNN Business Analyst Ramy Inocencio.
Page 12 Business: Byline: Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘PTTEP Finds More Natural Gas in Australia’
Comment: Copied from MCOT Business News – Press Release. Its all over the net.
Page 12 Business: Byline Wanrapa Boonsu: ‘BoI Investment Promotions Surge’
Comment: MCOT copy unchanged.
Page 12: Business: Byline Visith Pinpawong: Thai Exports Grew In August
Comment: More old MCOT stuff.
All business stories have been lifted
That’s it now. 12 pages. Its getting thinner. In the whole newspaper, which takes two weeks to produce, the only thing which can be delaying production must be the faulty right click ‘copy and paste’ on Drew Noyes’ mouse. There is only one exclusive internally sourced ‘news’ story and that’s the ridiculous splash by Drew Noyes announcing plans to link Pattaya with Las Vegas and Angeles City.
Anyway I spoke to an ‘ex-employee’ who said: “How you expect Drew to run a newspaper with virtually no staff, dummy? Pretty much all of it was lifted. Drew, being American, likes to lift from the Huffington Post.”
Can’t wait to analyse the next issue. Don’t bother buying it, just nip down to your local internet cafe.But if I was Noyes’ backer I would certainly ask how he has spent the cash.
Meanwhile compare the above with Drew Noyes ‘Mission Statement’ for the Pattaya Times.
“The Pattaya Times newspaper does not report crime, accidents or reprint wire service news (AP, Reuters, AFP) which is readily available on the Internet the moment it breaks.
The Pattaya Times newspaper is positive, proactive, current, insightful and interesting to its wide readership.
Because the Pattaya times newspaper owners, Pattaya Times Media Corp., are also the owners of the largest Pattaya law firm, PAPPA Co., Ltd. law Office, the Pattaya Times often break news on new visa requirements, land ownership regulations, new policies governing foreigner’s banking in Thailand, company limited requirements and other information essential to living in or doing business in Thailand.
This news helps increase Pattaya Times’ readership over all other newspapers of any language sold in Pattaya, Laem Chabang Port, Chonburi and the Eastern Seaboard provinces. Many major websites reprint Pattaya Times newspaper’s legal and social articles which reach many millions of additional readers. This exposure continues to increase readership of the Pattaya Times newspaper and related website.
The majority of the Pattaya Times news is written by its staff and articles are for the most part unique only to the Pattaya Times and not publish elsewhere without the permission of the Pattaya Times.
The Pattaya Times readers are demographically comprised of New Generation Thais (40%), followed by Thai socialites and business people (22%) active Expats living in Pattaya, Bangkok and the Eastern Seaboard (20%) and the remaining 18% of Pattaya Times followers are made up of returning visitors, international business people, MICE participants, investors, Thai property owners and students.
The Pattaya Times – ‘The News You Can Use’, or er, ‘Your News We Use’, or, er ‘Can We Use Your News?” or er ‘News Can Use You?’
‘Sweat was pouring down the face of Rip Kane as the ticking clock seemed to pound at him like a slow beating drum at the end of the newsroom. He looked up. Two minutes to go. “Shit!” he muttered to himself, one eye wandering off by itself to peruse the skirt and legs of Raquel, a Filipina, filling her paper cup at the water machine.
But his smirk turned to a leer as he thought to himself: ‘Ingrate. I bought her all the way from Manila and she thinks she can turn me down. And she’s whining about her 7,000 baht a month. I wonder if I can sue her. I’ll get onto it tomorrow. Still there’s plenty more at.tagged.com’.
Editor Noi, with whom he had three children, caught his eye, and glared, slowly placing her make up mirror down on the desk (Squeezing facial spots could wait) she growled: “Wha you looking at?”.
Rip lowered his head and turned back to the task at hand. “Keep cool. Keep cool,” he muttered under his breath. It seemed the whole world was waiting on his words, but he was stuck. He knew it happened to the most brilliant of people, but it should not happen to a member of MENSA.
