Good morning!
I’m writing to share a major milestone: Last week in Manila, Soiciety won the Gold Award for Asia’s 2026 Best Emerging News Providers from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
Big picture: The category recognizes early-stage organizations that demonstrate “credibility, originality and clear public value.” It celebrates those producing “factual, community-relevant information” in underserved environments.
Why it matters: We received this recognition less than a year after launch. Other winners and finalists included regional giants like SPH Media, The Straits Times (whose initiative won Silver in our category), South China Morning Post and Rappler.
Editors and executives I met were surprised to learn Soiciety is a newsroom of one. As likely the youngest recipient of the night, I was even told by the emcee that I looked “too young to be a founder.”
Because of this win, Soiciety is now a finalist for the global award in this same category. We’re competing with publications from every other region in the world, with the winner being announced at the World News Media Congress in Marseille this June.
This is an incredible validation that the kind of journalism Soiciety is doing for Bangkok has a place on the global stage.
🚀 Help Soiciety grow
I’m grateful to everyone who has read, shared and supported this project. But while this award validates the work, it doesn’t fund the labor.
So far, 4% of our readers have made this reporting free for everyone through one-time contributions. To make Soiciety sustainable without relying on advertising, I’ve launched a recurring support program: The Soi Resident ($15/month).
This model keeps Soiciety your journalist friend in a city whose systems weren’t designed for non-Thai speakers like you. Your support funds the reporting and granular translation needed to break the closed loop of information — making Bangkok legible so you can finally live here like you belong.
If you believe in what we’re building, become a Soi Resident today!
As a thank-you for keeping this work free for the city, I’ll invite you once a month into my reporter’s notebook column. It’s where I share observations and news items that don’t make it into Sunday issues.
Thank you for being part of this journey from the very beginning. I’m looking forward to celebrating this win with you at our park walk on May 23.
Thanks,
Chatwan