About Soiciety
Soiciety is an award-winning digital journalism outlet for Bangkok. Our name blends “soi” – the alleyways where Bangkok’s daily life unfolds – with “society,” reflecting our focus on the human stories that define the city.
We tell the stories that matter to our community, from neighborhood-level changes to new city policies. We skip the national political debates and recycled tourist headlines to focus on what impacts the daily lives of the people who live here.
Our flagship newsletter, “From the Main Road,” publishes every Sunday rounding up what happened last week with context you won’t see anywhere else.
Our “From the Sois” section, which runs twice a month, features original stories of reisdents making an impact/navigating the city.
Soi Residents, our paid members, are invited once a month in the “Soi Blueprint,” a reporter notebook-style column where we share observations and news items that don’t make it into Sunday issues.
In April 2026, Soiciety won the Gold award for Asia’s Best Emerging News Providers from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
What we stand for
Local is our north star: We don't chase national headlines. If it doesn't impact life in Bangkok, it's not our story.
Explanatory and accessible: We don't just tell you what happened. We explain why it matters, how it affects you and what to do next.
Service-minded: We exist to provide information that is of tangible value to our readers' daily lives.
Journalistic integrity: Our journalism is rooted in facts. We're here to build trust, not to sensationalize or chase clicks.
You can read Soiciety’s full editorial policies .
Meet the founder, the editor, the reporter, the everything…
My name is Chatwan Mongkol, born in Lamphun and raised in Pathum Thani.
My five-year journalism career included stints at Hearst Connecticut Media Group, NBC Universal, and NPR stations. I also founded The Nutgraf, a nationally recognized newsletter providing “the best original reporting on student journalism” in the United States.
The first time I got “real” journalism experience was in 2020, when I reported for Prachatai English during the pro-democracy movement in Thailand.
While working in local news in the U.S., I kept thinking about how centralized Thai media is — and how even in Bangkok, most coverage focuses on national politics and the economy. It’s surprisingly hard to find clear, consistent reporting in English about what’s actually happening in the city.
That’s why I started Soiciety.
I hold a master’s degree in media management from The New School in New York and a journalism degree from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. I moved back to Bangkok in January 2026, after being in the U.S. for nearly nine years.
Please reach out
What stories do you want to see? What’s happening in your soi? What are you confused about in Bangkok? Do you have any Bangkok hacks that you’d like to share with others?
Email me at [email protected].
Social media: Find us on Facebook and Instagram. We use these platforms to share our stories and listen to our community. Connect with me personally on LinkedIn.
Support: Learn more about ways to financially support Soiciety .