“Writers Block!..Writers Block!” he bellowed and the Burmese maid Aung Hla wai-ed to the Raquel with an imploring look in her eyes. The Filipina stood aside and Aung Hla was allowed to fill a cone of water and rush it to Rip.. head bowed.
He grabbed it from her hand and rushed it to his mouth, or so he thought, but most of it hit his eye spilling down, mingling with the beads of sweat on his face, onto the crumpled ‘S’Fare’ shirt which had bought for his meeting with Mayor Noppadol the night before.
He had not been home last night because ‘Nam’ had laid her carnal claim on him.
The Burmese maid retreated, backing out facing him as usual, dropping the paper cone in the bin on her way out then wiping her hands vigorously on her blouse.
Rip brushed the globules of water off his mouth and chin with his fore-arm.
‘They don’t teach you this at University. They don’t teach you what to do when you are up against it’, he thought. “I wish somebody had.’
His mind slipped back to the night before when Nam was playing the cowboy but his developing smile turned to a frown. ‘She’s getting a bit demanding now,’ he thought. ‘She wants to join the Thai Polo Club. I am going to have to lay down the law.’
He had not had this problem since No.89 at ‘Heaven’s Above’ asked him for membership of the Securities Exchange Commission.
Rip snapped out of his daydream. “Oh shit” one minute to go! What’s wrong with this damn computer. “Nat! Nat! Nat!…NAT!. Come here quickly! Ma raew raew!’ he added in Thai. Raew Raew was a new phrase he had learned which he could now also add to ‘pay duay’ in his quest to distribute his manly juices around Thailand.
Twenty seconds later in rushed the handy man. “Nat, my mouse is f#cked! Do something!”.
Boiler-suited Nat looked seemingly perplexed at Rip, scratched his head, and then in a flash of inspiration leapt into action.
He pulled the mouse out of the computer’s right hand USB port sending it flying across the room, forcing Raquel to duck, and made a dive for the keyboard. Right click. Copy.
‘Where to sir?’
‘The bloody newspaper!’
Nat opened up the tab which said ‘Patong Times’.
“Here Mr.Rip?”. “Yes. There!”.
With a flourish Nat right clicked ‘Paste’. As if by magic the newspaper had come together. Goddammit! That was a close shave. Rip clapped and shouted with glee.
A new story about something called ‘Tuk-Tukcom’ now sat nestled under his masterpiece for the week. And there again he could see next to his picture, which he briefly admired once again, the headline of his great opus.
‘Blooming Patong! Becomes International Huh!..Asean.
Across the room the two staff went through the motions of applause. ‘We go home now sir?’.
‘Yes. Okay,” said Rip, too exhausted now to think up another task for them.
Rip was proud. He was due to give a lecture the following week to the local Expats Club on newspapers and journalism. He was a star performer ‘But nobody would understand the real pressure journalists are under,’ he thought.
But now he had a mission. This was press day. His two wives and their bundles of children could wait…… but the Buffalo Bar waits for no man.
And there across across the crowed bar among girls gracefully sipping ya dong out of tumblers and sitting on the laps of construction workers from Belarus was his darling, Nam.
Their eyes met. ‘Lip! Lip!” she cried delightedly in anticipation. ‘You buy me drink!’. Rip soaked up the romantic atmosphere. Here was a woman who would listen to him all night. His eyes rolled in contentment as Nam nibbled on his ear. Boy this beats Tennessee.
A little bit of saliva dropped from the corner of his mouth. ‘Nam in jodhpurs,wow’. Perhaps she would get her Polo Club membership anyway.’
‘No,’ he thought again, ‘but I’ll give her the T-shirt’.
Back at the office New Zealander Jake Griffinburger had turned up and was re-proofing the paper and correcting the headlines. He managed to fill a massive great hole he had found in the sports pages with a story about Barcelona FC.
