The Real Professional

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Real Professional

Every night here at the Bangkok Post, when reporters on the ground and at the News Desk are at home or enjoy their night outing, there are a handful of staffs at the News Desk who are the last to leave the office. Their jobs are checking, in many occasions double-checking and sometimes triple-checking the facts, spellings, titles and writing style of the stories.

Readers never find their names under the ``leader'' on the Post's Opinion & Analysis Page. They don't have bylines in the stories either. Many reporters who file the stories to the office do not even know them.

But they are what I call ``the quality controllers.'' They are the ones who make sure that the paper to be delivered to the readers at home or on newsstands on the very next day maintains quality with factual precision.

Pornsant Suwannapal was among those guys before he retired last December as a senior subeditor.

Night after night he did just that. Not even a single night did I hear him complaining about his job. He was proud of working behind the scene without demand for recognition from the news editor, deputy news editor, assistant news editors and reporters. Yet all of us owe him for his tremendous patience and incredible efforts to bring the best for the Post.
Pornsant Suwannapal passed away on Feb 12. And really he was one of the invaluable assets the Post has lost.

Read comment

Comment 1

pierre corso

date : 16/02/2010 time : 21:40

May he rest in peace. Thank you for your words to remind us all that behind each wellknown person,there's at least an unknown one who always contributes his effort and support in silence.

Comment 2

yos

date : 17/02/2010 time : 11:17

Words of condolence to Khun Pornsant Suwannapal. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer. Indeed, it is the people behind many a things that are the true keepers of the peace. What people may think as "Hard work" or "Pain staking", there are others who just get-on and just do it like it was second nature. Such people are truly worth their value and time will only tell. R.I.P Khun Pornsant Suwannapal & thank you so much for keeping the peace through-out the years.

Comment 3

Abhi Parasher

date : 17/02/2010 time : 22:25

Back office people always remain those anonymous soldiers of the war who only get the brunt when something goes wrong. These professionals are crucial for correct delivery of news and yet their herioc deeds remain unnoticed.

Comment 4

A long time reader

date : 18/02/2010 time : 02:37

My sincerest condolences.

Why do we just only think about these "Pid Thong Lang Phra" people, when they passed away.... why isn't their sacrifice to their work recognized constantly or before.... why oh why....??

Comment 5

Alan Parkhouse

date : 18/02/2010 time : 10:25

Pornsant was a great guy, very thorough, and he cared about what appeared in print. He was also one of the few Thai people involved in the editing and production process of the newspaper, an unsung heroe who made the paper read and look well. He will be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him and knowing him.

Comment 6

Palmi

date : 18/02/2010 time : 17:37

Do they also protect the free speech?

Or do they edit all that is to close to the truth?

Comment 7

maggies

date : 19/02/2010 time : 01:42

Hi you don't know me and I don't know you but we both agree that lots of people out there in this world doing an amazing things without recognition so 3 chai yo to those wonderful citizen of the world.

Comment 8

Tan

date : 19/02/2010 time : 07:48

Good article!!

Comment 9

Sarayuth

date : 19/02/2010 time : 15:10

Many thanks for giving credits to Khun Pornsant Suwannapal. Senior subeditors and proofreaders and the unknown heros of the Post. While many reporters get credits and praises for their stories, those proofreaders and and subeditors work very hard to make the writing readable and spelling-corrected.

Sarayuth
Feb 19, 2010
10.10 pm in Bangkok

Comment 10

SQN.LDR.YUTHAPONG ARMASENA

date : 24/02/2010 time : 09:45

REST IN PEACE,SIR FROM KHON THAI IN DARFUR,SUDAN

Comment 11

Jim Burgoyne

date : 26/02/2010 time : 01:33

Everyone who ever worked with Porn loved him and valued his guidance through the worlds of Thai politics and society. Some of my most cherished memories of Bangkok will always be listening as Porn explained an aspect of Thai life, peeling off the layers of something I would have never otherwise understood. I'll get this one, Porn. You will be missed.

Comment 12

In the US

date : 28/02/2010 time : 05:27

I am sorry to read about the passing of Khun Pornsant Suwannapal. The people who care are so often in the background.

May he rest in peace.

Comment 13

donpram

date : 14/03/2010 time : 08:41

Was Pornsant a graduate of Arts Faculty, CU? What was the cause of his death?
I thought I knew him since we were school boys. A very nice person!
My deep condolence to his bereaved family and BKK Post for this tragic loss.

Comment 14

Jai

date : 16/03/2010 time : 10:13

As an ex-print journalist, I know how invaluable sub-editors are. Often journalists can't believe how polished their articles turn up in print...and doing this late night day after day requires a special type of character. May his soul rest in peace.

Comment 15

supra shoes

date : 28/06/2010 time : 20:35

http://www.supras.cc

I am just amazed to recognise how much of resources I accomplished on this issue. I'm so especially thankful of you. The one thing I could state that, after reading this content I became preserved from the entire worthless search I ought to have executed on this kind of problem. Your write-up is a authentic blessing in disguise.

Comment 16

michealn1®

date : 29/04/2011 time : 11:37

Those people who performs Back office jobs people are really the backbone of any company.

R.I.P

http://www.careeroutlook.in/back-office-jobs-in-mumbai/

Comment feed for this post