” Lionel Messi and his Barcelona teammates have made an unusual complaint to team uniform manufacturers Nike and demanded the sportswear giant change the fabric used to make the official club shirt”……”blah blah..blah..blah.blah” Jake said out loud shaking his head from left to right, thinking ‘the Pattaya punters will never know where this comes from.’
He looked up at the advert on the right ear of the front page ‘Be seen by millions. Advertise in the Patong Times’ and chuckled: ‘Yep. Nobody’s gonna read it anyway’.
He’d got the story by cutting and pasting an Agence France Presse Report out of Madrid. It saved the boss paying for what he referred to as ‘journalist scum’.
‘I’ve saved that b’stards bacon again and I won’t see him tomorrow to get my pay because he’ll be down at city hall giving away free copies and showing Noppadol his picture,” he thought.
Jake knew he would not get his reward in this life. ‘That’s journalism’, he thought. And for once somebody at the Patong Times was getting close to the truth.
Absolutely hilarious but I bet Drew won't think so.
Wikipedia references to Pattaya Times now removed.
Some time ago I became suspicious when reading an interview with the Korean ambassador in the PT. I decided to block and capture two lines of this interview and posted in in Google. Surprise surprise it came from an Australian newspaper, word for word. This fake person operates a fake newspaper. I have a gut feeling his days are numbered although he still thinks this snowball is going to stop running. Som nam na Drew.
It was another dark and steamy night in downtown Pattaya but for Rip Tide, news baron and professional friend, it was looking bad. Sprawled over the counter, slouch backed, nursing his tepid Leo ( special offer buy one, get one free ) in a back street hoochie coochie bar where the only angels of mercy were the bandy legged variety renting their charity by the hour, he knew he was alone. He'd out played his hand, shot his wad and had nothing left to give. Bulldog was all over him like a cheap suit and wasn't letting go. It was a nightmare. His empire had turned to dust and he knew he was no better than a two bit jerk selling dreams to all the suckers he'd strung out like Xmas tree lights up Beach Road. He was the patsy now and sucking the dregs out of his condomed bottle the bitterness of the cheap booze welled up and choked off a sob of self pity. Christ, what could he do? Then it came to him, like a rat scurrying through the garbage of his life, an idea, desperate, but what else did have. What better way to deal with a pooch like Bulldog? Yeah, get one of my own and see how he likes it. Fumbling in his sweat stained Billabongs he found his mobile and punched out a number. ""Yeah, hi Eric, it's me. I need a dirtydog and it's gotta be mean "".
No apologies needed Andrew, this is a great story that should run every day!
Westerby and Co make it sound like 'Pattaya Mon Amour'. Well it certainly does have a lot in common with Aberystwyth. …… ""Every day is like Sunday"" …..
It reminds you a bit of Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce), the nazi broadcaster in world war two, who claimed special inside knowledge of British affairs from secret but stolen diplomatic pouches and from confessions by senior politicians in London. In fact, his only known sources were from out-of-date copies of the Daily Mail and The Stars and Stripes. Jairmany Calling… Jairmay Calling.
wikipedia appears to be going ballistic at the moment. He had me up there as an old soak who had been fired from the Bangkok Post and convicted of numerous libels. I've corrected. But he's obsessive so he will be back I guess 🙂
Don't bother apologizing for these stories… Its not like you mean it. This one of these things that once you have started you need to see to the bitter end.
We have here a man who has many of the trates of a sociopath thats been getting away with far to much for far to long. Its about time someone starts telling the home truths.
As for his paper. is there that much difference between what he uses his paper for and what most proprietors around the world do with their real broadsheets? And being just a little bit cynical… isn't much that being reported in much of the media simple cut and pastes of press releases and stuff off the news wire.
Thank you for the entertaining comments about me.
1. I did not write the article on Spring Rolls as I was in the UK at the time, but my name was used.
2.Halo around the sun was written by me but was held back for reasons unknown or explained.
3. Also the article on blood tests was mine and I am getting P****d off over no accreditation, whatever you may think.
4.t would be nice if you said sorry and it can just be between us.
David you are right to cynical about newspapers but the ones I write for rarely use pr blurb. There is a lot of lifting going on but its always re-written. The internet is a useful information gathering tool. They are only moving with the times, or, rather struggling to keep up with them. Only those that can adapt will survive.
Drew's article is hilarious, is the guy so totally brain-dead that he don't realise that by publishing your name (and generally Biting) it will drive his 10 or so regular site visitors straight to this site.. Drew is pathetic, does he think that people can't see the facts.. He goes around conning people out of large amounts of cash but Drummond does not have any financial interests in any of this… Even if Drummond was an unemployed Alcoholic, it still doesn't mean that he can't be trusted. I anxiously await the next installment.
Andrew, you may just be doing a plagiarist, or as you say lifter, a favor. It may be possible that his circulation has increased due to your investigative reporting. Some people may actually want to get the news from all their favorite news sources in one place. It is also possible that some of your readers will look at his publication just to “see for themselves.� Either way, you may have pushed the paying circulation into higher numbers. Though it would be a wonder why people would pay for something they can get for free. The only ones that suffer monetary loss are his advertisers that believe in the fictitious “circulation� numbers. If the true authors of these articles find out about the “lifting� that is going on they would surly seek justice, but as usual, Drew bets on people not finding out or being too lazy to do anything about it. He does not think that his victims have the courage or the intelligence to pursue him. He does not think they have the fortitude to come together and thwart his deceptive practices. Unless he really has woven a tight spell on the minds of his backers/investors, you would think that they would take notice. The normal presumption would be that they are diligent in their investing. If they have the slightest thoughts that they may be being defrauded, duped or even just feeling that they have been taken for fools something serious may happen. Unlike this Drew character, the people backing this newspaper venture (be they Thai or Foreigners) have worked hard to get where they are and will not be happy to find out that someone thinks so little of them as people that he insults their intelligence and good character by publishing plagiarized articles and thinking something so blatant would never surface. You continue to do fine investigative work here and it seems that there may be many more “rocks� to turn over; you never know what will be under the next one, nor does “he�. Your integrity is evident in every article.
Andrew, if you are sought by the police, why don't they just go to your home? DD & DN posted your address themselves. Mister DN is really getting the jitters if your read the article in his fake newspaper. I'm sure he thinks I an you now as this is his own modes operand. David Freeman is feeling the noose or was it now Mangus Evans. DN still does not get his opponents in focus. He appears like a groggy boxer wildly punching and missing. When will the bell ring, KO for Slewd Noise.
Sorry Andrew, this is my last post. Noyes says on his website I will be arrested and put in jail for commenting here.. I can't risk it, I really love it here in North Korea and I want to stay.
Les. I would be more than happy to say sorry, but what exactly for here? Was anything I said untrue? Visith's name was above your sun story. Sorry they held it over, guess they must have downloaded too much copy. Best of luck with your twilight career but I strongly recommend you try a real newspaper or magazine.
If you tell me who put you name on someone else's copy I will be happy to make a clarification.
I would strongly recommend that you first make a formal complaint and ask the editor and/or Mr. Noyes to withdraw your name from it.
Meanwhile I am unlikely to change my stance while you remain unconcerned as to whom you send your material.
You may get kicks at your age at seeing your name in print as a food and wine writer but but trust me on this it is not worth it if you are working for a publication which has no integrity.
How does this Noyes character get a work permit? Has the US Embassy made Americans in Thailand aware of his activities? Have they been in touch with you? Pattaya may be .. er .. unique in Thailand but it isn't a justice free zone. Thais don't like embarrassment – are they on the case?
Thanks for your reply Andrew. The one thing that peeved me was your comment that Louis' sounded like a Transport cafe. I was actually sending up someone at this point as she goes on and on ad infinitum about the food she is eating I do comment about bad food, and if possible like to talk with the owner about the issue before going to print to get his/her reply…that's fair I think you will agree. Know anyone who would like an ""honest"" writer?
Hey Andrew – those two vicious and vindictive editorial pieces seriously libelling you in this week's Pattaya Times ""newspaper"" don't leave too much to the imagination. Total fiction.
Drew Noyes should realise that by printing such downright and seriously libellous lies like this he leaves himself completely open to unbridled public condemnation and ridicule by the ex-pat community here in Thailand.
Hey Drew Noyes! How low can you go?
One thing nobody seems to have picked up on, and this is true, is that Drew calls his paper the ""biggest"" newspaper in Thailand solely on account of its size, and has nothing to do with its circulation figures (how could it?).
It's like a joke gone wrong.
It can't be making a profit can it?
Peter Marshall: Believe you me Peter he can get a lot lower. I now have the stack of complaints against him to show it. Problem is that I do not want Drew Noyes to take over this site. People are getting bored.
Andrew: Why do you think people are getting bored. You are reporting events that have hurt people of Thailand and foreigners alike, and you’re warding off future injustices. You are, in fact, supplying a long needed service and helping Thailand “Save Face� by not having predators lurking in the shadows. Bad experiences deter honest people and hurt tourism for this wonderful “Land of smiles�. You may consider turning up the heat even!
Drew does not seem to understand that he can only put so many “skeletons� in a closet before they break out. What is happening here is that his previous victims are overcoming their embarrassment of being duped by him and stepping forward to say things he does not want exposed. Drew says many times that the bloggers on your site are you, … that’s because he uses that tactic. Drew fears that these bloggers are some of his skeletons, and that they are starting to speak out about the fraud that he perpetrated against them. He may be able to say that one person speaking out is not telling the truth about him but if all his victims speak out, in unison, as is happening, then he cannot say they are all lying. Drew’s greatest fear is that his “prey of the past� will warn off his current prey and thwart his opportunities for future schemes. As for contributions to the paper (that he claims he owns) if you were to eliminate his fictitious audience there would be no responses, … Come to think of it there would be no questions for his column to answer either; it is obvious that he is the designer of these questions, … they are experiences from his own life. If you conjure up the questions you are asked then you can be sure to have an answer for them
Bored ? far from it mate. Many of us here can't wait for the next chapter, It's the talk of the town here with us expats. Keep calling his bluff, Expose him for the fraud that he is, and let's run him out of town !
Andrew, who could possibly be bored with these great articles about the ""Michael Scott"" of Pattaya? (Referring to the Steve Carel character in the American version of The Office — does anybody else see the resemblence?) Drew is a clown alright, but of the evil variety. At first I worried that some of those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting the most reliable, compassionate, esteemed professional in Thailand might think that you were engaging in an insult feud with a relatively harmless local eccentric. After all, ""puffery"" is the second-favorite local past-time in Pattaya — just ask that Seal Team Six operative sitting next to you at the beer bar giving you the inside scoop on how he got Bin Laden. But Drew's mythomania serves a very real purpose, that of scamming expats out of their money. It is amazing that this has gone on for so long, but somebody (YOU) has finally stood up to put a stop to it. Your species is nearly extinct in this world: an old-fashioned journalist who stands for the highest ideal of that profession, JUSTICE. That you take on these very dangerous bad guys who hurl insults at you and your family and God forbid, even threaten physical harm is courageous. That you do it for little or no financial gain is beyond admirable. Justice demands that you keep this Noyes series going. Plus, it will inspire more of Drew's postings which are the funniest thing on the web. No, you can't make it up!
I'm glad you realize that Drew Noyes is taking over your site. I came across your site a while ago, read one of your articles which was very well written, but lately it seems that your site is all about Drew Noyes.
You're a talented writer, but aren't there better headline stories you can write about? Like the terrible flooding in Thailand, the new Thailand Government and their ups and downs or day to day going on's in Bangkok?
Brian Wills: Looks like I will have to take into account the views of the posters here. I am aware that Noyes has been taking up a lot of space here recently but history shows that scammers in Thailand, if not dealt with tend to get even worse, if left untouched. Incidentally I edited your remark that Noyes must have stolen my girlfriend. I can honestly say that I have not 'Met' Drew Noyes though I have in the past spoken to him on the phone and have been a recipient of his 'I'll be contacting my influential friends' emails.
So coming very soon I will be highlighting another of Noyes' scams and its victims.
PS: I tend not to do stories about floods or ups and downs in Bangkok. I cherish my readers!
Tsunamis and mayhem yes.
As to the comment from Brian Wills – he can pick up any newspaper (except the Pattaya Times) and read plenty about the Thai government or day-to-day goings on in Bangkok. Andrew is covering a legitimate story, namely, a foreigner, one of the so-called ""pillars"" of Pattaya society, who has created a vast web of lies to con other foreigners. He has been pulling this shit for years and turned many people's dreams of settling in Thailand into a nightmare. He is a known quantity to almost every long-term resident of Pattaya and there is nothing in Drummond's reporting that surprises anybody, yet he still circles that Pattaya City Expat Club like a great white shark on the hunt. This story needs to get out. And, Brian Wills, while I believe you may really exist, (ie. not Drew Noyes posting in disguise), I have a hard time believing you don't see the entertainment value of the Lord-of-the-Rings-type world of fantasy that Drew has conjured up to deal with this exposure. ""Mangus Evans"", ""Media Expert Harold Smyth"", the phony Wilmington Morning Star website… And you're telling me, Mr. Brian Wills, that you'd prefer to read about flooding in Bangkok?!
Brian Wills,
Many other outlets are covering those weather/political-type stories. Only Drummond, who operates independently will dare the libel suits and petty wraths of the internet miscreants of Teak Door. ( Thai Visa forum sure won't.) We should all thank him for the risks he is taking to expose these duplicities.
I got a text spam yesterday (Sun Oct 9 ) from Mr. Noyes, "" Thailand, a great investment,.."" and then another and then when I complained to his voicemail, he called me personally to tell me, "" it wasn't spam."" I insisted he remove me from his spam list and informed him we all know what he's about- thanks to Drummond.
Brian Wills obviously does not know Drew Noyes for exposing this man is a national priority. While ALL reporters comment on the day to day situations let at least one investigate and expose the scum of society.
Cristy S. Mailing list is where he is after by hook or by crook. He fraudulently took a big mailing list in the USA (read previous articles) and basically stole the Pattaya Telephone Book database from Neils Colov, for whom he worked shortly. He tried laying his hands on the Expat Club mailing list as well, but the guardian of that list saw through him in time.
Brian, concerning the terrible flooding in Thailand, have a look at this footage from 1942 please, to keep it in perspective…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1t4TDyixsI
The review of David Thompson's Thai Food is mine. I have not given permission for my content to be republished, and certainly not under somebody else's byline.
Brian Wills…
Andrew Drummond is the only journalist (as far as I know) who actually investigates and research serious issues here in Thailand before reporting them!
As others commented before me Mr. Brian Wills, if your interest is simply quotes from our politicians and other rubbish, you may skip this forum and hang out at Bangkok Post website…
I don't say that the terrible floods are not newsworthy, but I feel that this website is focusing on investigative journalism and not 'daily news'…
PS: Thank you to K. Andrew for writing about issues other done even dare to talk about!
The wikpedia reference now quotes this article. Has Drew thrown in the towel?
Kenneth?? This lie is still there.
English-language online Thailand newspaper
Pattaya Times – http://pattaya-times.com. The news is unbiased and focuses on entertainment, business, headlines and sports. The Pattaya Times is the only foreign-owned Thailand newspaper. It is the flagship publication of the Pattaya Times Media Corporation.
Les Edmonds – 'Know anyone who would like an ""honest"" writer?'
Les, first port of call for any ""honest"" writer would have to be http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com, the ""blog"" of ""unnecessary"" quotes.
Brian Wills sure does sound like a Drew Noyes advocate,…………. or maybe even Drew Noyes himself! This is what Drew does, his modus operandi! When he says “….. taking over your site� it sounds like HE would like to control it,… tell you what to do with it, …. “stroking� you as a talented writer then telling you subliminally that you are wasting your time writing about him. Just a Thought!!!
Mr Noyes has sent me a text begging for support. He isn't concerned that his claims to be a registered lawyer with the Am-Cham are patently false, only that he introduced me to someone influential and for that, I should over look the convincing evidence of fraud and the blatant manufacturing of credentials. Not returning my inquiries despite having informed me he was intending to guide me through registration of an Amity company hasn't made me sympathetic, either and the spam from Sunday cinches my views.
However, Mr Noyes' worst infraction, IMGHO is the disgusting abuse of the 4th estate to enrich himself and enable his poseur-ism.
Ha,
I see Drew Noyes now wishes to drag up nonsense relating to Andrew Drummond in his ' well read ' rag of a Pattaya newspaper with accusations of lying.
I fully understand Andrew you cannot respond to this at the moment due to ongoing proceedings, however, I have absolute proof and full documents and photographs to prove everything and I mean everything wrote by Andrew Drummond in that article was FACT.
It was on technicalities and differences in Thai libel laws that James Lumsden initially won, not on the content.This was overturned in the appeal court in Andrew Drummond's favour
JL tried similar with me Mr. Noyes, he lost. He went to the appeal court and guess what? He lost again.
Also, Mr. Noyes when a person is a freelance journalist, this means he is self employed not unemployed.What school did you go to?
Get your facts right and 'Hey Teacher, leave those filipino kids alone!'
Have you seen his LinkedIn profile? Unbelievable.
http://pattaya-times.com/a7084-why-your-thai-partner-suffers-to-understand-english
QUOTE Why Your Thai Partner Suffers to Understand English
Lawrence McLoughlin 16.04.2011 05:26 UNQUOTE
I took a quick look at this when you first started this thread and thought no more about it. It sort of looked like an email forward, and I felt I had seen it more than once before. Sure enough, it IS an email forward. It was sent to me from abroad by an unsuspecting relative this very day.
Yes x – and the Pattaya Times claims it was written by Laurence McLoughlin – the current Master at Arms of the Pattaya City Expats club. Well written Laurie. God this is all getting a bit incestious.
Why do both the expat clubs, who claim to be farangs helping each other continue to support Drew noise tricks by allowing him to speak at there meetings? By facilitating this delusional idiot they are encouraging him, giving him credability. Niels Colon will privatly tell anyone that drew is a madman.people go there for help but end up victims because it looks legitimate. Please respond Chairmen or even just normal members.The silence coming from these organisations is deafening. Guilty by association.Guilty Guilty Guilty. Have none of the members got a conscience? Ban him for everyones sake.
Dental Smile, whose advert accidentally accompanies the front page of Pattaya Times printed above, have asked me to let you know they are absolutely delighted with the free publicity and the 2547 extra readers derived from this increasingly popular blog site. They further wish to emphasise that the fee of 5,500 baht for teeth laser whitening does indeed include all taxes.
Christy Sweet, I have just one question for you. If everything else drew told you has turned out to be false, why would you think he knows anything about how to guide you through registering a “Amity� company? And why would you want HIS guidance? …. Oops, I guess that’s two questions.
Confused, The expat club(s) don't react for they are scared stiff to conclude they have been praising a con-man as the savior. Only when all is done and clear will they come with a statement. Their ideal of ""Expats helping Expats"" wend terribly wrong in the case of Drew Noyes. They just cannot face that, that's why they are his favorite targets, no back bones.
Pat…it only takes one backbone…Pat…Does the dental treatment come with a free Pattaya Times rag ??
The Pattaya City expats are indeed planning to tell Drew he is no longer welcome. There is almost unanimos support for this now. Everybody has known about his sleaziness and dishonesty for a long time but reading this site gives an idea of the scale of it. He has known for a while that many members dislike him and that is why after he speaks he quickly leaves to avoid ""situations."" Most of us are reasonble people and we realize that by allowing him to speak it gives him credability for his scams. The problem we have is that nobody actually wants to tell him.He didnt take the hint when we voted him out of the chaiman position. He never gets invited to any of our private parties.Why? Because we dont like him. Take the hint.
Dear Drew, please go quietly for your own good. Members are bringing up your past that I am sure you would want to be forgotten. We dont want a situation, just leave. We dont like you.
Dear CityExapt…what do you guys (term used loosely) do at these expat meetings ??…crochet, knitting, makeup lessons ??
City Expat wrote ""we voted him out of the chaiman position"". Yes, but this was at least 6 years ago and he received the red carpet treatment umpteen times after that. Not even two weeks ago a senior member and past chairman was warned by a friend of mine, he didn't want to listen to his advise to get rid of the psycho for there was really no proof of anything he said. He forgot that in his time he received very bad and threatening mails from him. No, sorry, too little too late, there is still a midget walking around on Sundays praising his Guru and he is responsible for inviting guest speakers. Expats helping expats, my arxx. By not warning your fellow expats you are part of the problem.
Bunch of senile old fools drooling in their coffee.
To cityexpat, you and your clubmembers admit to knowing about fraudelnt Drew Noyes for a long time. You chose to let him speak at your club and look for new victims. You knew all along he was not a lawyer and he was ripping people off now you are saying that he is no longer welcome. You have all aided Drew Noyes in his deceit. Every member, it is time to take a good hard look at yourselves. You are all responsible (edit), every single one of you for letting this man operate from the club and burying your heads in the sand. You all have blood on your hands. You knew what was going on for many years and did nothing about it. Gutless ,spineless.
Solomon,
Mr Noyes never told me anything specific about registering the Amity, our communications never progressed that far…
Having seen his ads as being a "" Lawyer"" and foolishly not looking past his hundreds of self-posted promotions, or his vanity press, almost wholly plagiarised news-paper, I called, intending to hire him. At his, ""invitation"" and at some travel expense to myself, I met him at a charity polo function( which I found out was fully open to the public for a ticket price. ) As a sponsor of the event, he made quite a big deal of introducing me to Caroline Link. ( Though I had already chatted with her briefly in the ladies locker room, I can only hope at some later date, if we ever meet again, she will have forgotten whom initially introduced us.)
He'd said over the telephone, he'd be glad to register my Amity company and simply never returned a call after the meeting in Pattaya. I am now grateful he didn't view me as a worthy target, for whatever reason.
Agree 100% with Michael Surry.The Drew Noyes horse has already bolted and the Pattaya City Expats club left the gate open. TO SAY YOU ARE BANNING HIM NOW WILL SAVE FUTURE VICTIMS BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HUNDREDS WHO HAVE ALREADY LOST OUT TO THIS CONMAN IN PATTAYA.
The largest newspaper in Thailand is at it again. Latest issue shows stuff lifted from many sources with 2 or 3 with might be orginal product. What do Noisy's 30 oversees staff actually do for 2 weeks, the rag only has about 8 pages when one takes out classifieds and ads. It works out to be 1 paragraph per person per day. And most of that is copied.That is slow even by Thai standards.
Great information. Lucky me I ran across your site by accident (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved it for later!